Coldplay 'butcher' Beastie Boys song (+video)

Chris Martin and Coldplay have honoured late Beastie Boy Adam Yauch. Photo / AP

Coldplay have honoured late Beastie Boy Adam Yauch by turning the hip-hop band's signature song into a ballad.

The British pop act performed the Beastie Boys' 1987 hit (You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (to Party!) at their recent Hollywood Bowl show.

Instead of performing Fight For Your Right like the Beastie Boys, Chris Martin and co turned the song into a ballad, crooning lines like "Your mum threw away your best porno mag".

Cheers erupted from the crowd when Martin mentioned Yauch's name, but reaction online hasn't been as positive.

"I'm aware it is a tribute but that doesn't give it license to suck. It's a nice gesture but they butchered the song," said one YouTube viewer.

"They took an upbeat edgy song and turned it into a slow boring lame song," said another.

Others praised Coldplay for the tribute and their attempt at performing the song.

Yauch died on Friday after a three-year battle with throat cancer. He was 47.

Celebrities have honoured the rapper, including Madonna, who said he was one of a kind and the group was important to her musical history.

The singer says the seminal hip-hop group was "integral to the musical revolution that was happening at the time".

Madonna says she was sad to hear of Yauch's death and asked God to bless his family.

The Beastie Boys opened for Madonna on tour in the 1980s, and the group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last month.

Watch Coldplay's cover of (You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (to Party!):

- Herald online with AP