Ongoing History Daily: The “(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)” story

The Beastie Boys did some great things in their career, but many people will forever know them as the band that released “(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party).” Here are some facts about that song. 

Legend says that the song was written in as little as five minutes–or maybe as much as 30 minutes. Whatever the truth, it didn’t take that long. The original version of the song had electronic drum loops, but producer Rick Rubin overdubbed big, fat rock drums without the band knowing it–and against their wishes. 

The original version of the song features a guitar riff played by Rick, who was trying to play like the guys in Slayer. That riff was later re-done, also without the band’s permission, using Kerry King, who is actually from Slayer.

The video was shot for $20,000 by a couple of film students. The mother of one of the students gets a pie in the face. 

And when all the dust cleared after the single was a bit hit, Public Enemy–the rap group–wrote a reply to the song called “Party for Your Right to Fight.”