Studio 54 bouncer Avi Montug and his story.

Beastie Boys - legendary American rap-rock band formed in 1979 in Brooklyn, New York. Today they are titans of their time and genre with a multi-million circulation! The same goes for Madonna - a scandalous pop icon who in her time turned the idea of pop singers, their charisma, perseverance and talent upside down... In general - these are iconic names without which it is simply impossible to imagine modern musical history. But it wasn't always like that, of course.

Once upon a time, Madonna and the Beastie Boys were nobody. by unknown up-and-coming musiciansIt is known that some events fundamentally change destinies, and sometimes a lot depends on seemingly small things. As we know, some events change destinies, and sometimes a lot depends on seemingly small things. Sometimes one performance, which may seem to be just "one more of a kind" can make you a star (or at least a recognisable personality). That's what happened to Madonna and the Beastie Boys at the beginning of their journey, quite by accident and... thanks to a bouncer from Studio 54 named Avi Montug. You could say that they owe their dazzling career to this man....

A little background: Studio 54 and Avi Montug.

The '70s era was an exciting time for the music industry, the underground movement and the New York scene in particular. People were increasingly drawn to discos and substances that were freely available at the time - like alcohol. At that time nobody knew about AIDS, so "love" and fun were actively flourishing, and along with it, so were nightclubs. New York's most elite establishment (well, or at least one of them) was the legendarily famous . Studio 54where the leading bohemians of those years gathered: actors and musicians, artists and photographers... In general - the cream of society.

Hollywood aristocrats went there to see their own kind and, just as importantly, to be seen. The ordinary "mortal." It was more difficult: not everyone was allowed inside the club, and often some adventurers took the risk of trying to get into this "bohemian oasis" through ventilation shafts or using climbing equipment....

Some time for the dress code of the guests Studio 54 was being monitored by a man named Avi Montug. As a doorman/bouncer at one of New York's most elite nightclubs, he was part of a cult era. He got to see more than one cult star in person, even when fame was still a long way off... Avi probably didn't realise how far the young artists he hired for his travelling cabaret showcasing new talent would go. Two of these "diamonds" were Madonna and the Beastie Boys - unknown at the time, but world-famous idols today.

How Madonna and the Beastie Boys got on Avi's radar

Avi not only guarded Studio 54 and made sure it "looked the part". He was also in charge own showas a travelling cabaret that showcased new talent. He personally selected the artists and supervised the acts, and it was he who launched an up-and-coming but promising singer from Detroit called Madonna Ciccone or just Madonna.

Within the framework of the "No Entiendes." (the title of the show, which from Spanish means "You don't understand") the future pop star performed the track "Everybody". She was about 25 at the time, but a dazzling career was just around the corner... Remarkably, before she took the stage, her number was presented as a "world premiere".

Around the same time, fate smiled on a young trio from New York who, just a few years later, would become widely known as the Beastie Boys. Budding performers were desperate to succeed in rock, punk, hip-hop or, as critics say, the "Beastie Boys genre."when Avi was spotted. Soon their careers would take off.....

Avi Montuga's later life and colourful finale

Avi's career actively flourished in of the '70s and '80sUntil the AIDS wave swept the world. Before that, no one had any idea about the disease, which is probably why people were partying so hard and going to nightclubs - being uninformed, you don't know about the terrible consequences. Alas, Montug himself became a victim of the disease and died in 1991.

Given his colourful life, Avi realised that there was no way his finale could be bleak. Feeling that his days are almost numberedThe former bouncer threw a wild party in his own style, inviting his closest people, including Madonna, who joined them on the phone. The former bouncer threw a wild party in his own style, inviting the people closest to him, including Madonna, who joined them by phone. Surrounded by those he loved, he took strong drugs. He was sure that was it, but somehow miraculously he still woke up in the morning. Avi went into a rage. After all the guests left, he took much more than he did the first time, finally realising his scheme. One of the most iconic personalities of the Studio 54 era passed away brightly and not from suffering.