The KLF
by John Higgs · first published 2001
100% recommend
Why HN recommends it
An engaging, well-researched account of the KLF's chaotic pop career and conceptual art, showing how pop culture can be engaged with as art. It is a fun read.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
"A noi non resta che lo spettacolo, ed è proprio all'interno di questo spettacolo che è da ricercare una qualsivoglia risposta al perché i KFL hanno bruciato un milione di sterline. È u approccio che per questa storia sembra particolarmente appropriato, perché nel caso dei KFL i criteri enciclopedici e accademici non ci rivelerebbero nulla di quanto cerchiamo. Drummond e Cauty vagarono alla cieca nell'oscurità delle loro storie servendosi di qualunque cosa gli paresse utile, e pertant sarà quello l'atteggiamento che seguiremo anche noi. Il nostro è un tentativo di cogliere lo spirito di quegli
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Can I recommend here John Higgs’ excellent book ‘The KLF: Chaos, Magic and the Band who Burned a Million Pounds’ [0] It’s ostensibly a bio of the band The KLF (or the justified ancients of Mu), who somehow had a successful music career by taking discordianism…
on “The Principia Discordia (1963)” ↗They're justified and they're ancient and they drive an ice cream van... The KLF (and Bill Drummond in particular) are truly inspirational in how they engage with popular culture while still being deeply conceptual artists. And have a ton of fun. John Higgs' book on them is a good…
on “The accidental invention of the Illuminati conspiracy” ↗Jimmy Cauty and Bill Drummond are two of my personal heroes. I really recommend John Higgs's 'The KLF: Chaos, Magic and the Band who Burned a Million Pounds' [0]. It's an inspiring read, focusing on two people who went and did things, no matter what the consequences - and covers everything from conceptual…
on “Jimmy Cauty Model Village: the Aftermath Dislocation Principle” ↗…http://www.amazon.com/World-Until-Yesterday-Traditional-Soci... * Frans de Waal. The Bonobo and the Atheist: In Search of Humanism Among the Primates http://www.amazon.com/Bonobo-Atheist-Search-Humanism-Primate... * John Higgs. The KLF: Chaos, Magic... http://www.amazon.com/KLF-Chaos-Magic-Music-Money-ebook/dp/B... * Joseph Jaworski. Synchronicity, the inner Path of leadership http://www.amazon.com/Synchronicity-The-Inner-Path-Leadershi...…
on “Ask HN: Book Recommendations?” ↗If anyone is unaware of John Higgs, he's written several of my all time favourite books, especially his KLF book which I loved so much I bought loads of them to give out to friends. Can't recommend it highly enough: https://johnhiggs.com/books/the-klf/
on “Eton and All the Murder (2019)” ↗John Higgs wrote a brilliant book [1] about the band KLF (who famously burned a million pounds). I highly, highly recommend it - even if you know nothing about the band (or care to), it's an incredible read. [1] https://johnhiggs.com/books/the-klf/
on “Eton and All the Murder (2019)” ↗You're thinking of The Manual [1], written by Bill Drummond (one half of KLF); not by John Higgs who wrote the book I listed above. Incidentally, Bill Drummond's 45 [2] is a great read too. Especially for the creatively minded person. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Manual…
on “Eton and All the Murder (2019)” ↗…Escape to the Moon* - William Saroyan; In an era of great writers, Saroyan remains wildly under appreciated. *Really the Blues* - Mezz Mezzrow; Written in 1920s jive slang, it's emblematic of an era *The KLF* - John Higgs; The book is subtitled "Chaos, Magic and the Band who Burned a Million Pounds" All those things are true and Higgs brilliantly tells the tale.
on “Ask HN: What books have been worth your time?” ↗