"For really just a long time, it was just way too sad for me to make music”: Mike D on his grief at the loss of Adam Yauch

Michael Diamond, better known as Mike D of the American hip hop group Beastie Boys performs during the last day of Primavera Sound Porto 2026 at Parque da Cidade.

Mike D appeared on Later With Jools Holland last night and spoke about his return to music after a long absence.

The ex-Beastie Boy released his first solo single Switch Up last month and an album has been pencilled in for later this summer. It’s the first music he’s made since the final Beastie Boys album – 2011’s Hot Sauce Committee Part Two. The group disbanded amicably after Adam Yauch died of cancer in May 2012.