Beastie Boys
Don't Mosh in the Ramen Shop
CD-ROM 1995
A dream project — creating the ultimate fan collection of rarities, unreleased videos, rehearsal and concert footage, plus brand new videos made specifically for the disc.
This project was groundbreaking on just about every level. It featured an interactive 360° tour of their studio – a world first. It included over 40 minutes of full screen video – again, a world first. The disc came installed with the first ever version of Internet Explorer and connected to the web. It even had an interactive store where people could order merchandise from the Grand Royal catalog. Plus, it included the original version of the song Interaglactic.
This project was groundbreaking on just about every level. It featured an interactive 360° tour of their studio – a world first. It included over 40 minutes of full screen video – again, a world first. The disc came installed with the first ever version of Internet Explorer and connected to the web. It even had an interactive store where people could order merchandise from the Grand Royal catalog. Plus, it included the original version of the song Interaglactic.
Ch-Check it out
In 1994 we pitched the band a concept for an interactive CD. To give them an idea of the possibilities, we showed them a prototype I'd created for an online music store. They were blown away and immediately gave us the go ahead.
I was the project lead, responsible for the concept, design and video production. My brother Peter did all the coding. A friend John Assalian helped with some of the video production.
In 2012, when Adam Yauch sadly lost his battle with cancer, I went through my closet and found an old laptop which could still play the disc. I shared the above video, along with a bit of a back story about the project.
I was the project lead, responsible for the concept, design and video production. My brother Peter did all the coding. A friend John Assalian helped with some of the video production.
In 2012, when Adam Yauch sadly lost his battle with cancer, I went through my closet and found an old laptop which could still play the disc. I shared the above video, along with a bit of a back story about the project.
One for the history books
An excerpt from the Beastie Boys Book that describes what we did...
“We built video-game machines out of classic junked Space Invaders and Lunar Lander machines I found in Indianapolis and had trucked to Los Angeles. We begged Apple to give us hardware. We put joysticks on the front and used QuickTime VR studio as an interface to launch loud videos from Beastie Boys, DJ Hurricane, and other Grand Royal artists. We put loudspeakers and big monitors on top of the video games to make them a spectacle on the concourse level of the venue. They were cool in 1995, and even if they existed today you’d have to nod your head and give it up. Shit was dope. Nerdy but dope”
“We built video-game machines out of classic junked Space Invaders and Lunar Lander machines I found in Indianapolis and had trucked to Los Angeles. We begged Apple to give us hardware. We put joysticks on the front and used QuickTime VR studio as an interface to launch loud videos from Beastie Boys, DJ Hurricane, and other Grand Royal artists. We put loudspeakers and big monitors on top of the video games to make them a spectacle on the concourse level of the venue. They were cool in 1995, and even if they existed today you’d have to nod your head and give it up. Shit was dope. Nerdy but dope”
This goes out to my man the Groove Merchant
This is a prototype of an idea I had for an "online music store".
At the time, the web browser didn't exist, ecommerce didn't exist, playing music and video on a computer was a rare and limited capability only a few computers had.
This demo is how I landed the Beastie Boys project.
At the time, the web browser didn't exist, ecommerce didn't exist, playing music and video on a computer was a rare and limited capability only a few computers had.
This demo is how I landed the Beastie Boys project.
New Style
This is the intro video that plays as soon as you launch the disc. At the time, full screen video on computers was unheard of – we found a way to push the limits and achieve what nobody else had done before.
The Mix Up
This is a mashup I cut and animated, featuring their singles, from their first record to their latest release. I got high praise on the audio mixing from the mixmaster himself, Mixmaster Mike.
Revolution Time
Their recording studio served as the main interface. You spin around the room and nearly everything in the room was a link to content: videos, photos, audio and various interactive content. This was one of the first interactive 360° videos ever made.
Elevated Platform
There was an alternative interface that gave you a "directory" of the major content. You'd scroll up and down the subway map to see all the content.
But the 360° room contained lots of extra little surprises and hidden treats not available through the subway.
* The preview pane was quite a feat of design and engineering.
But the 360° room contained lots of extra little surprises and hidden treats not available through the subway.
* The preview pane was quite a feat of design and engineering.
Shut Up and Play the Hits
There was an additional way to watch just the videos – a playlist mode that lets you order the videos using a simple drag-and-drop, or set it to random shuffle.
I created the handwritten font for this project. It's called Fattip and it's available for free. It's been used on everything from the The Daily Show to Kanye singles, Annie's hot dog stands to Jenna Jameson's web site.
I created the handwritten font for this project. It's called Fattip and it's available for free. It's been used on everything from the The Daily Show to Kanye singles, Annie's hot dog stands to Jenna Jameson's web site.
Sounds of Science
Another world first, this was a multi-channel recording synced to a panoramic image. As you panned the image, the audio would pan in sync. Pan to AdRock and you'd hear his guitar, pan to MCA and you'd hear his bass, etc.
Make Some Noise
Ricky Powell, an old friend of the band, shot hours and hours of footage of the band – in the studio, on tour, hanging out. Ricky gave us access to lots of that footage and we included some of the best clips.
The Best in Men's Clothing
Grand Royal was a mini empire run by the band that included their own record label, magazine, and merchandise catalog. For the disc, we made an interactive version of the catalog.
Hey Ladies
Grand Royal Records had a fairly large roster of artists. The disc featured lots of those artists, including audio and video clips.
Dr Lee, PhD
Grand Royal Magazine was a cultural phenomenon, credited with among other things coining the term "mullet" – just check Oxford English Dictionary.
Issue #2 had an extensive cover story feature on legendary reggae artist Lee Scratch Perry. The interview is fascinating, but not nearly as captivating as watching the original interview on video – which was included on the disc.
Issue #2 had an extensive cover story feature on legendary reggae artist Lee Scratch Perry. The interview is fascinating, but not nearly as captivating as watching the original interview on video – which was included on the disc.
Picture This
Ricky Powell was also their official photographer for years, he captured incredible moments throughout their early career. The disc included lots of those rare and unreleased photos.
Just plug me in
The Beastie Boys and their label had popular web sites (by 1994 standards), which we connected directly from the disc.
This disc was one of the first in the world to be bundled with v1 of Internet Explorer.
This disc was one of the first in the world to be bundled with v1 of Internet Explorer.
Gratitude
The first time we showed the band an early prototype was nerve wracking. They were rehearsing at a Universal Studios sound stage, preparing for a big tour. When we showed it to them, they were stone silent. It was terrifying. It turned out they were literally stunned by how good it was. Thank god.
Later that afternoon, I joined the band on percussion for a few songs. It was a pretty epic day.
Later that afternoon, I joined the band on percussion for a few songs. It was a pretty epic day.
