Pranked (not punk'd)

Legendary Re/Search publisher V. Vale has finally made a follow-up to the infamous 1986 book, Pranks!, in which his friends from the underground (Timothy Leary, Henry Rollins, John Waters) pull fast ones on the mainstream, mixing malice with a dollop of humor. The newer volume features the likes of Devo's Jerry Casale (aka Jihad Jerry), Margaret Cho, and the Billboard Liberation Front discussing ways to uspet the norm, but Jello Biafra turns the tables by pointing out how George W. Bush has pulled pranks on the U.S.! It's a fascinating, funny, and inspiring read.


The S.F. book-release party has already come and gone, but its L.A. counterpart takes place at Beyond Baroque in Venice this weekend. Video, discussion, Q&A, and more, for just 10 bucks (5 dollars goes to a coupon good for buying the book).