Nick Cave Bringing Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! To Bookstores

Music journalists have written plenty of books which dissect songs and albums, but now Nick Cave is publishing a book that will serve as an accompaniment to the title track of his latest album, Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!.

The 40-page hardback book will be available in stores on July 8. It will include handwritten lyrics, photos, an explanation of the song and a three-inch CD.

"It is a curiosity that deals with the preparation and final glorious outcome of a project that began on the back of an envelope, a literal 'scrap' of an idea and ended up evolving into a genuine cultural icon and classic rock 'n' roll song, due to the collaboration of myself and Brit artists Sue Webster and Tim Noble," Cave wrote in a statement.

According to Cave, the collaboration "is accompanied by an eight-foot-square light sculpture, employing over 750 light bulbs, built by Webster and Noble. This little book documents the journey of this mammoth collaboration."

"Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!" is a reworking of the Lazarus myth. Lazarus is a character in the New Testament whom Jesus raises from the dead. Cave heard the story in church as a youngster and was apparently so traumatized by it that he rewrote the myth to deal with it. "Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!" places its character in 1970s New York City with another narrative featuring the late magician/escape artist Harry Houdini.

This isn't the only strange idea Cave has recently concocted. He's long said he wants a $60,000 Australian (about $58,000 Canadian) half-naked bronze statue of himself on horseback erected in his hometown of Warracknabeal, Australia. He began talking about it in 2001 and, in 2004, said he'd make a film about it. There are, of course, those who think this is nothing but a joke.

Cave is no stranger to book publishing. His first book, King Ink, was a collection of lyrics and plays that was published in 1988. He released a novel called And The Ass Saw The Angel a year later. He's currently working on a second novel. Cave also has no problem giving his opinion on others' literary endeavours. He voiced his feelings about Renegade, The Fall frontman Mark E. Smith's recent autobiography, to London, England's XFM on Monday.

"It's sad. It's one of the most whingy, whiney and sniveling things I've ever read in my life," Cave told the radio station. "He's not a curmudgeon, but he snivels and moans and whines. I love him very much, but he snivels. He should reach for the tissues!"

Let's hope Smith doesn't go after Cave like he did The Cribs at the Mojo Honours List awards on Monday night.