Adrock

Adam Keefe Horovitz (born October 31, 1966), popularly known as Ad-Rock, is an American rapper, guitarist and actor. He was a member of the hip-hop group Beastie Boys. While Beastie Boys were active, Horovitz performed with a side project, BS 2000. After the group disbanded in 2012 following the death of member Adam Yauch, Horovitz has participated in a number of Beastie Boys-related projects, worked as a remixer, producer, and guest musician for other artists, and has acted in a number of films.

Early life and education

Horovitz was born and raised on Park Avenue, Manhattan, New York, the son of Doris (''née'' Keefe) and playwright Israel Horovitz. His sister is film producer Rachael Horovitz. His father was Jewish, whereas his mother, who was of Irish descent, was Roman Catholic. He had a secular upbringing.

Career

Horovitz began his music career with a stint in the punk rock band The Young and the Useless, who often performed with Beastie Boys. In 1982, Beastie Boys guitarist John Berry quit and Horovitz replaced him. He was only 16 at the time. After Horovitz joined the band, 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 albums followed, and by 2010 Beastie Boys had sold 22 million records in the United States alone, and 40 million worldwide. In 2012, Beastie Boys were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

In addition to his work with Beastie Boys, Horovitz also remixes numerous tracks for other artists under the alias 41 Small Stars. He plays bass in The Tender Moments, the backing band of New York-based cabaret performer Bridget Everett.

Horovitz has 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), Repulski in ''Godspeed'' (2007), Fletcher in '' While We're Young'' (2014), and Nick in ''Golden Exits'' (2017).

In 2020, he was featured in the documentary ''Have a Good Trip''.

Personal life

In the late 1980s, Horovitz was in a relationship with American actress Molly Ringwald. They met on the set of '' The Pick-up Artist''.

Horovitz was married to actress Ione Skye from 1992 to 1995. They separated in 1995 and divorced in 1999.

Since 1996, he has been involved with riot grrrl artist Kathleen Hanna; they married in 2006. Horovitz is featured prominently in '' The Punk Singer'', a 2013 documentary film about Hanna's life and career, even shooting some scenes.

Horovitz began to wear a medical alert bracelet following the tonic–clonic seizure he experienced in 2003.

Discography

;with Beastie Boys
* ''Licensed to Ill'' (1986)
* ''Paul's Boutique'' (1989)
* ''Check Your Head'' (1992)
* '' Ill Communication'' (1994)
* '' Hello Nasty'' (1998)
* ''To the 5 Boroughs'' (2004)
* ''The Mix-Up'' (2007)
* ''Hot Sauce Committee Part Two'' (2011)

;with BS 2000
* ''BS 2000'' (1997)
* ''Simply Mortified'' (2000)

Filmography

* ''Krush Groove'' (1985) as himself
* ''Tougher Than Leather'' (1988) as himself
* ''Lost Angels'' (1989) as Tim 'Chino' Doolan
* '' A Kiss Before Dying'' (1991) as Jay Faraday
* ''Roadside Prophets'' (1992) as Sam
* '' Godspeed'' (2007) as Repulski
* '' While We're Young'' (2014) as Fletcher
* ''808'' (2015) as himself
* ''Golden Exits'' (2017) as Nick
* '' Bad Reputation'' (2018) as himself
* '' Beastie Boys Story'' (2020) as himself

References

External links

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{{Authority control

1966 births
Living people
Male actors from New York City
Rappers from Manhattan
American people of Irish descent
Alternative hip hop musicians
American male film actors
American male rappers
Jewish American musicians
Jewish rappers
Jews in punk rock
American rock guitarists
American male guitarists
Beastie Boys members
Grammy Award winners
People with epilepsy
Rap rock musicians
21st-century American male actors
20th-century American musicians
20th-century American male actors
Guitarists from New York City
20th-century American guitarists
21st-century American rappers
21st-century American guitarists