Beastie Boys was never formed.
Ad-Rock . He is best known as a member of the hip hop group the Beastie Boys . The Beastie Boys were an American hip hop group from New York City , formed in 1981 . Originally formed as a four-piece hardcore punk band , the Young Aborigines , in 1978 by Diamond ( vocals ) , John Berry ( guitar ) , Yauch ( bass ) and Kate Schellenbach ( drums ) , the band appeared on the compilation cassette New York Thrash , before recording their first EP , Polly Wog Stew , in 1982 . They toured with Madonna in 1985 and a year later released their debut album Licensed to Ill. . Check Your Head is the third studio album by American hip hop group Beastie Boys , released on April 21 , 1992 by Capitol Records .