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White Rabbit has acquired William S Burroughs and the Cult of Rock ‘N’ Roll by Casey Rae, showing "the often surprising influence" that Beat Generation writer Burroughs had on music, from David Bowie to the Beatles.
Publisher Lee Brackstone acquired UK and Commonwealth rights (excluding Canada) from Abner Stein.
Publishing this September, Rae's book is said to show the transformations in music history, from the Beatles to grunge and hip hop, that can all be traced to Burroughs, and bringing to life his parallel rise to fame among daring musicians of the 1960s, '70s, and '80s.
"Whether exploring the occult with David Bowie, discussing gritty street life with Lou Reed, or counselling Patti Smith about coping with fame, the stories of Burroughs' backstage impact will transform the way you see America's cultural revolution - and the way you hear its music," the book's synopsis says.
Brackstone said: "Casey Rae’s book is a future pop culture classic which situates the Hip Priest of the Beat Generation at the heart of the rock 'n' roll narrative. As we build a new list of music-related titles at White Rabbit we intend to complement a frontlist dominated by hard-hitting memoirs such as Mark Lanegan’s bestseller with the literary history of the culture that created these artists. This is essential reading for anyone interested in Burroughs and you finish the book in the firm knowledge rock 'n' roll would look very different and much less exciting without his influence."
William S Burroughs and The Cult of Rock ‘n’ Roll will publish on 10th September as a trade paperback.