February 2004 - KLF - mailman.xmission.com

Re: [KLF] THE REAL X$X
by Raymond Baal 08 Feb '04

08 Feb '04

This should be of interest. Suela, the xdollarx group moderator, just posted this to the group at http://groups.yahoo.co.uk/group/xdollarx about the subject of KLF/X$X. I think she's been 'connected' to Michael K more than most;-)and definitely is the number 1 insider for what's going on although even she says she doesn't know the half of it But quite illuminating on this subject... Ray ------------begin quote------------------- Subject: [xdollarx] Re: X$X/KLF Date: Sun, 08 Feb 2004 08:10:52 -0000 From: "suelajordan" <suelajordan(a)yahoo.co.uk> Reply-To: xdollarx(a)yahoogroups.com To: xdollarx(a)yahoogroups.com Hmmm..you're not the only one who finds this a bit boring, especially as I know little about the KLF and havent really heard any of their records. Before my time, I think. Either that or The KLF were a bit of a boy's group:-) I just never noticed them at all. I discussed this in the long interviews I did with the 'real' (?) Michael K and he also said that The KLF had pretty much passed him by until their last record and their split and that The Black Room title for the first X$X CD-Rom was pure coincidence. I can't put up the interview section I'm talking of until I see which parts were used by the magazine I sold it to. I sold on an exclusive basis so until I get paid I'm not going to risk it:) Whatever they don't use reverts to my copyright, so if the stuff on KLF was not of interest (which is likely), I'll put it up. But in essence, 'The Black Room' title referred to two things in K's original gameplan. One was a book by Colin Wilson (1971) which is about sensory deprivation experiments using black rooms with no sound or light, AND most importantly, 'The Black Room' at Apple Corps Ltd, Savile Row in the 1960's where The Beatles stored all the unlistened to demos, unread manuscripts et al which followed their launch of the Apple organisation. K said that when he discovered the KLF by hearing 'The White Room' on the comedown after his first 'E' and then reading the gatefold sleeve of the 'Who Killed The Jams?' LP which documents all the press received by the inital KLF outings under that name. He said he recognised fellow travellers and became interested after the fact. Almost simultaneously with that, KLF fans became interested in X$X because of the title of the initial X$X CD-Rom which was well ahead of the pack in 1992 and the X$X/KLF connection went from there. He also mentioned meeting Drummond but I didn't pursue it as I didn't even realise at the time of the interview that Bill Drummond was connected with The KLF. Hope this clears something or other up for you. Regards Suela --- In xdollarx(a)yahoogroups.com, "Brave Hertz" <brave_hertz@y...> wrote: > HAVE TO ADMIT THAT I FIND THIS X$X/KLF LINKAGE THING A BIT BORING! > THERE"S SO MUCH MORE TO LOOK AT THAN WHETHER 'MICHAEL K' IS CONNECTED > TO, PAYING HOMAGE TO, OR OTHERWISE REFERENCING ELELMETNS OF THE KLF > THING. KLF? WHO? > > :-) > KLF WAS DEAD OVER TEN YEARS AGO. > X$X IS LIVE...NOW! ___________________________________________________________ BT Yahoo! Broadband - Free modem offer, sign up online today and save Â£80 http://btyahoo.yahoo.co.uk

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Re:[KLF] THE REAL X$X
by Raymond Baal 08 Feb '04

