31 years ago today - Licence To Ill

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One of the most influential albums of all time and to think that when it first came out, it was dismissed as tomfoolery. Leave it to The Beastie Boys to take that tomfollery to the bank. 

No Sleep Till Brooklyn 

(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)

Brass Monkey

Did you ever shoot the Beasties Tony? I saw them 3 times, no pics to speak of. First time was in New Orleans in '95, and that was a crazy show. Last was their last show ever, Bonnaroo 2009.

Great album, I remember me and a friend playing this thing over and over until we memorized every lyric, hilariously funny album. Saw this tour at The Capitol Theater in Passaic NJ and the entire audience knew every word to every song, we were not the only ones! Broke down some barriers with this album - great cover artwork too.

I never got a chance to photograph The Beasties past their New York Hard Core beginnings, and those photos were lost to a former lover. They may or may not still exist. I was going to photograph them at Bonnaroo in 2009 but was presented with a phot release just before their set that was the worst I've ever seen. Not only did they demand final approval for the use of any of those photos, they also contractually had the photographers sign over all ownership of said photos. At the end of the 3rd song anyone who shot the show had to turn over their media cards to PR people who reviewed the photos, approved ones that could be used, copy those photos to other media that was then given to the photographer with a one use license. The original media card was then owned by Beastie Boys management. 

>>>> it was dismissed as tomfoolery

Compared to their later stuff like Check Your Head and Ill Communication, that first album has its fair share of Tomfoolery.   I understand its influence on the genre as a whole, but the later stuff is so much more sophisticated and listenable.  

I actually made some "brass monkey" with sunny-delight and malt liquor before a Phish show a few years back.  Nasty, but people got a kick out of it.

Saw this tour as well, Philly Spectrum. The bill was Murphy's Law, Public Enemy, and the Beastie Boys. An interesting mix of folks at that show.

Nice line up !!

I was in high school and loved this album when it came out. I still do. 

 

Love this Joan Rivers show clip, I remember when it originally aired, I thought the beasties were hammered (they probably were). 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=S5UaUqH19-Y 

I love this album and I love this band. I saw them in 1983 or 1984 when they were touring as a punk band and then I saw them open for Madonna in 1985 before they released Licensed to Ill. The girls in the audience were horrified. I was there for them and for Madonna. I was thrilled with that line-up. 

Then I saw the tour in 1987 and every one after that.