In his ‘will’ MCA bans advertisers from using Beastie Boys music — watch out Monster energy drinks!

Beastie Boys weren’t messing around when they sang, “I might stick around or I might be a fad, but I won’t sell my songs for no TV ad.”

Adam Yauch (MCA), who died in May at 47 following a long battle with cancer, explicitly BANNED his music from being used in advertisements in his will before he died, Rolling Stone reports.
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“Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, in no event may my image or name or any music or any artistic property created by me be used for advertising purposes,” the will reads. He added the phrase in handwriting: “or any music or any artistic property created by me.”
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That said, Monster (energy drinks) is in for a MONSTER law suit. Fellow Beasties—Mike Diamond and Adam Horovitz—have their brother’s back! They, along with MCA’s wife Dechen, filed suit on Wednesday against the Monster energy drink company, claiming it used DOZENS of Beasties’ songs in its promotional material WITHOUT the group’s permission including: ‘So Watcha Want,’ ‘Sabotage’ and ‘No Sleep Till Brooklyn.’

Claiming copyright infringement, Horovitz, Diamond and Yauch are asking that Monster be immediately prohibited from using their material again, plus “an amount in EACH CASE of not less than $150,000″ — which, given the fact that Monster allegedly used more than 20 OF THEIR SONGS, could turn out to be a pretty HEFTY sum. Beastie is also seeking 3-times what Monster profited from the infringements + interest + attorney’s fees + the costs of bringing the suit.

DANG!!  Monsters legal team has some late nights ahead! Luckily they’ve got an endless supply of energy drinks though… Well—endless—until the Beastie Boys puts the company out of business…

Sounds like Beastie continues to fight for their right… to their music rights.