A Redditor on r/bonnaroo (u/IHBMSU) recently posted about catching the Beastie Boys at Bonnaroo in June 2009 — a set that’s taken on extra weight over the years because, unbeknownst to the crowd, it would be their last full concert together. What started as an epic festival moment turned bittersweet a few weeks later when Adam “MCA” Yauch revealed his cancer diagnosis and the group canceled the rest of their dates. MCA passed away before they could perform together again.
Why this night is still talked about: the set was high-energy and celebratory, and fans remember surprise moments (Nas reportedly popped up during the show), old-school punk numbers, and Mixmaster Mike tearing it up on the decks. Several redditors called it an all-time Roo moment — some were teens seeing the Beasties for the first time, others were longtime fans finally getting that bucket-list show. One comment even remembers Snoop Dogg opening and Paul Revere shining on the old punk material.
There are small, perfect festival details that stick with people — the crowd singing back every word, a goofed instrumental buildup during “Sabotage” that the band reset and nailed on the second try, and random run-ins (u/IHBMSU says they even spotted the band and Nas filming a video in Centennial Park a day or two before the show).
If you were there, you’ll know why folks still bring it up: equal parts sweaty, joyful, and full of music-history hindsight. If you missed it, the thread is a nice snapshot of how festivals can turn a single set into a memory people hold onto for years.
Share your memory in the comments below — whether you were in the pit at Bonnaroo, saw them elsewhere, or have a favorite Beastie Boys live moment. And if you’ve got photos or clips from Roo 2009, drop them so the rest of us can relive it.
Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/bonnaroo/comments/1qw90jk/that_time_i_saw_the_beastie_boys_final_concert/