Is the KLF back for 2017?
January 3, 2017 8:21 PM Subscribe
Is the KLF back for 2017? 23 years after burning a million quid a strange video appears on YouTube. The number 23 has mystical meaning for the KLF.
A fair chunk of it is recycled from this vid, but I'm still watching.
posted by Kyol at 8:46 PM on January 3, 2017
posted by Kyol at 8:46 PM on January 3, 2017
KALLISTI LIBERATION FRONT 4 LYFE KICK THOSE JUSTIFIED ANCIENTS OF MU IN THE FACE
posted by quinndexter at 8:53 PM on January 3, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by quinndexter at 8:53 PM on January 3, 2017 [9 favorites]
Is the KLF back for 2017?
I certainly f***ing hope so.
posted by philip-random at 9:04 PM on January 3, 2017 [15 favorites]
I certainly f***ing hope so.
posted by philip-random at 9:04 PM on January 3, 2017 [15 favorites]
Best news I've had in 2017!
posted by pashdown at 9:06 PM on January 3, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by pashdown at 9:06 PM on January 3, 2017 [2 favorites]
Oh my god oh my God oh my God oh my God
posted by MCMikeNamara at 9:21 PM on January 3, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by MCMikeNamara at 9:21 PM on January 3, 2017 [3 favorites]
Tony Wilson interviews Bill Drummond
posted by philip-random at 9:28 PM on January 3, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by philip-random at 9:28 PM on January 3, 2017 [3 favorites]
I was just thinking, I'm overdue for an Illuminatus! re-read...
posted by Itaxpica at 9:40 PM on January 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Itaxpica at 9:40 PM on January 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
The KLF's mysterious return - #AdpRiotTour - Jimmy Cauty - The Aftermath Dislocation Principle - SOT
gets to something recent at around the 5 minute point
posted by philip-random at 9:43 PM on January 3, 2017
gets to something recent at around the 5 minute point
posted by philip-random at 9:43 PM on January 3, 2017
Long before I ever heard of Gary Glitter, his Rock and Roll (Part Two), or KLF, I was enamored of the Timelords' Doctoring the TARDIS. Of course, the Timelords became KLF. When KLF's The White Room came out, I was tickled to find that musicians I enjoyed had woven Illuminatus! themes into their production.
posted by Radiophonic Oddity at 9:45 PM on January 3, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Radiophonic Oddity at 9:45 PM on January 3, 2017 [3 favorites]
I tweeted at Jimmy Cauty and Bill Drummond a couple of months ago telling them we need them back and to get their act together. You're all welcome.
posted by 1adam12 at 9:52 PM on January 3, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by 1adam12 at 9:52 PM on January 3, 2017 [7 favorites]
It also bears mentioning that not only does 23 in general bear special significance to the KLF (and Discordianism in general), but the two claimed to have signed a contract dissolving the KLF and saying that they wouldn't discuss the burning of the money for 23 years... 23 years ago.
posted by Itaxpica at 9:54 PM on January 3, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by Itaxpica at 9:54 PM on January 3, 2017 [4 favorites]
23 years... that's ancient... and not very well justified.
posted by oneswellfoop at 9:59 PM on January 3, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by oneswellfoop at 9:59 PM on January 3, 2017 [3 favorites]
Okay, not so well justified, but perfectly aligned.
posted by oneswellfoop at 10:05 PM on January 3, 2017
posted by oneswellfoop at 10:05 PM on January 3, 2017
There's no contract.
I mean, of course there isn't, but the fact that they claimed there was a contract creates the construct of such a contract, even if the contract itself didn't exist. The contract, in its existence or lack thereof, is part of the show, so of course something would happen 23 years later. It's textbook KLM.
posted by Itaxpica at 10:16 PM on January 3, 2017 [2 favorites]
I mean, of course there isn't, but the fact that they claimed there was a contract creates the construct of such a contract, even if the contract itself didn't exist. The contract, in its existence or lack thereof, is part of the show, so of course something would happen 23 years later. It's textbook KLM.
posted by Itaxpica at 10:16 PM on January 3, 2017 [2 favorites]
kick out the jams!
posted by j_curiouser at 10:17 PM on January 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by j_curiouser at 10:17 PM on January 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
these are the heroes we need
posted by snuffleupagus at 10:20 PM on January 3, 2017
posted by snuffleupagus at 10:20 PM on January 3, 2017
23 has a mystical meaning for many of us.. Fnord!!
posted by Windopaene at 10:21 PM on January 3, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Windopaene at 10:21 PM on January 3, 2017 [2 favorites]
So far, this is a HELL of a comeback video.
posted by vverse23 at 11:06 PM on January 3, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by vverse23 at 11:06 PM on January 3, 2017 [5 favorites]
The Patterson bigfoot footage is fake.
