Beastie Boys turn tables on opening night

SEATTLE -- Thirteen years ago -- too far back for its teen-age fans to remember -- a young, New York hip-hop act called the Beastie Boys was booed off the stage while opening up here for pop diva Madonna. On Friday night, the Beasties returned to Seattle, not so much with revenge in their eyes as with a point to prove. They proved it. As the reigning kings of popular music, the Beasties returned to this city at the top of their genre-bending rap-rock-punk game, playing music from their latest albums -- including their #1 album, Hello Nasty, the record currently ruling the Billboard 200 albums chart. After three years away from touring, they came fully prepared, with a stage that spun in circles, a light show that was practically drug-inducing and a sound system that was unparalleled. They sang a tribute to Billy Joel and, in the end, stood triumphant.