exploremusic

When the Beastie Boys formed in 1979, Michael Diamond was not the drummer—Mike just handled vocals, while Kate Schellenbach drummed, Adam Yauch played bass, and John Berry played guitar.

They were a hardcore punk band back then… it wasn’t until 1983 that they got into some hip hop stuff.

That same year, John Berry left and was replaced by Adam Horovitz, and the band started working with music producer and Def Jam Recordings founder Rick Rubin.

A common theory is that Rick had a vision for the Beastie Boys, and it didn’t include any girls.

Thomas Beller, a guy who was in the scene back then, said the following to Spin magazine in 1998: “No one ever actually said, ‘Kate you’re out.’ She went away for a weekend, and Rick bought the other three members matching Adidas sweat suits, red and black warm-ups, and sneakers. They were at the Manhattan club Area dressed up like a trio, and Kate bumped into them…by accident. She just started crying because it was obvious that there was not going to be a woman in a band that’s, like, going to have an inflatable penis on stage.”

Kate went on to play drums in other bands, including Luscious Jackson, which was the first act signed to the Beasties’ now-defunct Grand Royal label.

Speaking of Luscious Jackson, they’re back together and looking for fans to help fund the creation of a new album.