Link from CNN.com

The Beastie Boys canceled all scheduled concerts and delayed their next album release while member Adam “MCA” Yauch is treated for a cancerous tumor in a salivary gland, Yauch says in a video statement to fans.

“The good news is that they did scans of my whole body and it’s only localized in this one area and it’s not in a place that affects my voice,” Yauch says. “So, that’s nice. That’s convenient.”

The illness will also delay the release of the band’s next album, “Hot Sauce Committee Part 1,” he says.

In the video statement to fans, Yauch mentions how the cancer is usually very treatable, which is good to hear.   Not that I would be gleeful if celebrities I didn’t like were stricken with cancer, but the Beastie Boys were one of my favorite bands growing up, especially as a precocious kid just entering high school.  Their eclectic mix of instrumental experimentation,  whimsical flow and New-York-centric lyrics made them one of the most influential groups in hip hop during the 1980’s and 1990’s, period.

We at Captain Polemic wish Yauch a full recovery.

P.S.  The re-mastered version of Ill Communications can be found on their site as well, it’s one of my favorites from them.  And there you have it, we’ve just made history folks.  My first shameless plug of things I like on this website.  Enjoy.