It’s with great sadness that we report the founding member of Beastie Boys, John Berry, has passed away.

Berry was 52-years-old and had been suffering from frontal lobe dementia. Berry’s father, John Berry III, confirmed the news with Rolling Stone. Berry passed away Thursday at 7:30 a.m. at a hospice in Danvers, Massachusetts.

Berry is credited with coming up with the group’s name when they were all teenagers and he was the guitarist for the group the first few years. Berry left The Beastie Boys after they released their first seven-inch EP, Polly Wog Stew. But the rest of the members always credited him for his part in the band and also mentioned him during their induction at the 2012 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Berry played in multiple bands which included Even Worse, Big Fat Love, Highway Stars and Bourbon Deluxe.

Rest in Peace John Berry.

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