posted by humannaire at 11:35 PM on January 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by humannaire at 11:35 PM on January 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
Highly recommend 45 by Bill Drummond
posted by quarsan at 11:45 PM on January 3, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by quarsan at 11:45 PM on January 3, 2017 [2 favorites]
Oh thank God this wasn't an obituary post, because we're pretty much working our way through all my heroes in the last 12 months.
posted by bongo_x at 11:49 PM on January 3, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by bongo_x at 11:49 PM on January 3, 2017 [5 favorites]
I still can't believe Simon Bates wasn't a nonce.
posted by fullerine at 12:08 AM on January 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by fullerine at 12:08 AM on January 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
2017 What the fuck is going on!
posted by inpHilltr8r at 12:47 AM on January 4, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by inpHilltr8r at 12:47 AM on January 4, 2017 [4 favorites]
That was so perfectly KLF. If this is all we get, I'll still go home happy.
posted by mykescipark at 1:11 AM on January 4, 2017
posted by mykescipark at 1:11 AM on January 4, 2017
This is the first time in months that I've felt like everything might just turn out ok, eventually. The power of art. It was like an antidote to all of the fear and hate that is so pervasive right now.
posted by monopas at 1:26 AM on January 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by monopas at 1:26 AM on January 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
More plz
posted by Potomac Avenue at 1:58 AM on January 4, 2017
posted by Potomac Avenue at 1:58 AM on January 4, 2017
The story goes that Echo & the Bunnymen's famous Outer Hebrides gigs resulted from Bill Drummond (then the band's manager) scrawling a huge pair of rabbit ears on a map of Scotland and then insisting the band's tour itinerary precisely traced that line.
I told Drummond's old illuminatus co-conspirator Ken Campbell this story once, adding "Of course, that may be apocryphal". Ken sighed in reply and said, "Almost every story about about Bill Drummond is apocryphal."
posted by Paul Slade at 2:24 AM on January 4, 2017 [14 favorites]
I told Drummond's old illuminatus co-conspirator Ken Campbell this story once, adding "Of course, that may be apocryphal". Ken sighed in reply and said, "Almost every story about about Bill Drummond is apocryphal."
posted by Paul Slade at 2:24 AM on January 4, 2017 [14 favorites]
In 2016, our heroes died. In 2017, OUR HEROES RISE.
posted by BiggerJ at 3:33 AM on January 4, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by BiggerJ at 3:33 AM on January 4, 2017 [11 favorites]
Seems a bit like a fan video (haven't seen anything new in it yet) but who knows?
Certainly an auspicious, aniversery year (1987/1997),
posted by thefool at 3:48 AM on January 4, 2017
Certainly an auspicious, aniversery year (1987/1997),
posted by thefool at 3:48 AM on January 4, 2017
Paul, IIRC the Hebrides gig was because he wanted gigs that followed a ley line to Iceland and the rabbits ears was a stroll round Liverpool for a day of activities for Echo fans. But that's only if you believe the book, 45.
posted by quarsan at 3:56 AM on January 4, 2017
posted by quarsan at 3:56 AM on January 4, 2017
I've heard several different versions of the rabbit ears story, Quartan, and I'm not even sure Drummond himself tells it the same way every time. That's kinda what Ken Campbell was getting at, I guess.
posted by Paul Slade at 5:23 AM on January 4, 2017
posted by Paul Slade at 5:23 AM on January 4, 2017
Of all the theories about Why Brexit and Why Trump and Why Bowie and Why Prince and Why 2016 Generally... honestly, "It was all part of a KLF return ploy" is kind of the most reasonable-sounding Grand Unification Theory.
posted by Etrigan at 5:54 AM on January 4, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by Etrigan at 5:54 AM on January 4, 2017 [10 favorites]
This recent article is a surprisingly great read. Bill Drummond on the death of Pete Burns (sort of)
posted by ericthegardener at 6:03 AM on January 4, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by ericthegardener at 6:03 AM on January 4, 2017 [12 favorites]
I was hoping that I would like '45' better, but it's kinda rambly. Drummond is quite a character.
posted by ovvl at 6:41 AM on January 4, 2017
posted by ovvl at 6:41 AM on January 4, 2017
23 has a mystical meaning for many of us..
Assuming it does, I don't see it. Yet, somehow, reading that makes me as anxious as the cognitive dissonance headache that was seemingly the entirety of 2016.
posted by otherchaz at 6:42 AM on January 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
Assuming it does, I don't see it. Yet, somehow, reading that makes me as anxious as the cognitive dissonance headache that was seemingly the entirety of 2016.
posted by otherchaz at 6:42 AM on January 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
In the Illuminatus Trilogy, the number 17 was often associated with the number 23. One connection is that 1+7 = pow(2, 3).
posted by Slothrup at 6:51 AM on January 4, 2017
posted by Slothrup at 6:51 AM on January 4, 2017
WUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUHT
posted by Theta States at 6:57 AM on January 4, 2017
posted by Theta States at 6:57 AM on January 4, 2017
Of course, the Timelords became KLF.
