One of the founding members of the groundbreaking hip-hop band, the Beastie Boys, Adam Yauch, died of cancer Friday at the age of 47. The band, which got its start calling for kids to fight for their right to party, was going strong until Yauch's diagnosis of a tumor on his salivary gland. For awhile, it looked like Yauch might beat the illness, but last year, things took a turn for the worse when he relapsed, and the 2011 release of the band's album Hot Sauce Committee, Part 2 was delayed. His illness also prevented him from attending the band's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. Stars left farewell messages for Yauch via Twitter. Madonna, whose 1985 Virgin tour featured the Beastie Boys as the opening act, issued the following statement: "The Beastie Boys were one of a kind! And so was Adam! They were all an important part of my musical history. And integral to the musical revolution that was happening at the time. I'm very sad to hear about Adam's passing. God bless him and his family." Coldplay played a tribute to Yauch and the Beastie Boys at their Friday concert at the Hollywood Bowl, where Chris Martin played a slow piano version of "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (to Party)." A devout Buddhist who championed Tibetan rights, Yauch leaves behind his wife, Dechen Wangdu, and daughter Tenzin Losel.