On their 1986 debut album, 'License to Ill,' the Beastie Boys boasted "If I played guitar I'd be Jimmy Page" and sampled riffs from Led Zeppelin's catalog. 23 years and seven albums later, the grey-haired rappers are shifting their sights from a guitar hero to a more mellow but equally iconic legend -- Bob Dylan.

The Beasties included some of Dylan's music on the song 'Finger Lickin' Good,' but a new sample they plan to use comes from props Dylan gave the trio on his XM Satellite show, 'Theme Time Radio Hour.' In fact, that is the sample. Ad Rock told Drowned in Sound this week that it's "more of a spoken word thing ... He played one of our songs and was talking about us; he's a big fan."

Producer and Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section keyboardist Barry Beckett died Wednesday at his home in Hendersonville, Tenn., after a series of illnesses. He was 66.

"He was the best boss I ever had and one of the greatest friends I ever had," Beckett's longtime companion and co-worker Dick Cooper told Alabama's Times Daily. "He and Jerry Wexler taught me everything I know about the music industry."

As the Swampers, Beckett, guitarist Jimmy Johnson, bassist David Hood and drummer Roger Hawkins played with many top acts, most notably providing the backbone of the Staples Singers' 'I'll Take You There' and Paul Simon's 'Kodachrome.' On April 1, 1969, the foursome partnered in what became the world famous Muscle Shoals Sound Studios in Sheffield, Ala.

Ask Dhani Harrison his biggest influence and his answer is not surprising. "Mostly just my dad. I spent more time with him than anyone," Harrison says of his father, the late, great George Harrison. "I was recording stuff with my dad when I was like five, six years old. I played with him on tour. I'd gone with him to Japan in '91, played some gigs, did a couple shows at the Albert Hall."

But growing up playing with George meant playing with a lot of his father's famous friends as well, and the younger Harrison, now making music with his band theNewNo2, has gotten to learn from some of the true greats, including when the elder Harrison played was alongside Jeff Lynne, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison and Tom Petty as part of the Traveling Wilburys. "Just that band, the Wilburys, was so nice," Harrison recalls. "Tom Petty was the kind of guy who was always kind of fun and happy, didn't seem to give a s--- about anything and was like a real rock 'n' roller. He was a really big influence on me."

We'd bet that few 66-year-olds are familiar with MGMT. But Paul McCartney isn't your average sexagenarian. You knew that already. The former Beatle recently voiced his MGMT fandom, and admits he'd like to work with the Brooklyn indie duo.

"I like MGMT," McCartney said. "I'd like to work on some more dancey stuff with [them]. But it has to happen organically. I can't call them. If they called me, I'd say, 'How did you get my number?' But I'd do it."

Time Magazine once called singer-songwriter Bob Dylan a "master poet." And while he's written some of the most important, influential works of a generation, an early piece of "poetry" he was believed to have penned is now causing some confusion.

On May 19, Christie's auction house announced the sale of a handwritten manuscript containing 'Little Buddy,' a poem a teenaged Dylan had purportedly written while at camp in 1957. The following day, however, Christie's announced that the lyrics, with a few minor changes, actually appear to be the work of late country-music legend Hank Snow.

If pulling down the No. 1 slot in both the U.K. and U.S. album charts wasn't enough this week, Bob Dylan also caused a stir by revealing his desire to team up with Paul McCartney for an upcoming studio project.

Dylan, who reportedly sold 125,000 copies of his 33rd studio offering, 'Together Through Life,' said he'd definitely be up for a collaborative session with Macca. "That would be exciting, to do something with Paul," Dylan told Rolling Stone. "But, you know, your paths have to cross for something like that to make sense."

Bob Dylan can pretty much say whatever he likes. And he does. The rock legend took playful aim at the Rolling Stones in the latest installment of lengthy interview with noted music journalist and MTV producer Bill Flanagan. The conversation -- conducted to promote his 33rd album 'Together Through Life' -- offers some tongue-in-cheek observations about his "old cohorts."

"They're pretty much finished, aren't they?" Dylan said. And when Flanagan cited the Stones' recent gigantic tour, Dylan cracked, "Oh yeah, you mean Steel Wheels. I'm not saying they don't keep going, but they need Bill [Wyman]. Without him they're a funk band. They'll be the real Rolling Stones when they get Bill back."