“Nina Simone’s Gum” Author Event

Submitted by the Event Organizer

Join us on Saturday, October 23rd at 12pm PT when Warren Ellis joins us to discuss his book, Nina Simone’s Gum, with Joe Cardamone on Zoom!

THIS IS A TICKETED EVENT
Tickets are available at the link above, and include a copy of Nina Simone’s Gum with signed bookplate and access to the virtual event.

Praise for Nina Simone’s Gum

“In praise of meaning-rich relics and magical things. Totally heartwarming project.” — Max Porter

“A unique study of a fan’s devotion, of transcendence and of the artistic vocation – it’s got depth and great warmth. It’s a beautiful piece of work.” — Kevin Barry

“A moving, inspirational insight into a beautiful mind.” — Jim Jarmusch

“A warm homage and affecting memoir.” — Kirkus

About Nina Simone’s Gum

From award-winning musician and composer Warren Ellis comes the unexpected and inspiring story of a piece of chewing gum. Featuring an introduction from Nick Cave.

“Warren has turned this memento, snatched from his idol’s piano in a moment of rapture, into a genuine religious artefact.” —Nick Cave

On Thursday July 1st, 1999, Dr. Nina Simone gave a rare performance as part of Nick Cave’s Meltdown Festival. After the show, in a state of awe, Warren Ellis crept onto the stage, took Dr. Simone’s piece of chewed gum from the piano, wrapped it in her stage towel and put it in a Tower Records bag. The gum remained with him for twenty years; a sacred totem, his creative muse, growing in significance with every passing year.

In 2019, Cave – his collaborator and great friend – asked Warren if there was anything he could contribute to display in his Stranger Than Kindness exhibition. Warren realized the time had come to release the gum. Together they agreed it should be housed in a glass case like a holy relic. Worrying the gum would be damaged or lost, Warren decided to first have it cast in silver and gold, sparking a chain of events that no one could have predicted, one that would take him back to his childhood and his relationship to found objects.

Nina Simone’s Gum is about how something so small can form beautiful connections between people. It is a story about the meaning we place on things, on experiences, and how they become imbued with spirituality. It is a celebration of artistic process, friendship, understanding and love.

About Warren Ellis

Warren Ellis is an Australian multi-instrumentalist and composer, most famous for his work as collaborator and bandmate of Nick Cave, in both the Bad Seeds and Grinderman. Both solo and alongside Nick he is also a multi-award winning film composer whose soundtracks include The Proposition, The Road, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, Mustang and most recently This Train I Ride. His own band Dirty Three have released eight studio albums since 1994 and he is an in-demand producer and writer, working with artists including Marianne Faithful, Jupiter and Okwess and Tinariwen.

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.