A founding member of the Beastie Boys has died aged 52.

John Berry played guitar for the group between 1981 and 1982, appearing on their first EP 'Polly Wog Stew'.

He died on Thursday morning (May 19) at a hospice in Danvers, Massachusetts.

His father told Rolling Stone that Berry had been suffering from frontal lobe dementia.

The musician is credited with coining the name Beastie Boys and he regularly hosted practices in front of audiences.

Beastie Boys referenced Berry when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012.

The group went on to find global fame as a trio.

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