Beastie Boy Adam Yauch dies aged 47 - his life in pictures

In addition to his career in music, Yauch was a film-maker and passionate Buddhist and defender of Tibetan rights. Here, at press conference prior to the Tibet Freedom concert in Washington DC in 1998 Photograph: Stephen Jaffe/AFP/Getty Images

The Beastie Boys: Adam Horovitz, Adam Yauch, and Mike Diamond with DJ Hurricane in 1986 Photograph: Time Life Pictures/Getty Image

RUN DMC with the Beastie Boys in 1987. Left to right: Yauch, Jam Master Jay, Mike D, DMC, Ad Rock and Run Photograph: Ebet Roberts/Getty Images

The Beastie Boys performing during their Licensed to Ill Tour in 1987. The album was fastest-selling debut in Columbia Records' history, selling more than 750,000 copies in its first six weeks Photograph: Scott Weiner/Corbis

Adam Yauch on stage in 2000 Photograph: Mick Hutson/Getty

Adam Yauch, Mike Diamond and Adam Horowitz on stage in 2004 Photograph: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

The Brooklyn-born Yauch co-founded the Beastie Boys in 1981, originally as a punk rock outfit. Here, the group in 2004 Photograph: PR

Adam Yauch MCs with the Beastie Boys at Wembley Arena, London in 2004 Photograph: Dave Hogan/Getty Images

A still from the Beastie Boys documentary Awesome; I Fuckin' Shot That! (2006) Photograph: THINKFilm

The Beastie Boys on stage during the Live Earth concert in London, 2007 Photograph: Getty Images

Mike Diamond, Adam Horowitz and Adam Yauch posing for a photograph for the Guardian in 2011 Photograph: Graeme Robertson for the Guardian

Adam Horovitz, Mike Diamond and Adam Yauch in 1989 Photograph: AP

Mike Diamond, Adam Yauch and Adam Horovitz in June 1985 Photograph: Everett Collection / Rex Feature/Everett Collection / Rex Feature

Yauch performs during Live Earth in 2007 Photograph: Dave M. Benett/Getty Images

The Beastie Boys at the 2006 Sundance film festival in Park City, Utah Photograph: Mario Anzuoni/Reuters

The Beastie Boys in Sydney in 2007 Photograph: Justin Lloyd/Newspix/Rex Features

Yauch in May 2009 Photograph: Evan Agostini/AP