The KLF, John Higgs
The KLF, John Higgs
List: $22.95 | Sale: $16.07
Club: $11.47

The KLF
Chaos, Magic, and the Band Who Burned a Million Pounds

Author: John Higgs

Narrator: John Higgs

Unabridged: 6 hr 51 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 07/09/2024


Synopsis

In the early ’90s, the KLF was the biggest-selling singles band in the world—until they destroyed their records, erased themselves from music history, and literally set fire to one million pounds.In this fascinating and in-depth biography, popular British writer and cultural historian John Higgs digs into the story behind the end of one of the most popular bands of the late twentieth century. The band members themselves, when asked in interviews, were never able to satisfactorily explain their behavior, but looked haunted every time it came up. With his characteristically creative mind, Higgs leads readers on a journey to understand “a story that no one knows they are in—least of all the main characters.”Ranging from music history to chaos theory to Carl Jung and Doctor Who, this brilliant pop biography has been named one of the top ten music books of the year by The Guardian, The Independent, and MOJO magazine. Perfect for music buffs and mystery fans alike, The KLF is an engrossing and entertaining read.

About John Higgs

John Higgs is the author of William Blake vs the World, his first to be published in America, as well as other books published in Britain. John lives in England.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Alex on July 29, 2023

Staggeringly good book about how the KLF created the 21st century, and about how it's obviously absurd to suggest that the KLF created the 21st century. Requesting it, I had no idea that the author was also responsible for a Timothy Leary biography I very much enjoyed, but this is on a different lev......more

Goodreads review by James on September 29, 2014

I'm 3/4 through this brilliant book and with each new chapter I am amazed how much this humble little paperback reveals about global events and cultural responses of the 20th century. For example, Chapter 12: Undercurrents examines the quiet death of 20th century culture - the forgettable early-to-mi......more

Goodreads review by Matteo on September 26, 2018

Videorecensione: [URL not allowed] L'assurda storia (vera) di un gruppo dance da milioni di copie dalla dirompente e controversa creatività che, nell'ordine: 1- Subirono un'azione legale dagli ABBA per l'uso di un sample e offrirono un finto disco d'oro ad una prostituta svedese sosia di Ag......more

Goodreads review by Nigeyb on May 21, 2025

It’s 11 years since I first read this book. I loved it then and I love it now. An all time favourite. The KLF: Chaos, Magic and the Band Who Burned a Million Pounds is a wildly entertaining book in which you will encounter Discordianism, Situationism, Dada, chaos, magic, the concept of ideaspace, Ro......more

Goodreads review by Steve on October 20, 2013

Brian Eno says that what you put around a work of art can be as interesting as what you put into it; the implication being that context can determine response in ways that may not at first be altogether evident. This book offers a variety of framing contexts through which to view the actions of Bill......more


Quotes

“Strange, brilliant…reality warping. I fell into Higgs’s work by accident…I’ve not quite been able to climb out of it.”

Ezra Klein, The Gray Area with Sean Illing

“Utterly irresistible and totally brilliant.”

The Quietus

“A thing of endlessly fascinating, utterly demented genius.”

Alexis Petridis

“A pop biography for people who don’t read pop biographies.”

The Guardian