Twenty-five years after the release of their debut album Licensed to Ill
True to the Beastie Boys' spirit (think of the riotous, defiant, punk rock-infused edge of their "Sabotage" single or the Animal House-ish feel of their "Fight For Your Right (To Party!)"), the group insisted that the proceeds of the Nixon Beastie Boys watch collection benefit WKCR-FM, Columbia University's student-run radio station, thereby enabling these youngsters to continue voicing their original ideas, unrestricted as they are from commercial interests and advertiser regulations, and sharing their musical selections with eager listeners.
A funky interpretation of Nixon's Time Teller watch, the custom model at the center of the collection features a 20mm-wide polyurethane band emblazoned with the word "Beastie" outlined in bold, '80s-style bubble letters on one side and boasting a printed quote from Mike D on the other side o the strap (his words of wisdom, if you will). The dial, meanwhile, features a campy image of Mike D in a sailor outfit worthy of a Love Boat episode (but set to a Beat Street soundtrack, of course), and is set inside a polycarbonate and hardened mineral crystal case measuring 47.75mm x 39.25mm. Each watch is packaged inside a box with illustrations of nautical paraphernalia like lifesavers and ship steering wheels.
Available in white, red, green, and blue, the Nixon Beastie Boys watches are available until supplies last — and, if these follow in the footsteps of the group's multi-platinum album sales, that won't be very long.
Nixon Beastie Boys Watch, $85 at NixonNow.com
