Tuesday, 5 September 2006

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Paris Hilton 'dogged' by UK prankster

Graffiti artist doctors CD covers

British graffiti artist Banksy has tampered with 500 copies of Paris Hilton's new CD, Paris, changing pictures on the album sleeve to show Hilton topless and with a dog's head and adding stickers advertising her "hits" such as "Why Am I Famous?"

He also replaced the discs themselves with CDs of remixed music by a musician identified only as "DM."

Banksy's rep, Jo Brooks, tells the BBC the artist doctored discs in 48 record stores across the U.K., including Virgin and HMV branches and independent shops.

Without explaining why Banksy targeted Hilton, Brooks tells the Associated Press the forgeries are "very subtly done and do look like the original albums. You have to look quite carefully to see what he's done."

A spokesperson for HMV tells the BBC the chain has recovered seven copies of the altered CDs – and plans to auction them off. He said no coustomer has complained or returned a Banksy version of the disc. "It might be that there will be some people who agree with his views on the Paris Hilton album," he says.

In the past, Banksy has replaced classic paintings with doctored versions in major art galleries around the world. Last year, he stenciled balloons, mountain vistas and other images on the Palestinian side of Israel's West Bank security barrier.

Hilton's camp has not commented on his latest project.

Meanwhile, a rep for Virgin Megastores tells the BBC that staff are searching for the altered CDs but having trouble finding them all. He adds, "I have to take my hat off – it's a very good stunt."