Beastie Boys Rapper Adam ‘MCA’ Yauch Dies of Cancer – Shocking Rock Stories of 2012

It wasn't exactly surprising -- word of Adam "MCA" Yauch's cancer diagnosis and declining health had been circulating for awhile -- but when the news finally broke on May 4 that the founding member of the Beastie Boys had died at the age of 47, there was little room at first to feel anything other than shock. Yauch had been in treatment for cancer since 2009, after the discovery of a tumor in his salivary gland, and outwardly, at least, he mostly tried to remain upbeat about his prognosis until the end.

But the signs were there: When the Beastie Boys were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on April 14 of this year, Yauch was not feeling well enough to attend, so Michael "Mike D" Diamond and Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz were joined by DJ Mix Master Mike to accept the honor.