Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore has already founded a record label and co-written a few books, including upcoming art photo book Grunge, so it makes sense that he’s ready to start his own book publishing company, as well. Starting next year, Moore’s new boutique publishing company, Ecstatic Peace Library, will begin releasing art books by Raymond Pettibon, Dave Markey, and, his wife/bandmate, Kim Gordon, reports LA Times. The “Ecstatic Peace” moniker marks a continuation of Moore’s record (and cassette!) label by the same name.

We know who a couple of Moore’s first couple authors are, but what will be the first releases for ‘10? If you attended the New York Art Book Fair this weekend, you may have come across their upcoming catalog, but the rest of us will find out on New Year’s Day at Ecstatic Peace Library dot com.

Oh Thurston, there you go outcooling us all again.

We’ll start with the bad news: Beastie Boy Adam Yauch was diagnosed with cancer of his salivary gland and Parotid gland, forcing the group to cancel their future tour dates and album release. In a video posted on their official site, Yauch joined Adam Horowitz to make the announcement and said that thankfully the prognosis is good, as his cancer is treatable with surgery and radiation. Rolling Stone reports that EMI released the following statement: “Our thoughts, love and prayers are with Adam Yauch, his family and the Beastie Boys. The most important thing is to allow Adam to focus on staying healthy. We wish him all the best and a speedy recovery.” This.

On a much lighter note, check out Papermag’s interview with Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore. There are some great bits, including his love for black metal and praise for the music scene in Williamsburg.

Bob Dylan made a rare television appearance last night, performing his Oscar-winning song “Things Have Changed” at the AFI Lifetime Achievement Award ceremony for Michael Douglas. To watch Dylan’s performance, click here. His voice doesn’t sound too good, but I don’t think I’ve seen Dylan’s electric guitar chops quite like this before.

Beth Ditto took a break from her Katy Perry bashing of late to give us this little quote about the Yeah Yeah Yeahs: “Gossip were a band before they were, but they became bigger much quicker. Why? Because Karen O’s conventional beauty is a tool.”

Finally, check out Pitchfork’s interview with Arcade Fire’s Win Butler and Spoon’s Britt Daniel on their respective relationships with Merge Records here.

In case you haven’t been following, analog formats are making a comeback, including vinyl, 8-track, and cassette. Digital music can be cheaply distributed with such ease that CDs are likely on their way out, but the good news is that some bands and labels can now afford to put out the interesting physical formats of yesteryear. As far as cassette is concerned, this isn’t good news for Sonic Youth’s Lee Ranaldo, but Thurston Moore couldn’t be happier.

“Thurston will be happy about that. I won’t,” Ranaldo told CBC radio on Sonic Youth’s forthcoming box set (they call it an “art box”) featuring a cassette of Beck covering their entire EVOL album. “Because I only listen to cassettes,” Moore added. “There’s already a cassette industry but it’s pretty subterranean.”

“Thurston recently bought a cassette duplicating machine so he can manufacture cassettes for his label [Ecstatic Peace!]”

“Cassettes and vinyl are the best sounding formats for me,” said Moore, reacting to Ranaldo and the interviewer’s objections to the .15 inch format. “Oxide tape. Big, fat, normal, bias sound.” On the format being “lo-fi,” Moore added simply, “Turn it up!”