The Beastie Boys will perform April 25 at Las Vegas’ House of Blues, in a show that will serve both as a tribute to slain Run-D.M.C. DJ Jam Master Jay and a warm-up for the veteran rap trio’s headlining slot the next night at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival in Indio, Calif.
Longtime Beasties associate DJ Hurricane will also be on the bill for the all-ages Vegas show, tickets for which are now on sale for $75 and $150.
Further details regarding the benefit were unavailable at deadline. It is not known if surviving Run-D.M.C. members Joseph “Reverend Run” Simmons or Daryl “DMC” McDaniels plan to attend or contribute to the event in any way. Jam Master Jay (real name: Jason Mizell) was murdered last October at his recording studio in Queens. No charges have been filed in the case.
In other Beastie Boys news, the group will play an April 19 Tibetan Freedom Concert at Tokyo’s Bay NK Hall, with proceeds to benefit the Beasties-founded Milarepa Fund nonprofit organization. Tibetan multi-instrumentalist Nawang Khechog and Japanese rock act Mo’Some Tonebender will also be on the bill.
The Beastie Boys are working on their first studio album since 1998’s “Hello Nasty.” The group recently released an anti-war song “In a World Gone Mad,” on its official Web site (http://www.beastieboys.com).
