The well suited musician.

[Feraud]

Wearing sharp duds is not a new occurrence for musicians. The Beastie Boys have discovered this old school style.

July 15, 2007
Style
Hello, Natty
By CHRISTOPHER BOLLEN; Photographs By ARI MARCOPOULOS
Inside the wood-paneled walls of the former executive offices of the Benjamin Moore paint company on Canal Street, three men dressed in circa 1950s suits are getting down to business. Only these guys aren’t looking at paint chips. Adam Yauch, Mike Diamond and Adam Horovitz are recording “The Mix-Up,” their new all-instrumental album. Welcome to the Beastie Boys’ Oscilloscope Studios, where for the past year, a strict dress code has been in play.

The new work clothes are not a sign that New York’s favorite delinquent sons have finally grown up or have mellowed with age. “The Mix-Up” finds the Boys away from the rapping and sampling that has defined their hip-hop sound and adopting the old-school approach of just sitting down in a room together and playing their instruments. “We did a total 180 on ourselves,” Diamond says, tugging on his polyester lapels. This is not the first time the Beastie Boys have donned suits for a release — they wore matching jumpsuits while touring for “Hello Nasty” and Adidas track suits for “To the Five Boroughs.” Those looks, however, were assembled specifically for the stage. The vintage suits and ties set the tone for the new album, with MCA, Mike D. and Adrock wearing their retro jazz-cat fineries into the studio every day and requiring everyone else to dress in a similar fashion. “Whenever you look at old pictures of musicians recording,” Yauch explains, “everyone is in suits and ties — formal was normal. So we thought for the music we were making it just didn’t seem right coming in wearing T-shirts and sneakers.”

The three decided that Monday through Thursday were compulsory suit-and-tie, but that Fridays would be casual. “Well, ‘casual,’ ” Horovitz clarifies, “meant, like, old-school sneakers from the ’60s.” All three musicians took instantly to their work threads — even competitively accessorizing with tie clips, cuff links and hats. And they became very savvy hunters on eBay. But of course, when you’re the Beastie Boys, you can also rely on a little help from your fans. “As a band, whatever you’re into, people show up to make it available to you,” Diamond says. “If your band is into drugs, you’ll have seedy drug-type people around you. When we went through our skateboarding phase, people would show up and give us skateboard gear. Now people are showing up with incredible stuff — and I don’t mean drugs, I mean suits.”

The Beastie Boys plan to continue the late-’50s look on tour (they play a bunch of hometown shows next month) and have even produced specially constructed Plexiglas instruments to take on the road. Just don’t expect any onstage pyrotechnics. “Yesterday, I was wearing a shirt that was very flammable,” Diamond says. “There was quite a sheen to it. Most of these clothes are highly petroleum-based. That’s not very environmental.” He opens his jacket to reveal a label that reads, “Lord Douglas expressly tailored for Bonney & Gordon Store for Men, Sacramento, California.” “But on the other hand, we are saving fine clothes from landfills.”

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[BellyTank]

If the suit don't fit- wear it.

Good luck to them.

B
T

 

[imoldfashioned]

Sharp suits but look at the grey hair--makes me feel so old!

 

[Mike K.]

You can grow old, but you don't have to grow up.

 

[Feraud]

Are there any other musicians out there today who dress well?

 

[The Wingnut]

If In Sounds From the Way Out was any indication, the Beastie Boys have definitely taken a departure from their original image in recent years.

It's funny, who'd have ever thought that of all people, the Beastie Boys would get 'respectable'? It looks great on them.

 

[Fletch]

I got one.

Dean Mora as Modern Rhythmist, a la late 30s

Dean as Mr. Musical Director, a la slightly earlier

 

[Jovan]

"Polyester lapels"? They'd sweat buckets on stage.

Whatever the material, their image is very nice.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

In the late 1980s, David Bowie dressed VERY well.


A friend of mine was the manager of an L.A. hotel back then. Bowie stayed there, and my friend got to see what was hanging in his closet. Some really, really sharp suits, and the best pair of blue suede shoes imaginable.

.

 

[DBFedora]

Every Sunday

I'm in a suit every Sunday as I lead our worship and direct our choir, and in dress slacks and button down shirt everyday in the office...so, yes, there are other musicians out there today who dress well, with fedora when it's cool and panama when it's warm.:fedora:

 

[Dutch McCoy]

It is great to see the Beasie Boys looking so sharp. I am a fan from way back.