Featuring himself on the cover dressed as a janitor (a job he once held) Catholic Tastes was published to coincide with Mike Kelley’s 1993 mid-career survey exhibition at the Whitney Museum, New York. Drawing on his own working-class Catholic background in Detroit, the exhibition featured a vast body of works, described at the time by the LA Times, as going “straight for the gut, where embarrassment, shame, discomfort and disease fester beneath the skin” and the fourth floor was filled with his stuffed animals, crocheted afghans and grimy dolls, “often the kind made at home by hobbyists and sooner or later discarded to the bins of the neighborhood thrift store.” The perfect embodiment of post-teenage rebellion. The book also featured contributions from Kelly’s friend and collaborators, including Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth (who selected Alice Coopers ‘Is it my body?’ lyrics for her essay), Richard Armstrong, Dennis Cooper and John Miller whose piece was titled, The poet as a Janitor.