Wait, what?
(Googles furiously)
Holy Ood!!
posted by DrAstroZoom at 7:02 AM on January 4, 2017
Wait, what?
(Googles furiously)
Holy Ood!!
posted by DrAstroZoom at 7:02 AM on January 4, 2017
23 is a direct consequence of the Law of Fives:
The Law of Fives states simply that: All things happen in Fives, or are divisible by or are multiples of Five, or are somehow directly or indirectly appropriate to 5. The Law of Fives is never wrong.
2+3=5.
posted by Hactar at 7:12 AM on January 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
The Law of Fives states simply that: All things happen in Fives, or are divisible by or are multiples of Five, or are somehow directly or indirectly appropriate to 5. The Law of Fives is never wrong.
2+3=5.
posted by Hactar at 7:12 AM on January 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
fuck yes fuck yes fuck yes
posted by XtinaS at 7:18 AM on January 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by XtinaS at 7:18 AM on January 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
Keep Lighting Fires.
posted by Combat Wombat at 7:24 AM on January 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Combat Wombat at 7:24 AM on January 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
Thank you for this. Really. I am now filled with clarity and peace.
And if you really know the Illuminatus Trilogy, then you would know EVERYTHING connects to 5.
17? 7-1=6, which is 2x3. 2+3=5. DUH!
posted by rich at 7:24 AM on January 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
And if you really know the Illuminatus Trilogy, then you would know EVERYTHING connects to 5.
17? 7-1=6, which is 2x3. 2+3=5. DUH!
posted by rich at 7:24 AM on January 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
To continue with the illuminated numerology, 17 + 23 = 40, which is 2**3 x 5.
posted by Radiophonic Oddity at 7:29 AM on January 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Radiophonic Oddity at 7:29 AM on January 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
Also, Adam Weishaupt's initials are AW (1-23) and George Washington's are GW (7-23), providing a 17 between their first initials.
posted by Radiophonic Oddity at 7:32 AM on January 4, 2017
posted by Radiophonic Oddity at 7:32 AM on January 4, 2017
T(20) R(18) U(21) M(13) P(16) = 88
88-23 = 65
2*3 = 6
2+3 = 5
Coincidence? I think not.
posted by Damienmce at 8:22 AM on January 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
88-23 = 65
2*3 = 6
2+3 = 5
Coincidence? I think not.
posted by Damienmce at 8:22 AM on January 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
God bless Martin Sheen for reading that script with all the gravitas of Captain Willard in spite of not knowing what the fuck was going on.
posted by Molesome at 8:56 AM on January 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Molesome at 8:56 AM on January 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
How appropriate that the KLF may be reemerging after a year that proved, as Malaclypse the Younger once taught us, that even false things are true.
I don't know man, I didn't do it
posted by delfin at 8:58 AM on January 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
I don't know man, I didn't do it
posted by delfin at 8:58 AM on January 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
T(20) R(18) U(21) M(13) P(16) = 88
88 is also neo-Nazi code for “Heil Hitler” ('H' being the 8th letter of the alphabet).
Applying the same process to 'DT', however, yields 420. Make of that what you will...
posted by acb at 9:19 AM on January 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
88 is also neo-Nazi code for “Heil Hitler” ('H' being the 8th letter of the alphabet).
Applying the same process to 'DT', however, yields 420. Make of that what you will...
posted by acb at 9:19 AM on January 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
Something I only realised today, though I saw it at the time: Simon Bates introduced the 1992 Brit Awards.
(I didn't expect to find that video as moving as I did, but the KLF taps into weird memories. There is no further information.)
posted by holgate at 9:22 AM on January 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
(I didn't expect to find that video as moving as I did, but the KLF taps into weird memories. There is no further information.)
posted by holgate at 9:22 AM on January 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
Applying the same process to 'DT', however, yields 420. Make of that what you will...
April 20 is Hitler's birthday.
posted by Radiophonic Oddity at 9:22 AM on January 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
April 20 is Hitler's birthday.
posted by Radiophonic Oddity at 9:22 AM on January 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
Embrace The Contradictions is a one-hour fan-made musical collage/journey of the KLF phenomenon and a great starting point for anyone who's never heard anything about them. Plenty of interesting interview/etc snippets intermixed with the music. "Every decision they made was so ... arbitrary-seeming ... nothing made any sense to anyone else, whether it was the name or the images they were playing with or the samples ..."
posted by user92371 at 9:41 AM on January 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by user92371 at 9:41 AM on January 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
I was hoping that I would like '45' better, but it's kinda rambly. Drummond is quite a character.
what I got from 45 (beyond a fair amount of reading pleasure) was that Drummond is rambly. He works from grand plans that tend to just occur to him (or a co-conspirator) more or less randomly, with the key point being that he/they ACT on these plans -- maybe not all of them, but enough of them to have, in their small, refreshingly anarchic way, altered the culture, if not the world. If World War Three is indeed an guerrilla information war (as Marshall McLuhan posited half a century ago), then he/they are most definitely warriors of high attainment.