08 Feb '04

Both of you are right in a way. There's definitely no attempt to "pretend it's the KLF". That section in "DO NOT SELL AFTER 1999" (bootleg mp3 on the RM Stringer server and other places) which has the phone call takes the piss out of the journalists who kind of jumped to that conclusion waay back. There's a bit that goes as follows: JOURNALIST:"...So is it the KLF? That's what I'm really wondering." X$X 'RECEPTIONIST': "No sir..you're barking up the wrong tree there. I can tell you it's NOT the KLF." JOURNALIST: "Is there any more information I can get? I'd just like to do a story..." X$X 'RECEPTIONIST':"You'd actually have to speak to one of the band members themselves" JOURNALIST: "Is there any way I can reach them" X$X 'RECEPTIONIST': "They're actually in Waverley Station, Edinburgh at the moment. I could give you the number" But Simon's right when he says there's been a regular and persistent undercurrent of KLF-ist theme.It's weird though because unlike some later projects which use KLF-ist 'imagery' or reference or nods, the X$X thing has a vibe of its own which seems to include the KLFism as a natural component. It feels that way to me and a few others have put it more eloquently than I can. It's kind of like whenever people nod to The Beatles. Some of them just look plain-arsed stupid and tedious, others hero-worship, look too and inferior. Occassionally some others manage to incorporate elements in a way which takes the influence forward and actually increases the lot of both themselves and their influence. Also agree that there's more than just a hint of connectivity between someone who could be called 'THE REAL MICHAEL K' (not one of the multiples) and the general "Avant-bard" scene which includes any body from Drummond to Home to Mark Thomas et al. No doubt that B&J have known about Michael K for about a . It's easy to read the signals as BOTH a scam and a hint. Agree with Blys that all of this is probably irrelevant anyway. Ray Simon Glass wrote: For my part, on this list and the other I never insinuated that KLF/X$X are one and the same, I merely pointed out that they supposedly produced a spoof 'Black Room' CD that probably got some B&J fans hot under the collar. There is also no doubt they frequently cross-reference to the KLF, used much similar iconography, fonts etc in the mid 90s ('gig' posters around this time really DID look like some kind of KLF project) and frequently namecheck the KLF on the various websites to this day (an animated GIF that flashes up 'Who Killed the KLF?' among other images, plus the dates 1987, then 1997 etc). So whilst there is little doubt this is a separate project, there is obviously a degree of influence there and indications that perhaps Michael K(s) is acquainted with Jimmy, and perhaps Bill in some way or another. I think some of the old cuttings from Melody Maker etc describing communication with K gave the impression K was happy to perpetuate any association, for instance by saying he knew Michael McElwee and was linked to the Stadium House video. There have also been the occasional cryptic posts on KLF.de that might be X$X-derived, and I still think 'The Alternate Jams' have some kind of X$X connection, personally =) Julian Slinger <blystery(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: A lot of the tracks seem equal parts drum'n'bass and noisy guitar but I don't think you're listening to a speeded-up Bill Drummond!!And the idea that X$X is trying to make it appear it's the KLF seems to me to be ridiculous..it doesn't sound anything like the KLF and there's been enough documention over the years to show that this kind-of KLF/X$X association is just a small part of the game-plan. THE BUILDING (the old version which is linked to from the xdollarx yahoo site) is about the idea of the multiple names, like Michael K and Luther Blissett and Stewart Home and obviously The KLF have an interconnection with all of that Neoist stuff. Somewhere there's a lot of stuff on 'Michael K' as Drummond and cauty's secret collaborator from the beginning but, again, I think this is just people putting 2 and 3 together to make 23. Having said that, he one thing that's always been a mystery is how X$X used the K Foundation's po box address a year before the K Foundation was announced. I think the main thing is that all of the activists in this kind of area are trying to mess with the usual concepts of truth and authenticity so the real truth is that the devil's in the detail and the detail doesnt matter. It's just the message that matters and in this case, I'm glad it's music since the whole intellectual thing kind of washes over me a bit. Blys Jon Doe wrote: On a first glance the music is really tidy. Some tracks are mixing dance and guitars. A lot of the tracks use a formular of a classic breakbeat with a few extra bits to help it along. Some tracks sound like different mixes of others (is this to increase the amount of clips). On the building, the voice sounds like a pitched up Drummond trying to and almost achieving a non drummond sound! Obviously this works the other way and all things pointing at KLF like the font used, track titles etc could be there to make us think it is KLF. What do Drummond and Cauty say about this? Tim, positive void, can you help here? ___________________________________________________________ BT Yahoo! Broadband - Free modem offer, sign up online today and save Â£80 http://btyahoo.yahoo.co.uk

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Re: [KLF] THE REAL X$X
by Julian Slinger 07 Feb '04

07 Feb '04

A lot of the tracks seem equal parts drum'n'bass and noisy guitar but I don't think you're listening to a speeded-up Bill Drummond!!And the idea that X$X is trying to make it appear it's the KLF seems to me to be ridiculous..it doesn't sound anything like the KLF and there's been enough documention over the years to show that this kind-of KLF/X$X association is just a small part of the game-plan. THE BUILDING (the old version which is linked to from the xdollarx yahoo site) is about the idea of the multiple names, like Michael K and Luther Blissett and Stewart Home and obviously The KLF have an interconnection with all of that Neoist stuff. Somewhere there's a lot of stuff on 'Michael K' as Drummond and cauty's secret collaborator from the beginning but, again, I think this is just people putting 2 and 3 together to make 23. Having said that, he one thing that's always been a mystery is how X$X used the K Foundation's po box address a year before the K Foundation was announced. I think the main thing is that all of the activists in this kind of area are trying to mess with the usual concepts of truth and authenticity so the real truth is that the devil's in the detail and the detail doesnt matter. It's just the message that matters and in this case, I'm glad it's music since the whole intellectual thing kind of washes over me a bit. Blys Jon Doe wrote: On a first glance the music is really tidy. Some tracks are mixing dance and guitars. A lot of the tracks use a formular of a classic breakbeat with a few extra bits to help it along. Some tracks sound like different mixes of others (is this to increase the amount of clips). On the building, the voice sounds like a pitched up Drummond trying to and almost achieving a non drummond sound! Obviously this works the other way and all things pointing at KLF like the font used, track titles etc could be there to make us think it is KLF. What do Drummond and Cauty say about this? Tim, positive void, can you help here? ___________________________________________________________ BT Yahoo! Broadband - Free modem offer, sign up online today and save Â£80 http://btyahoo.yahoo.co.uk

