PS KLF fans should check out Jimmy Cauty's A riot in Sydenham bus depot remix of Fat Dog's Peace Song, as it is utterly brilliant and very much in the KLF vein. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3npckRwueA
Loved reading this, Ben! The KLF were kinda hard to ignore as a teenager growing up at that time, and formed a vital part of pop music history for Gen Xers. Agree that some of the singles seemed novelty at the time, but genre-defining and brilliant in hindsight. And ‘Chill Out’ remains pure ambient artistry.
I read Bill Drummond’s ‘45’ to mark turning 45 myself. It just made me realise what a bloody laugh he and Jimmy had had doing all this. To say there was a masterplan would be generous. But there was a glorious insanity to everything they touched. Not something you can say for many (any?) bestselling singles acts since.
glad you liked it. I love this period of music - no surprise, having grown up in it - and have written about it a bit. I do kind of wish someone had gone for the book I pitched about it but c'est la vie and I might get around to finishing it anyway some day.
The genius of Drummond and Cauty during the period covered is something I slept on at the time, although I did like some of the singles (and videos). I suspect one of the reasons I’ve reappraised the KLF is because pop music has become such a “monoculture” and they were so quintessentially “British” in their humour and approach, which is almost anathema now when any kind of quirk or personality gets ironed out by committee. A wonderfully bonkers band!
WooohoooOoooo !!! So fun! What a treat to read. I knew KLF very distantly and has been a fab discovery to unearth their fantastic depths and backgrounds. I MUST READ YOUR WEIRD 90s book!!! whaaaaat?! I can't wait to read it! So funny because I am just at this very instant planning out a book for young adults 11 to 13 for an organisation and am wrangling in as many details as possible on 90s British music culture in support of all these amazing 90s legacies. My book will feature a time travelling heroine with an ex-raver artist mum. ha!
Thanks Ben; always enjoy your writing - sets my mind going. Example - you mention 23.... Spiral Tribe have a thing about 23 but they were north London not south (and a few tears later) - I'm wondering if they influenced KLF, of if just happenstance.
PS KLF fans should check out Jimmy Cauty's A riot in Sydenham bus depot remix of Fat Dog's Peace Song, as it is utterly brilliant and very much in the KLF vein. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3npckRwueA
This is superb, including the retro 4:3 format video!
Loved reading this, Ben! The KLF were kinda hard to ignore as a teenager growing up at that time, and formed a vital part of pop music history for Gen Xers. Agree that some of the singles seemed novelty at the time, but genre-defining and brilliant in hindsight. And ‘Chill Out’ remains pure ambient artistry.
I read Bill Drummond’s ‘45’ to mark turning 45 myself. It just made me realise what a bloody laugh he and Jimmy had had doing all this. To say there was a masterplan would be generous. But there was a glorious insanity to everything they touched. Not something you can say for many (any?) bestselling singles acts since.
Thanks for the playlists too 👌
glad you liked it. I love this period of music - no surprise, having grown up in it - and have written about it a bit. I do kind of wish someone had gone for the book I pitched about it but c'est la vie and I might get around to finishing it anyway some day.
The genius of Drummond and Cauty during the period covered is something I slept on at the time, although I did like some of the singles (and videos). I suspect one of the reasons I’ve reappraised the KLF is because pop music has become such a “monoculture” and they were so quintessentially “British” in their humour and approach, which is almost anathema now when any kind of quirk or personality gets ironed out by committee. A wonderfully bonkers band!
WooohoooOoooo !!! So fun! What a treat to read. I knew KLF very distantly and has been a fab discovery to unearth their fantastic depths and backgrounds. I MUST READ YOUR WEIRD 90s book!!! whaaaaat?! I can't wait to read it! So funny because I am just at this very instant planning out a book for young adults 11 to 13 for an organisation and am wrangling in as many details as possible on 90s British music culture in support of all these amazing 90s legacies. My book will feature a time travelling heroine with an ex-raver artist mum. ha!
thank you. Weird 90s doesn't really exist! It is probably about 2/3 done but I have another book project right now.....
aha! well I hope you finish it one day and find a publisher. I look forward to reading your other book project when it's published.
Thanks Ben; always enjoy your writing - sets my mind going. Example - you mention 23.... Spiral Tribe have a thing about 23 but they were north London not south (and a few tears later) - I'm wondering if they influenced KLF, of if just happenstance.
Nice KLF perspectives here - and yeah, also very much looking forward to that Holden and Zimpel album as the ‘Long Weekend’ EP was masterful.