Adam Horovitz (Ad-Rock of the Beastie Boys, if ya nasty) spoke to Seth Meyers about the anecdote Vin Diesel told in passing on Jimmy Kimmel Live! last week. Diesel said he was a back-up dancer for the Beastie Boys back in the day. They’re from the same neighborhood, and Diesel used to breakdance, so it seemed strange, but maybe possible. Except Ad-Rock says it never happened.
After recommending everyone get drunk or high and watch Diesel’s star-making turn in XXX, Ad-Rock said the story wasn’t true, adding “that’s weird, you guys”. He thinks perhaps Adam Yauch — “because he was a nice guy” — helped Diesel get into a dance club when he was too young to get in on his own, and then Diesel misinterpreted this as being associated with the band somehow.
We wish we could have Vin Diesel’s enthusiasm and perpetual optimism to confuse a nice gesture with being friends forever with Adam Yauch.
Here’s Diesel talking about the time he was totally a back-up dancer for the Beastie Boys, by the way:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9-uenq30DI
I’ve been watching both videos back to back, and they both get funnier every time.