Indeed - but I was wondering if they were more “directors” then producers (musically) if that makes sense
I think they did nearly all the musical work themselves (unlike LX Paterson who relies on talented engineers and juniors to do most of the Orb records)
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Bill helped form Big In Japan and has released a solo country record. He did A&R, production and management for several bands through the 80s.
Jimmy played guitar in two of the bands Bill managed/A&R’d.
They both rapped in the early JAMs records.
I find it it easy to imagine they could put some tracks together.
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Well Bills solo album was another reason I was wondering as it mentions other musicians in the book playing on it. Wiki lists the following (which of course could be wrong) and doesn’t even have him down playing guitar
- Bill Drummond – vocals
- Daniel Cainer – guitar
- Khiem Luu – clarinet, saxophone
- Nick Coler – piano, organ
- Allan MacDonald – drums
- Robert McComb – guitar, violin
- Graham Lee – pedal steel guitar
- Martyn Casey – “bull fiddle” (double bass)
- Jill Birt – Hammond organ
- Henry Lowther – trumpet
- Sandrae Lawrence – harmonies
- Voice of the Beehive – harmonies
- Stephen “Kid Chaos” Harris – “Rumblehammer” (bass)
- Rev. Jack Drummond (father of Bill Drummond) – voice on “Such a Parcel of Rogues in a Nation”
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The first 12 inch vinyl I bought after hearing this in one of the first clubs I used to hang out in in 1990 (Cadillac Bar, Swanston Street Melbourne for those who ‘know’).
And the rest is history…
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This is one of my favourite KLF songs, never really made it into the clubs but just love those driving beats.
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Pump. Pump. A little harder.
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I did not read this book, but the title of the book actually suggests a view on “what was the KLF all about”. A chaos magic or discordianist or simply contemporary-art act, which used popular and dance music as tools or framework.
Some of the results of their activities became the classics of techno, ambient-house and euro-dance of 90s. But this was not the main goal… and if we deconstruct their hits - they are all based on the techniques described in their own book.
They also recorded one of the strangest thing which did a lot of impression on me (and probably on my tastes as a musician) in 90-s - their famous and now-forgotten one-time comeback as 2K - “F*** the Millenium”. Imagine seeing it in your childhood without knowing much about the music and about the context (which was in fact rather simple). Just what the hell was THAT and how can I get more?
I mean - it’s still disturbing and strange even in our age of weird video content
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It was the best thing I’ve ever seen at the Barbican. Mental, but brilliant.
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It’s a bit of incredible to talk to a person who was actually there 
As for the music, I think this dark ambient piece for the Rites ov Mu is the most favourite of mine. Reminds me a lot of the artists from Cold Meat Industry label, but a bit lighter
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That book is one of the best reads I ever had. And I read a lot!!
Since I wrote this I have finished my £x/month savings for MuMuFication.
Now I have to face the real prospect of my own passing, and inclusion in the pyramid. Shit just got real.
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You all need to watch this.
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There’s a BluRay/DVD release of their longform videos on preorder:
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45 by Bill Drummond is probably the most amusing work of non-fiction I’ve read.
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Haha yes! Looked for my copy earlier this summer for a re-read but couldnt find it.
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In my memory, the story about their plan to string a dead cow from a lampost on the M25 at the height of the mad cow disease hysteria sticks out. And the stories about how they put together The Tear Drop Explodes and managed the Bunnymen - great insights into a time when the innovative independents in the music industry could compete with the corporates.
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That large cube they built of very strong and disgusting beer stands out to me. Going to shelters at christmas to find proper streetdrinkers to give the beers to. Thats one of the most nihilistic artprojects I know. What was it Jimmy(?) said to that upset woman outside a shelter that wondered if they were totally insane? Something like: They dont want any clothes or showers. They want to get fucking pissed.
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2 cows! Justified Ancients of Mu Mu
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