BIOGRAPHY

Kirk Lake's writing has appeared in numerous publications around the world.

His various CDs, LPs and 7"s of the late 1990s are firmly enrolled in what Pere Ubu's David Thomas has referred to as "The Brotherhood of the Unknown" that misunderstood and overlooked gang that gather in used record racks in the very worst parts of town. Have a look you might find one yourself.

His novel "Never Hit The Ground" (1996) remains an elusive slice of British neo-noir concerning prize-fighting fish, drug smuggling, cross-dressing Bob Dylan fanatics and a contortionist cat burglar. It was published in one of the worst book covers that Kirk has ever seen - and he has seen hundreds of thousands of books - so awful in fact, that he never spoke to the publisher again.

He is the UK editor of the culture and entertainment website outsideleft.com

He lives in London.

BOOK NEWS

The Rufus Wainwright book is now finished. It will be published by Orion in May 2009. The title of the book is "There Will Be Rainbows: The Rufus Wainwright Story" which is a reference to a slogan on a homemade t-shirt that Kirk saw being worn by somebody he met at the Hollywood Bowl Judy Garland show. It's a slight misquote from the lyric of Rufus' song "14th Street" but somehow seemed apt for the book.

The book covers the careers of the entire Wainwright/ McGarriggle clan from the folk-scene of Montreal and New York in the late 1960s through to Rufus and Martha's 2008 world tours. Kirk spoke to dozens of people including film-makers, producers, musicians, friends and associates. The book includes many otherwise unpublished photographs.