How the Beastie Boys fought for the right to tell their own story (and party)

New documentary 'Beastie Boys Story' gives us a very personal view of the band from its two surviving members, from its early punk rock roots to its transformation to rap stars and legends. Photo: Apple TV+

It's not every day you have to get up at 3am to interview the Beastie Boys. Then again, it’s not every day you get to talk to the Beastie Boys in the first place.

But there I was last week, sitting at home in front of my laptop, waiting for the two surviving members of the Beastie Boys, Michael “Mike D” Diamond and Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz, and director Spike Jonze (another person I never expected to be speaking to) to come on the Zoom group interview to talk about their Apple TV+ documentary film, Beastie Boys Story.