Friday morning news broke of The Beastie Boys’ Adam Yauch’s passing after a difficult battle with cancer. Within minutes of the announcement, the Twittersphere was a blaze with thoughts and sentiments from fans and celebrities about one of entertainment’s most incredible trailblazers.

Later that evening, at the historic Hollywood Bowl, Coldplay performed a touching version of the Beastie Boys’ “(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party).” By all accounts, the tear-filled eyes outnumbered the dry.

So, when KROQ’s Nicole Alvarez sat down with Chris Martin and Will Champion before their headlining appearance at the KROQ Weenie Roast Y Fiesta 2012, she asked how the tribute came about. “Friday you did something very special and touching, unfortunately we lost somebody in music that means a lot to all of us, Adam Yauch… So, where were you when you heard the news and do you remember how you felt right at the time?”

“Well, I don’t know how to talk about it,” responded Martin. “It seems the only thing to do is to sing… sing it.”

“When did you put the tribute together?”

“In the afternoon, said Martin after he thought about it for a second.”

“And, did that song seem like the right one to do?”

“Absolutely, yes,” Martin confirmed. “It’s a weird one cause you think, it’s t too obvious to just play someone’s song if they’d gone. But it’s the only thing we know how to do.”

Coldplay at Hollywood Bowl, May 4, 2012

KROQ Weenie Roast, Irvine, CA, May 5, 2012

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–Jay Tilles, CBS Local