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February 08, 2005

Dennis Cooper Music Compilation to Feature Pollard, Malkmus, Xiu Xiu

According to a Bookslut interview, Versus Press is working on a CD/book project based on the work of Dennis Cooper. Originally dubbed “The Ash Gray Proclamation,” the compilation (now titled “Dennis”) will feature music inspired by his books from the likes of Robert Pollard, Stephen Malkmus, Xiu Xiu and Camper Van Beethoven. In addition, Cooper will include a new novella in the comp. Cooper gave an update on the project on his site:

A bunch of you have written to us asking what happened to DC’s multi-media project ‘Dennis’ (formerly known as ‘The Ash Gray Proclamation’). For you newbies, this is a book/CD package featuring a compilation of songs from bands and musicians (Richard Hell, Stephen Malkmus, Robert Pollard, Xiu Xiu, Camper Van Beethoven, and many others) inspired by DC’s books plus a new novella by the man himself. It was supposed to have been in stores last fall. Well, we have some news. ‘Dennis’ was ready -- designed, mastered, etc. -- and on its way out when Substandard Records, who were co-releasing the project with Versus Press, suddenly folded its tent in December. Versus Press is currently setting up a partnership with another independent record label TBA, and a new release date should be announced shortly.

In 2000, New York University hosted a two-day celebration of Dennis Cooper's work with an exhibition of his manuscripts, correspondence, myriad books and other works, and readings of his words by Stephen Malkmus, Thurston Moore, and Bret Easton Ellis. The comp is a side project to Cooper's new novel, “The Sluts,” that's been in the works for eight years.

Posted by timothompson at February 8, 2005 12:29 PM