Cart
Free Shipping in Australia
Proud to be B-Corp

The KLF John Higgs

The KLF By John Higgs

The KLF by John Higgs


$31.99
Condition - Like New
Out of stock

Summary

'By far the best book this year, brilliant, discursive and wise' BEN GOLDACRE. The strange tale of the death, life and legacy of the hugely successful band. Updated with new material.

The KLF Summary

The KLF: Chaos, Magic and the Band who Burned a Million Pounds by John Higgs

'By far the best book this year, brilliant, discursive and wise' BEN GOLDACRE. The strange tale of the death, life and legacy of the hugely successful band.

They were the bestselling singles band in the world. They had awards, credibility, commercial success and creative freedom. Then they deleted their records, erased themselves from musical history and burnt their last million pounds in a boathouse on the Isle of Jura. And they couldn't say why.

This is not just the story of The KLF. It is a book about Carl Jung, Alan Moore, Robert Anton Wilson, Ken Campbell, Dada, Situationism, Discordianism, magic, chaos, punk, rave, the alchemical symbolism of Doctor Who and the special power of the number 23.

Wildly unauthorised and unlike any other music biography, THE KLF is a trawl through chaos on the trail of a beautiful, accidental mythology.

Read by John Higgs

(p) Orion Publishing Group 2018

The KLF Reviews

'By far the best book this year, brilliant, discursive and wise' -- Ben Goldacre
The book brilliant captures the anti-establishment attitude of Drummond and Cauty, and makes you wish the pop charts were full of such madness these days' * THE BIG ISSUE *
'Book of the Century. Most pop biographies are a dull patchwork of clippings - this is something else' -- Rob Manuel, co-founder of B3ta
'Might well be the best music book of the 2010s . . . eccentric, bizarre, confusing, hilarious and more than a little pretentious but utterly irresistible and totally brilliant' -- Cay McDermott * THE QUIETUS *
'This wildly entertaining thesis speculates on how the KLF arrived at a crowning act of transgression even they did not understand, drawing together threads including practical magic, strange patterns of coincidence and punk' * MOJO *
'A pop biography for people who don't read pop biographies. Higgs approaches the short career of the early 90s top 10 provocateurs like Adam Curtis brainstorming with Thomas Pynchon, exploring all manner of magical thinking and conspiracy theories. Touching on Dada, DOCTOR WHO and Discordianism, it's as playful and sui generis as the KLF themselves, which is saying something' -- Dorian Lynskey * GUARDIAN *
'John Higgs's The KLF: Chaos, Magic and the Band Who Burned a Million Pounds succeeds by ignoring music for much of the story, in favour of the group's philosophical and psycho-geographical underpinnings in Discordianism, situationism, art and magic. Sometimes, the music is just a means to an end - in their case, a million-quid bonfire that Higgs suggests may be "a magical act that forged the 21st century". Well, maybe . . .' -- Andy Gill * INDEPENDENT *
''John Higgs's book about the KLF is - like its subject - a thing of endlessly fascinating, utterly demented genius'' -- Alexis Petridis
'I am going to bang on about The KLF: Chaos, Magic and the Band who Burned a Million Pounds rather a lot. Fascinating . . . Enthralling' -- Robin Ince
By far the best book this year, brilliant, discursive and wise -- Ben Goldacre
Book of the Century. Most pop biographies are a dull patchwork of clippings - this is something else -- Rob Manuel * B3ta *
Might well be the best music book of the 2010s... eccentric, bizarre, confusing, hilarious and more than a little pretentious but utterly irresistible and totally brilliant * The Quietus *
This wildly entertaining thesis speculates on how the KLF arrived at a crowning act of transgression even they did not understand, drawing together threads including practical magic, strange patterns of coincidence and punk. * MOJO *
The book brilliant captures the anti-establishment attitude of Drummond and Cauty, and makes you wish the pop charts were full of such madness these days. * THE BIG ISSUE *
Higgs approaches the short career of the early 90s top 10 provocateurs like Adam Curtis brainstorming with Thomas Pynchon, exploring all manner of magical thinking and conspiracy theories. Touching on Dada, Doctor Who and Discordianism, it's as playful and sui generis as the KLF themselves, which is saying something. -- Dorian Lynskey * THE GUARDIAN *
John Higgs's The KLF: Chaos, Magic and the Band Who Burned a Million Pounds succeeds by ignoring music for much of the story, in favour of the group's philosophical and psycho-geographical underpinnings in discordianism, situationism, art and magic. Sometimes, the music is just a means to an end - in their case, a million-quid bonfire that Higgs suggests may be "a magical act that forged the 21st century". Well, maybe... * THE INDEPENDENT *
John Higgs's book about the KLF is - like its subject - a thing of endlessly fascinating, utterly demented genius * Alexis Petridis *
I am going to bang on about The KLF: Chaos, Magic and the Band who Burned a Million Pounds rather a lot. Fascinating... Enthralling. -- ROBIN INCE

About John Higgs

John Higgs is the author I HAVE AMERICA SURROUNDED, THE KLF, STRANGER THAN WE CAN IMAGINE, WATLING STREET, THE FUTURE STARTS HERE and the forthcoming WILLIAM BLAKE NOW. He lives in Brighton with his partner and their two children.

Additional information

GOR010204228
9781780226552
1780226551
The KLF: Chaos, Magic and the Band who Burned a Million Pounds by John Higgs
Used - Like New
Paperback
Orion Publishing Co
2013-09-26
320
N/A
Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
The book has been read, but looks new. The book cover has no visible wear, and the dust jacket is included if applicable. No missing or damaged pages, no tears, possible very minimal creasing, no underlining or highlighting of text, and no writing in the margins

Customer Reviews - The KLF