Beggars Arkive, the catalogue and archive department of Beggars Group, will be releasing a ‘Bubblegum XX’ box set to honour the 20th anniversary of Mark Lanegan’s album. The set will feature 12 previously unheard tracks and will be released on August 23. The release includes a remastered version of the double LP edition and a 4XLP/3XCD/Digital edition with 40 mastered tracks.
The 4XLP box contains a 64-page hardcover book featuring essays by former collaborators of Lanegan, Queens of the Stone Age bandmates Josh Homme and Troy Van Leeuwen, as well as Duff McKagan and Greg Dulli. The book will also feature studio notes and previously unseen photos by Steve Gullick. The former bandmates have praised Lanegan’s solo work, with Homme noting that “Mark’s early solo works are undeniably powerful. They’re sombre, fragile, breather-taking, beautiful and they’re more real than everyone else’s.”
Lanegan had been previously demoing songs for a new album and was set to record at Abbey Road studios when he passed away. Following his passing, the remastering of ‘Bubblegum XX’ took place at the iconic London studio, while Kopinsky went on to produce the released box set. The box set will contain a remastered version of the EP ‘Here Comes That Weird Chill (Methamphetamine Blues, Extras & Oddities)’ with three bonus tracks, as well as demos and unreleased tracks from the ‘Bubblegum’ sessions and sessions between Lanegan and Van Leeuwen.
In addition, fans will find a previously unfinished song, ‘Union Tombstone,’ featuring contributions from Beck. The artist was unable to contribute at the time of recording due to work on his album, but added vocals and harmonica to the song this year. Lanegan who rose to fame as the lead singer of Screaming Trees passed away in 2022 at the age of 57.
‘Bubblegum XX’ is available to pre-order from the official Beggars Arkive website
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