Adam Keefe Horovitz (born October 31, 1966),[1][2] known professionally as Ad-Rock, is an American rapper, guitarist, and actor. He was a member of the hip-hop group the Beastie Boys. While the Beastie Boys were active, Horovitz performed with a side project, BS 2000. Since the group's dissolution, Horovitz has participated in several Beastie Boys projects, worked as a remixer, producer, and guest musician for other artists, and acted in a number of films.
Ad-Rock | |
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 Ad-Rock in 2015 | |
| Background information | |
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| Born | Adam Keefe Horovitz October 31, 1966 New York City, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1982–present |
| Formerly of | |
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| Website | beastieboys |
Early life and education
editHorovitz was born on October 31, 1966, and raised on Park Avenue, Manhattan, New York City, the son of Doris (née Keefe) and playwright Israel Horovitz.[3] His sister is film producer Rachael Horovitz. His father was Jewish, whereas his mother, who was of Irish descent, was Catholic.[4][5] He had a secular upbringing.[6]
Career
edit
Horovitz began his music career with a stint in the punk rock band The Young and the Useless, who often performed with the Beastie Boys. In 1982, the Beastie Boys' guitarist, John Berry, quit and was replaced by Horovitz, who was 16 at the time.[7] After Horovitz joined, the Beastie Boys changed their sound, evolving from a hardcore punk band to a more of a hip-hop group. With the departure of Kate Schellenbach, the group's final lineup consisted of Horovitz, Adam Yauch and Michael Diamond. The band was signed to Def Jam, and released its debut album, Licensed to Ill, in 1986. The album was a huge commercial success and spawned six singles, of which one, "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)", reached the top 20 of the US Hot 100 (US #7). The album was certified diamond several years later. The group would go on to release seven studio albums and form their own label Grand Royal. By 2010, the Beastie Boys had sold 40 million albums worldwide, including 22 million in the U.S. In 2012, the Beastie Boys were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Shortly after, the group dissolved due to Yauch's death. Their final live performance was at Bonnaroo 2009.
In addition to his work with the Beastie Boys, Horovitz 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.[8]
Horovitz has acted in several motion pictures and television shows. 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 appeared in the documentary Have a Good Trip.[9]
Personal life
editIn the late 1980s, Horovitz was in a relationship with the American actress Molly Ringwald. They met on the set of The Pick-up Artist.[10][11] Horovitz was married to actress Ione Skye from 1992 to 1999. She is mentioned in the song "Get It Together". They separated in 1995, got back together in 1996, and separated again that year. They divorced in 2000.
After his separation in 1996, he began a relationship with the riot grrrl musician Kathleen Hanna; they married in 2006.[12] Horovitz appeared prominently in The Punk Singer, a 2013 documentary film about Hanna's life and career, and even shot some scenes.[13] Horovitz and Hanna adopted a son in 2013.
Horovitz began to wear a medical alert bracelet after having a tonic–clonic seizure in 2003.[14] Horovitz has been close friends with the actress Nadia Dajani since childhood; the two attended elementary school together.[15]
Discography
editwith the 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
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Beastie | Himself | Documentary Film |
| 1985 | Krush Groove | Himself | Film |
| 1985 | The Equalizer | Ronald Baines | Episode: "Mama's Boy" |
| 1988 | Tougher Than Leather | Himself | Film |
| 1989 | Lost Angels | Tim "Chino" Doolan | Film |
| 1991 | A Kiss Before Dying | Jay Faraday | Film |
| 1992 | Roadside Prophets | Sam | Film |
| 1999 | Futurama | Himself | Episode: "Hell Is Other Robots" |
| 2007 | Godspeed | Repulski | Short Film |
| 2011 | Fight For Your Right Revisited | Cop Number One | Short Film |
| 2013 | The Punk Singer | Himself | Documentary Film |
| 2014 | While We're Young | Fletcher | Film |
| 2015 | 808 | Himself | Documentary Film |
| 2017 | Golden Exits | Nick | Film |
| 2018 | Bad Reputation | Himself | Documentary Film |
| 2020 | Beastie Boys Story | Himself | Documentary Film |
| 2027 | Time Out | Film; filming |
References
edit- ↑ "Ad-Rock biography". Allmusic Rovi Corporation. Retrieved December 16, 2009.
- ↑ Beastie Boys (1986). The New Style (song). Def Jam Recordings.
October 31st, that is my date of birth
- ↑ Israel Horovitz Biography (1939-), Film Reference, accessed March 24, 2011.
- ↑ Susan Jacobs. "Israel Horovitz on art and religion". Wakefield Observer. Archived from the original on October 22, 2013. Retrieved May 5, 2012.
- ↑ "How studio exec-turned-producer pitched 'Moneyball' – The Ticket". Jewish Journal. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved May 5, 2012.
- ↑ Bloom, Nate (December 15, 2011). "Jewish Stars 12/16". Cleveland Jewish News.
His father, famous playwright Israel Horovitz, 72, said a few years ago that he regretted raising Adam secular.
- ↑ Diamond, Michael (1994), Some Old Bullshit album liner notes
- ↑ Arman, Marcus (November 30, 2012). "Bridget Everett and Ad-Rock Get Raunchy". LA Weekly. Archived from the original on October 16, 2014. Retrieved October 10, 2014.
- ↑ "Bill Kreutzmann, Ad-Rock, Adam Scott, Sarah Silverman Featured in 'Have A Good Trip: Adventures In Psychedelics'". Relix.com. April 21, 2020. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
- ↑ Barshad, Amos (April 24, 2011). "Rude Boys". New York. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
- ↑ Mehera Bonner. "Molly Ringwald's Relationship History: Who Has She Dated?". Wetpaint. Archived from the original on September 15, 2014. Retrieved August 26, 2014.
- ↑ "'The Punk Singer' director on capturing the essence of Bikini Kill's Kathleen Hanna". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
- ↑ Valby, Karen (March 12, 2013). "Bikini Kill's Kathleen Hanna reveals illness, reconfirms awesomeness in 'The Punk Singer'". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on January 11, 2015. Retrieved September 29, 2013.
- ↑ "Beastie Boys: Twilight of the Brats". Spin. July 2004.
- ↑ Perez, Rodrigo (July 7, 2020). "'Beastie Boys Story' Editors Talk Working With Spike Jonze & Representing The Adventurous Spirit Of Adam Yauch [Interview]". The Playlist. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
