Madonna & the Beastie Boys

Following yesterday’s photo, here’s more info on the Bestie Boys opening for Madonna in 1985 (via thehuno.tumblr.com)



Russell (producer): I met the Beasties at Danceteria. They were wearing red sweatsuits and stripes, red pumas and do-rags. They were assholes.

Adam Yauch (TBB): One day Russell came in and said, “Hey, guess what-Madonna’s manager called. Do you guys want to go on tour with her?” Apparently, her manager had asked for the Fat Boys. Russell didn’t manage them, but he thought up a lie quick, like “Oh, the Fat Boys have another gig that week. What about Run-D.M.C.?” They were too expensive, so Russell offered them a good deal on us.

Jarvis (manager): I was the tour manager for the Virgin Tour, being old enought to rent a car being my main qualification. Mike D said we would only stay at hotels with swimming pools. I remember Russell saying, “Either it works, or let’s get thrown off the tour in as big a style as we can.”

Adam Horowitz (TBB): It’s not like any of us knew Madonna, but we all used to hang out at Danceteria so we knew about each other. I don’t know why she thought it would be a good idea, though. It was a terrible idea! But it was great for her in a way because we were so awful that by the time she came onstage the audience had to be happy.

Madonna: They were very bad boys-they said “fuck” all the time on stage. The audience always booed them and they always told everyone to fuck off. I just loved them for that. I couldn’t understand why everyone hated them- I thought they were so adorable. 

Yauch: Russell came up to me and said, “They’re going to kick you off the tour. If you want to stay, you need to go ask Madanna.” I went into Madonna’s drssing room and was like, “You know, we really like being on the tour. Can we stay?” And it worked.

Madonna: I think I made out with Adam Yauch once in the dressing room.

Bill Adler (publicist): I saw them open for Madonna at Madison Square Garden, playing for 15,000 twelve-year-old Madonna wannabes. The Beasties went on grabbing their dicks, doing it with complete bravado. They were booed the entire time. I thought, these guys are great.

Russell: Every night they’d make 95 percent of the people in the audience hate them. But they built that other five percent into a fan base.