Could 2017 see the return of The KLF? Watch a just-released film on the art-minded pop duo

January 3, 2017

UPDATE: It’s official. The KLF are (kinda?) back.

2017 marks the 23rd anniversary of UK art pop pranksters The KLF‘s burning of £1 million cash. (They had retired from the music biz in 1992, having also deleted their entire catalog from purchase.) The number 23 figures into the band’s numerology, but as to what it means for founders Bill Drummond and Jimmy Cauty for this year, beyond that, remains to be seen. They have, however, released a 45 minute film, ‘KLF 01 01 2017 WTF FOUND VHS,’ which was first shown at a KLF night in Bristol on November 23, 2015 which features a general history of the group (sort of), plus Alan Moore, Alan Partridge, daleks, the number 23 repeatedly, and more. The following text was on the YouTube page:

On New Year’s Day 1987 the Justified Ancients of Mu Mu were formed.
On New Year’s Day 1987 were the Justified Ancients of Mu Mu formed?
FOUND
V.H.S. CONCERNING(?) :
LORD ROCK AND TIME BOY
A.K.A. THE TIMELORDS
A.K.A. ROCKMAN ROCK AND KINGBOY D.
A.K.A. THE JUSTIFIED ANCIENTS OF MU MU
A.K.A. THE JAMS
A.K.A. THE KLF
A.K.A. THE FALL
A.K.A. THE FOREVER ANCIENTS LIBERATION LOOPHOLE
A.K.A. THE FRANK AND ERNEST SHOW
A.K.A. K2
A.K.A. THE K FOUNDATION
2017 – WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON?
On 01/01/1987 Bill Drummond said to Jimmy Cauty “LET’S FORM A BAND CALL ‘THE JUSTIFIED ANCIENTS OF MU MU'”
On 23/08/1994 The K Foundation burnt one million quid.
2017-1994 = 23.

It’s pretty weird and you can watch the entire film below.

Will 2017 mark the return of The KLF? DJ Food, who spun at that KLF Night in Bristol, included “The return of the KLF?…” in his ‘Looking forward to in 2017’ section of his year-end wrap up post. They did, however, originally declare they wouldn’t release another record until peace was declared throughout the world. Drummond and Cauty appeared under the name 2K for a one-time-only London performance on September 17, 1997 which lasted…23 minutes. We could certainly use them right about now, though.

In other news, Cauty’s latest artwork is ‘ADP The Aftermath Dislocation Principle‘ a post-Brexit, post-Trump-win dystopian miniature diorama housed in a graffiti-covered shipping container that has been shown around the UK. You can watch a video about ADP below.

For more on The KLF, John Higgs’ The KLF: Chaos, Magic and the Band who Burned a Million Pounds is highly recommended.