Sure, Nick Cave may look like a tweaked-out, undependable drifter these days, but let me be the first to assure you that, despite what that garish mustache would have you believe, he’s actually pretty all-about commitment these days. Take, for instance, his second work of fiction, The Death of Bunny Munro, which he will be “committing” to paper in the coming months.
Cave's previous foray into fiction was, of course, 1989's And the Ass Saw the Angel, which, conveniently enough, is currently available in two special editions via Black Spring Press. In rather typical Cave fashion, this new endeavor traces the fortunes of one man and his son on a road trip around the south coast of England following the suicide of his wife. Sure, it sounds rather bleak, but remember that you’re talking about the man who made even “not getting laid” sound completely badass last year.
The world rights for the book have been acquired by publishers Canongate, who have “committed” to a release date of September 2009 for Cave’s creation. Canongate is planning a multimedia launch for Bunny Munro, which will consist of both an audio book (also narrated by Cave himself, kids!) and an e-book, which will both launch simultaneously. In addition, a signed and numbered limited edition will also be available, as well as a special e-book version combining Cave's narration with an original "soundscape."
"Nick is one of the great forces in contemporary culture -- not just an outstanding musician and singer, but also a superb writer, be it of lyrics, screenplays, music scores or novels," says Canongate publisher/managing director Jamie Byng. "This novel is going to shock and amaze a lot of people." See, I told you he was dedicated... how many books have you written, published, narrated, and soundtracked in the past year? Cuz if it’s any less than one, you already look shitty by comparison!
But wait, he’s not even done yet; heck, he’s barely even broken a sweat! Along with his fellow Bad Seeds, Cave is also “committed” to both headline and curate All Tomorrow’s Parties’ inaugural ATP Australia festival, scheduled to take place January 9-18, 2009 in, you guessed it, Australia. Caves ATP Australia will stage shows all across the island/commonwealth/country/continent and will include such indulgences as he and the Seeds see fit, including (and this is just preliminary, mind you):
Spiritualized, Silver Apples, Michael Gira, Fuck Buttons, Afrirampo, Harmonica, James “Blood” Ulmer, the Saints, former Go-Between Robert Foster, Laughing Clowns, Bridezilla, the Necks, Primitive Calculators, Rowland S. Howard, the Stabs, and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.
And all of this while you’re struggling to make a simple dinner reservation for your parents this weekend! Maybe you should look into growing one of those mustaches after all.
