“We have not been able to tour since MCA, Adam Yauch, died,” Diamond says. “We can’t make new music.”

Mike D and Ad-rock are involved in a suit against Monster Energy Drink for using five Beastie Boys songs and Yauch’s artist name in a promotional snowboarding video without permission from the group.

‘RIP MCA’ flashed in the Monster logo-style writing during the video in what may have been a supposed tribute to the great hip-hop artist. However, one can confidently assume MCA wouldn’t have appreciated the corporate sentiment. MCA may have called himself a puppet on string paid to sing or rhyme in ‘Shake Your Rump’, but that puppet did his act for art, not ads.

MCA’s specifically detailed in his will that in no event may his image, name or artistic property be used for advertising purposes.

While we can’t expect any more music from the hip-hop group, we can still enjoy the wealth of hits from the group. Revisit a Hot Press interview with the whole group from 1998 at [link]http://www.hotpress.com/archive/513088.html[/link].