Metro has reported
that The KLF might be making a come-back. I first came across my favourite band
of all time in the 80's as a child. They originally had a few background hits
that I recalled by sound if not by name, usually under alternative names like
The Timelords and the Justified Ancients of Mu Mu (furthermore known as
"the JAM's"); and I always liked them. However it was in 1991, with
the release of their "Stadium House Trilogy" singles and the
accompanying album The White Room,
that I truly fell in love with them. It was many years later that I read my
favourite novel of all time, The
Illuminatus! Trilogy and realized immediately that this book had inspired The
KLF. The band consists of two principle members, Bill Drummond and Jimmy Cauty,
but they are accompanied by numerous other musicians, most famously the classic
soul singer PP Arnold. They were extremely imaginative and experimental, drawing
on all kinds of styles; from techno-rock to hip hop, jazz, gospel, heavy metal,
acid house, blues and, on a few occasions, Country and Western. Every track is
unique and lovingly composed. Not one shows any signs of being rushed or made
up half-heartedly just to fill an album; and every song is a non-conformist
anthem. They were all released under The KLF's own independent label. Their
videos are performed by a huge orchestra of The KLF's multiple associates in a
fantasy sci-fi arena, making them the most spectacular musical optics I've ever
seen, for example see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiUgXgmP20c.
They have also created duets with other artists like the country singer Tammy Wynette
and the now disgraced glam rocker Gary Glitter. In 1992 they shared the Brit
Award for best group with Simply Red (Although I like the latter I obviously
consider KLF my only number one). As always, The KLF had to surprise their
audience. Totally unexpectedly, they came on stage with the death metal band Extreme
Noise Terror and sung 3 AM Eternal
with ENT's styled accompaniment. Then suddenly in May that year, at the very
moment of their triumph, they announced that they were finished. They
completely disbanded the group and took their entire discography off the press.
It was only thanks to the emergent internet that their catalogue survived as easily
accessible bootleg copies on sites like YouTube. Now in 2017 Drummond and Cauty
have announced that they're getting back together for a new musical venture
twenty-three years after their split (of course, the number 23!). I can't wait
to hear it, but can they ever again be as good as they used to be? Source: http://metro.co.uk/2017/01/06/16-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-bill-drummond-and-the-klf-6364300/.
It seems fitting that The KLF are going to return at the same time a new series
of Blakes 7 is being produced, see: http://hpanwo-voice.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/blakes-7-remake.html.
Is this further confirmation of my "springtime in Narnia" theory?
See: http://hpanwo-voice.blogspot.co.uk/2016/11/conspiracy-theorists-finally-proved.html.
Terrific post Ben on the awesome KLF. I recall reading their inspired tome, 'The Manual' (although I never put it into practice, unfortunately :) as well as being simultaneously impressed and embarrassed at the incredulous reaction/ambush by an Irish television audience in reaction to the infamous million quid: KLF Late Late Show
ReplyDeleteCheers, Laurence. can't wait to see what they've got planned. BTW Sorry I've not had a chance to read your material on Dr Grimes yet. Will get to it soon.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to that Ben. For the record, Grimes was very interested in your ideas on compartmentalisation (the atom bomb project problem) and the peer pressure effect.
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