Author Description

ART THAT KILLS examines the point where art meets crime. The book documents a diabolical era, 1984-2001. It chronicles the evolution of a new aesthetic movement, a terrifying fringe of Underground Art where enlightenment and depravity combined. Murder, rape, torture, perversion, cannibalism, drugs, sedition, racism and blasphemy mixed with literature, history, politics, news, movies, TV, punk rock, philosophy and science. The book profiles a pantheon of dissidents and deviants, presents excerpts from their work, re-lives their crimes, and attempts to analyze an elusive era. The scene described herein is essentially the "second generation" of American Underground Art (the "first generation" ran from '66 through the 70s). All varieties of taboos and criminal advocacy found confluence, beyond "confrontation" or "shock." Pure sadism drove it. Sexual psychosis flavored it. Frustration with politics, big business and mass entertainment fueled it. This is art that kills. NEW EXPANDED AND REVISED EDITION INCLUDES: 32 extra pages. New sections featuring John Waters, H.R. Giger, Glenn Danzig, Twiggy Ramirez, Madonna Wayne Gacy and the musician David E. Williams. Lisa Carver of Rollerderby magazine and the painter Stu Mead have their own sections (they previously were included as one-page entries). Type O Negative, Jack-Off Jill, and Glen Benton of Deicide have been added to the Soundtrack section. Graphic artist Steven Leyba has been added to the Gallery. The section featuring Kenneth Anger has been expanded. Previous errors have been amended, making this new edition the definitive document of aesthetic terror.