Ad-Rock
Ad-Rock | |
|---|---|
 Ad-Rock with the Beastie Boys in Barcelona, Spain on September 5, 2007. | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Adam Keefe Horovitz |
| Also known as | Adrock, King Adrock |
| Born | October 31, 1966 South Orange, New Jersey, United States |
| Genres | Hip hop, rap rock, hardcore punk, alternative hip hop |
| Occupation(s) | Rapper, musician, songwriter, guitarist |
| Instrument(s) | Rapping, vocals, guitar, keyboards, sitar, Sp-1200 |
| Years active | 1981–present |
| Labels | Def Jam Records Grand Royal Records Capitol Records |
| Website | www.beastieboys.com |
Adam Keefe Horovitz (born October 31, 1966),[1] better known as Ad-Rock or King Ad-Rock, is an American musician, guitarist, rapper, producer, and actor. He is best known as a member of the pioneering hip hop group the Beastie Boys.
Early life
Horovitz was born in South Orange, New Jersey, the son of the late Doris Horovitz (née Keefe) and playwright Israel Horovitz.[2] His sister is producer Rachael Horovitz. His father is Jewish and his mother, who was of Irish descent, was Catholic.[3][4]
Career
Horovitz began his music career with a stint in the punk rock band the Young and the Useless, who would often perform with the Beastie Boys. When Beastie Boys guitarist John Berry quit, Horovitz replaced him in 1982, when he was 16 years old.[5] After Horovitz joined the band, the Beastie Boys changed their sound, evolving from a hardcore punk band to a more hip-hop oriented group. The band was signed to Def Jam, and released their debut album Licensed to Ill in 1986. The album was a huge commercial success, and spawned six hit singles. Seven further albums followed, and by 2010 the Beastie Boys had sold 22 million records in the United States alone, and 40 million worldwide. In 2012, the Beastie Boys were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
In addition to his work with the Beastie Boys, Horovitz also remixes numerous tracks for other artists under the alias 41 Small Stars.[6]
Horovitz has also acted in several motion pictures and television shows. Some of his roles include Tim 'Chino' Doolan in Lost Angels (1989), Sam in Roadside Prophets (1992), and Repulski in Godspeed (2007).
Personal life
He was married to actress Ione Skye from 1992-1999. Since 1997 he has been involved with riot grrrl artist Kathleen Hanna; they married in 2006.
References
- ^ "Ad-Rock biography". Allmusic Rovi Corporation. Retrieved December 16, 2009.
- ^ Israel Horovitz Biography (1939-), Film Reference, accessed March 24, 2011.
- ^ http://www.wickedlocal.com/wakefield/x477566936
- ^ http://www.jewishjournal.com/the_ticket/item/how_studio_exec-turned-producer_pitched_moneyball_20120216/
- ^ Diamond, Michael (1994), Some Old Bullshit album liner notes
- ^ http://www.discogs.com/artist/41+Small+Stars
External links
| Studio albums | |
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| Compilations | |
| EPs | |
| Live musicians | |
| Associated acts | |
| Filmography | |
| Related articles | |
