Original Beastie Boys Member John Berry Has Died At Age 52

Some sad news is filtering through the music world this morning, as it’s been confirmed that John Berry, a founding member of hip-hop group the Beastie Boys, passed away Thursday morning at 7:30 a.m at a hospital in Danvers, Massachusetts, at age 52.

Berry was responsible for coming up with the name Beastie Boys when the group were teenagers. The group formed in July 1981, with Berry and Mike Diamond, along with Adam Yauch and Kate Schellenbach.

Berry’s father confirmed his death to Rolling Stone and said his son suffered from frontal lobe dementia, which had worsened in recent months.

The world became less ill today when we lost another Beastie Boy. RIP John Berry.

— Jack Bumgarner (@JackBumgarner) May 20, 2016

Bless yer John Berry… https://t.co/Amh0NJwMgX

— prim (@asialiferadio) May 20, 2016

Header via Rolling Stone.