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Re:Re:[KLF] THE REAL X$X
by Raymond Baal 07 Feb '04

07 Feb '04

Try looking through the links section on the xdollarx yahoo group. http://groups.yahoo.co.uk/group/xdollarx/links. There's lots of stuff there including an ancient site (see the EVERYTHING YOU DON'T KNOW IS RIGHT link) by someone trying to sum it up at that time. I've meant to try to do this many times (hasn't everone who's ever been even vaguely intrigued by X$X) but there's so much information to collate. Maybe you'll do better. I'll help you as much as I can. Thomas Touzimsky wrote: >I can't check at the moment, but is there a summary of who/what X$X are? I wanted to add this to the FAQ. ___________________________________________________________ BT Yahoo! Broadband - Free modem offer, sign up online today and save Â£80 http://btyahoo.yahoo.co.uk

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eBay Listing: KLF TRANCENTRAL T-Shirt (Item #32725517
by PVC 06 Feb '04

06 Feb '04

clothing 4 the retro-head generation http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3272551721&ssPageName=… inhale & enjoy tim

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pure trance e-train
by Tony Pesci 06 Feb '04

06 Feb '04

Now i wonder if anyone can help me for many moon's i have been puzzled?I've seen a picture of the e-train 008T as sea green the font on this picture looks wrong to me compared to all the others[example the lettering goes along the number five on the 008R sleeve]which you would think would be the same on 008T.The plot thicken's the labels i have and only labels no sleeve are yellow a different yellow to 007T.F**k i hope that's clear,you think your confused. Cheers tony

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Re: Re: [KLF] THE REAL X$X
by thomas＠klf.de 06 Feb '04

06 Feb '04

I can't check at the moment, but is there a summary of who/what X$X are? I wanted to add this to the FAQ. ..::// Thomas Touzimsky

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Re: [KLF] THE REAL X$X
by Raymond Baal 06 Feb '04

06 Feb '04

> No...ultra-professional design classics like the first > K2 Planthire site spring to mind when you're talking > KLF on the web;-) www.blacksmoke.org www.penkiln-burn.com Yes..and while I was trawling the KLF list-archives for X$X data a while back, I noticed a few observations from the mid-nineties about the coincidental, at that time rare, use of Flash for the KLF and X$X related sites with a few people speculating on what that might indicate. Is Simon Cauty still the Flash dude behind the Blacksmoke site? The Penkiln Burn is also one of my favourite sites as it actually has CONTENT to the fore;-) Ray Thomas Touzimsky wrote: They both look quite professional to me (although PB is quite minimal,but I like that). And don't get me started talking about the database structure of the KLF Online sections that are yet to go online... ;-) (that's no official website, but 'KLF on the web' anyway) (nb. The FAQs are almost finished, I just need to fill the two missing sections - "Bootlegs" and "Who is who?" All other stuff has been added and updated to 2004 if necessary) ___________________________________________________________ BT Yahoo! Broadband - Free modem offer, sign up online today and save Â£80 http://btyahoo.yahoo.co.uk

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Re: Re: [KLF] THE REAL X$X
by thomas＠klf.de 06 Feb '04

06 Feb '04

> speculating on what that might indicate. Is Simon > Cauty still the Flash dude behind the Blacksmoke site? AFAIK it's all done by Keir. Simon had no knowledge of Blacksmoke last time I talked to him. ..::// Thomas Touzimsky Don't make me use uppercase!

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Re: [KLF] THE REAL X$X
by Harry Kipper 06 Feb '04

06 Feb '04

Stuey and Michelle wrote: >>if Michael K wants to be taken seriously he ought to >>move his website off Lycos with the fucking >>crappy pop-up ads - not at all cool mate! Duh...WHAT POP-UP ADS? If you think >>you are mysterious or artistic then you need to >>suffer for your art and fucking pay for a web host.- I don't see any but then I use Mozilla which allows you to kill them and therefore prevents artists suffering for their art by paying for web hosts;-) >>you wouldn't catch the KLF using a free host with >>adverts. No...ultra-professional design classics like the first K2 Planthire site spring to mind when you're talking KLF on the web;-) In any case,even if there were a pop-up ad on my browser, it's a pretty petty complaint to make given the amount of trax that are there all of a sudden after aeons of rumori. "X$X? I'M LOVIN' IT" ___________________________________________________________ BT Yahoo! Broadband - Free modem offer, sign up online today and save Â£80 http://btyahoo.yahoo.co.uk

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