People ask me who my heroes are and I tend to say, I try not to have heroes anymore -- that notion died by the time I hit my mid-twenties. But you can't help but have role models. If I'm doing it right (and I only am some of the time) Bill Drummond is definitely one of mine.
posted by philip-random at 10:32 AM on January 4, 2017 [6 favorites]
what I got from 45 (beyond a fair amount of reading pleasure) was that Drummond is rambly. He works from grand plans that tend to just occur to him (or a co-conspirator) more or less randomly, with the key point being that he/they ACT on these plans -- maybe not all of them, but enough of them to have, in their small, refreshingly anarchic way, altered the culture, if not the world. If World War Three is indeed an guerrilla information war (as Marshall McLuhan posited half a century ago), then he/they are most definitely warriors of high attainment.
People ask me who my heroes are and I tend to say, I try not to have heroes anymore -- that notion died by the time I hit my mid-twenties. But you can't help but have role models. If I'm doing it right (and I only am some of the time) Bill Drummond is definitely one of mine.
posted by philip-random at 10:32 AM on January 4, 2017 [6 favorites]
Wait so is the statement disavowing KLF reuniting at the end of the video description on YouTube new, or has it always been there?
posted by infinitewindow at 3:40 PM on January 4, 2017
posted by infinitewindow at 3:40 PM on January 4, 2017
Well, yeah, I had pretty high expectations from '45' because Drummond is one of the best conceptual artists of the late 20th Century in my view. But this book came across to me as kinda snarky & bumbling when I read it, and it could have benefited from more editing. Maybe I should take another look at it now. 'The Manual' is pretty funny, and the essay linked above by ericthegardener is good.
posted by ovvl at 4:57 PM on January 4, 2017
posted by ovvl at 4:57 PM on January 4, 2017
...the key point being that he/they ACT on these plans -- maybe not all of them, but enough of them to have, in their small, refreshingly anarchic way, altered the culture, if not the world.
Rip It Up and Start Again: Postpunk 1978–1984 by Simon Reynolds talks about some of the delusions of grandeur that hit-makers like Malcolm McLaren, & ZTT (with former Drummond associates) had for changing the world. (note: I'm annoyed that the North American edition of this book removed the chapter about Howard Devoto);
posted by ovvl at 5:24 PM on January 4, 2017
Rip It Up and Start Again: Postpunk 1978–1984 by Simon Reynolds talks about some of the delusions of grandeur that hit-makers like Malcolm McLaren, & ZTT (with former Drummond associates) had for changing the world. (note: I'm annoyed that the North American edition of this book removed the chapter about Howard Devoto);
posted by ovvl at 5:24 PM on January 4, 2017
Let's say someone hypothetically created a personal use mp3 of this. And let's say that someone wanted to divide it into tracks. Where might you guys place the break points? Hypothetically. Or I could just watch it a few more times over the weekend taking notes. Could see myself doing that.
posted by christopherious at 8:31 PM on January 4, 2017
posted by christopherious at 8:31 PM on January 4, 2017
Lots about 45 on here, but I was also alerted to the wonders of 46 just yesterday.
posted by Myeral at 2:01 AM on January 5, 2017
posted by Myeral at 2:01 AM on January 5, 2017
EVERYBODY LIE DOWN ON THE FLOOR AND KEEP CALM.
fnord
posted by rmd1023 at 7:05 AM on January 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
fnord
posted by rmd1023 at 7:05 AM on January 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
My co-worker was trying to figure out whether I was more excited about this or the new Gilmore Girls episodes, and I told her "Well, I've never not thought that Bill Drummond was the fucking worst, but he's better at it."
posted by Etrigan at 7:15 AM on January 5, 2017
posted by Etrigan at 7:15 AM on January 5, 2017
The KLF was one of those things I kinda missed out on at the time, but have enjoyed in retrospect. Interested to see what happens this time!
posted by dnash at 7:53 AM on January 5, 2017
posted by dnash at 7:53 AM on January 5, 2017
« Older Includes the Austin Wintory Soundtrack of 2016 | Cormac McCarthy's Increasing Returns Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by Going To Maine at 8:26 PM on January 3, 2017 [7 favorites]