FROM MAGNET:

It's a rare instance when musicians like a 'rock' movie," says Off Records owner Chris Slusarenko. "The music tends to be so embarrassing." Apparently not so with Hedwig and the Angry Inch, the off-Broadway musical about an East German drag queen-turned-glam-rock hag that was made into a feature film in 2001. As the movie's cult following soon looks to rival that of Rocky Horror's in terms of pure camp and wicked humor, its songs have been similarly adored. Wig In A Box (Off), due in October, features an impressive roster of artists covering Hedwig tunes: Bob Mould, Rufus Wainwright, the Breeders, Imperial Teen, They Might Be Giants, Jonathan Richman, and Cyndi Lauper contribute. There's also a few inspired team-ups: Sleater-Kinney and Fred Schneider (B-52s); Yoko Ono and Yo La Tengo; and Ben Folds, Ben Kweller and Ben Lee. In addition, Hedwig creators/stars John Cameron Mitchell and Stephen Trask have written a new song (for the Tommy Gnosis character) for the album.

"My goal was to make this an album that would be John and Stephen's dream come true," says Slusarenko, who put the project together with Mitchell and Trask's cooperation. "Who would they, in their wildest dreams, love to hear do their own material? So I would find out, for instance, that "Angry Inch" was written with Sleater-Kinney and Fred Schnedier in mind, so it seemed natural to get them both involved to cover the song."

According to Slusarenko, Ono said her contribution with Yo La Tengo ("Hedwig's Lament/Exquisite Corpse") is the first cover she's ever recorded; also Dolly Parton was very close to participating ("Still getting a couple handwritten letters from Dolly was pretty amazing," says Slusarenko).

Proceeds from Wig in a Box will benefit New York's Harvey Milk School, a public learning institution for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth. The album will feature artwork by Harvey Milk students alongside that of Emily Hubley (sister of YLT's Georgia), who created some animations for the film version of Hedwig.