Graffiti artist Banksy "enhances" Paris Hilton CDs

Dog Head Paris, originally uploaded by sharl.

The British graffiti artist known as Banksy tampered with 500 copies of Paris Hilton's new CD, "Paris", the BBC reports:

Hundreds of Paris Hilton albums have been tampered with in the latest stunt by "guerrilla artist" Banksy.

Banksy has replaced Hilton's CD with his own remixes and given them titles such as Why am I Famous?, What Have I Done? and What Am I For?

He has also changed pictures of her on the CD sleeve to show the US socialite topless and with a dog's head.

A spokeswoman for Banksy said he had doctored 500 copies of her debut album Paris in 48 record shops across the UK.

She told the BBC News website: "He switched the CDs in store, so he took the old ones out and put his version in.

And here's the best part, a spokesman from HMV was quoted as saying:

"And it might be that there will be some people who agree with his views on the Paris Hilton album." [BBC]

Here's the whole Banksy vs. Paris Hilton set.

The best part is that it's a victimless crime. The customers got something much more valuable than the CD they thought they were getting, HMV and Virgin got a lot of publicity for being relatively chill about the whole thing, and Banksy makes fund of Paris Hilton on Labour Day. Win-win-win.

Comments

[aeroman]

Banksy in Palestine.

[ahem]

Banksy makes fund of Paris Hilton on Labour Day

Except that the Brits celebrate 'Labour Day' in May, and had their late summer holiday last weekend. But, yeah: I suspect that there were plenty of ironic buyers of that CD to begin with who'll be pleased at their find.

Quite nifty work, too: British CDs aren't sealed like North American ones, but they do have Amaray tags that are removed at the checkout. So he must have had an tag-remover to make the switch.

[eleventhwheel]

I have never understood the animosity some people have toward Paris Hilton--she is essentially harmless, fun and she doesn't take herself seriously. I don't know what her reaction to the altered album covers is, but I suspect she thinks it is all in good fun. In fact, I think we should run Paris Hilton for president. If the majority of Americans can elect a president based on who they would most like to have a beer with, why not a president based on who we would most like to have a glass of champagne with?

[rob helpy-chalk]

She does seem like an awfully easy target. No doubt no one is getting mad at Bansky because no one, even Ms. Hilton, has much of a stake in maintaining her respectability.

[Cass]

I have to agree, she seems too easy a target. I prefer the work of those artists who switched out the respective voices of Barbie and G.I. Joe dolls.

[DJA]

she is essentially harmless

Yeah, tell that to Harden Jamison.

[superdude]

I imagine Virgin Megastore is just happy to give someone a reason to enter their store.

When they opened in the '90s, being able to preview albums at the listening stations was a nice concept. But the Internet sort of blew that concept out of the water. Now they are to iTunes what video arcades were to console gaming systems. I'm surprised they haven't all gone out of business. The one in San Francisco is looking kind of sad--like a dilapidated shrine to '90s britpop.

[Destardi]

paris hilton has no talent for anything entertainment wise; seeing her face everywhere is insulting, when there are actual people out there who work hard at their respective career, singing, acting, etc.

This 'woman' is famous for being rich, hanging out with her boyfriend who rudely insults others, and makes fun of people who are "worth only 7 million."

She's tacky, and so is the crowd she runs with. She may be 'fun,' but, she serves no bloody purpose. none.

[yank_in_london]

I read about this at the weekend. I've subsequently checked a few record shops looking for this - unfortunately to no avail - but I shall persevere.

[Darren]

Banksy and Paris Hilton Continued

[Alex]

you can also listen the entire Paris Hilton Remixed CD here.
http://artflutter.com/banksy-paris-hilton-danger-mouse-remix/