John Berry, a founding member of the Beastie Boys, died Thursday morning, according to Rolling Stone.

Berry, who was 52 and suffered from frontal lobe dementia, was no longer part of the group during their rise to fame and subsequent years of success -- he left in 1982, a few years before their 1986 breakout debut, Licensed to Ill. But he was an original member, teaming with longtime members MCA and Mike D, as well as Kate Schellenbach, in the late 1970s to form the punk band The Young Aborigines. He was also credited with coming up with their new name.

Later in life, Berry played in a number of bands, including Even Worse, Big Fat Love, Highway Stars, and Bourbon Deluxe. His contribution to the Beastie Boys, though, wasn't forgotten by MCA, Mike D and Ad-Rock, who mentioned him during their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2012.

Below, watch Berry and others reflect on those pre-fame years in The Beastie Boys: Early Years.