You might not know the name Rankin, but if you’re into music and magazines that find inspiration in the culture, I’m sure you’ve seen his work. Rankin established himself internationally by founding one of our favorite magazines Dazed & Confused with his business partner Jefferson Hack in 1991. Then there’s the fact that his iconic portraits of musicians are some of the most recognizable. For Destroy / Rankin, over 70 of the world’s biggest musicians and visual artists have created a new body of artwork based on the acclaimed photographer’s work. Asked to “destroy” Rankin’s photographs, artists including Michael Stipe, U2, The Gossip, Beck, Jarvis Cocker, Debbie Harry, Kylie Minogue, Basement Jaxx, Goldfrapp and Marianne Faithfull have a created a portfolio of deeply personal reflections on their music and images ranging from paintings and drawings to collage. Interesting how some of the musicians “destroyed” the artwork while others have worked with visual artists such as Damien Hirst, Mat Collishaw, and Douglas Gordon with whom they have collaborated.

More than a collection of rad art, though, the book also contains five essays on the relationship between art and music that feature the perspectives of included artists as well as key cultural commentators such as Mike Figgis, Peter Saville, Beth Ditto, Miranda Sawyer and Rankin himself. And also includes a 30-minute DVD with behind the scenes shoot footage, providing a rare insight in to Rankin’s work and creative process. The book is published by Youth Music, the UK’s largest music charity for young people, in celebration of their tenth anniversary. The launch accompanies Youth Music Week 2009, which will take place at the renowned auction house Phillips de Pury & Company from November 9 – 14, 2009. Sounds like a great cause to me.  Another amazing title for German publisher Gestalten.