Gibby Haynes of Butthole Surfers to Release Young Adult Novel About a Supernatural Dog

It’s been quite the week for book announcements in the rock universe. First Debbie Harry, then Patti Smith and now Butthole Surfers’ Gibby Haynes, who has announced the release of his debut novel, a young adult book about a lost teen and his supernatural dog, Mr. Cigar.

Titled Me & Mr. Cigar, the “darkly humorous” book will follow the story of 17-year-old Oscar Lester (who spends most of his time organizing drug-fueled dance parties), his dog and his estranged older sister, who flees their home after Mr. Cigar bites off her left hand (fittingly illustrated on the book’s cover, by the way).

After Oscar receives word his sister is being held hostage for not paying a debt and Mr. Cigar is instructed to leave town because “nefarious forces” are after him, the duo go on the run to New York to save Rachel and to save themselves, the book’s description reads.

Whether it was intentional or not, the book’s title is interestingly a quote pulled from a Rolling Stone interview with Haynes from 1996, during which he was describing the meaning of Butthole Surfers’ new “Jingle of a Dog’s Collar” single:

“Yeah, it was me and Mr. Cigar,” Gibby said.

Gibby’s dog, Mr. Cigar?

“Yeah,” Gibby said. “It was me and Mr. Cigar against the world. He’d come over and offer his condolences.”

The novel arrives on Jan. 14, 2020, via Soho Press imprint Soho Teen, and you can preorder it here.

Check out the book’s cover art below.