The Beastie Boys And Madonna Played Good Cop-Bad Cop On The ‘Virgin’ Tour
Madonna may have been a massive pop star in 1986, but she wasn’t about playing it safe. She wanted to bring some New York edge on the road with her, so she called Russell Simmons of Def Jam to try to book the Fat Boys as her opening act. Simmons offered his new trio the Beastie Boys, who were not only available but would work cheap. In Beastie Boy fashion, the trio egged on the crowds, behaving like heels at a pro-wrestling event. Tour organizers wanted to drop them from the bill, but Madonna liked the energy, and insisted they stay on.