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  • The KLF

  • Chaos, Magic and the Band Who Burned a Million Pounds
  • By: John Higgs
  • Narrated by: John Higgs
  • Length: 6 hrs and 51 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (419 ratings)
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The KLF cover art

The KLF

By: John Higgs
Narrated by: John Higgs
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Summary

The strange tale of the death, life and legacy of the hugely successful band.

They were the best-selling 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.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2018 John Higgs (P)2018 Orion Publishing Group Limited

Critic reviews

"By far the best book this year, brilliant, discursive and wise." (Ben Goldacre)

What listeners say about The KLF

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  • 22-06-20

A brilliant account of the fantastic KLF

John Higgs reads as good as he writes. Very insightful, informative and as far as the KLF are concerned, just bloody brilliant.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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I finished this book on the 23rd June!

This is without doubt the best yarn about a pop group ever written and then spoken as an audiobook.
From their time as the JAMs to their success as the KLF and then burning £1m as the K Foundation.
Drummond and Cauty have embarked on a series of fortunate events.

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  • Overall
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Great

Very absorbing. Great performance. Great story. If you were there this adds an ocean of depth.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

profound

I think Bill Drummond just became my new hero. amazing story. about to listen again straight away.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Chaotic and wonderful

You couldn't make it up, except they did. There's no reason for it, except there is. If you've heard of the KLF, you need this book. If you haven't you REALLY need this book. Marvellous, glorious, bonkers!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Khaos ahoy....................

I dont really do reviews ... But it must said its just a great listen and Its such an interesting story

Ive alway liked the music but there is so much more to the band which include such a diverse influences- Giant invisible rabbit spirits The Wicker Man, ABBA, Tammy Wynette, Doctor Who, 23, Extreme noise terror,Alan Moore and "Ideaspace",
Generation X, Robert Anton Wilson and much more
Absolutely fantastic...........

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    5 out of 5 stars
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more than I bargained for

I will not give it away but this book is more about society and money rather than the KLF

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Illuminating.

An incredible book, Ive read it twice now on Audible and once in print. Not only does it cover the full history of the KLF but it gives a great deal of background including chaos magick, Robert Anton Wilson, Aleister Crowley, the Illuminatus, Ken Campbell, the birth of conspiracy theories, why usury is so wrong and much more. Oh and an hilarious anecdote about Bill Nighy taking acid. My advice is READ THIS BOOK. All of John Higgs' other books are great as well.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

What the hell did I just experience?

Absolutely astonishing. In my top ten reads immediately. I really don’t know what to say, other than: do yourselves a favour and indulge this work of lunacy. You don’t have to be a huge KLF fan, but it might just add to your appreciation of this. Either way, you may never think the same way about anything ever again!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Fascinating and intellectually challenging

Basically a discursive piece on various philosophies and the meaning of art told through the story of the KLF and their other guises. Fascinating, thought-provoking but written in a dense, intellectual way that made it which made it hard going at times.

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