Money to Burn?

Item #26: The JAMs, The KLF

Year: 1989/1990

Circulation: Probably only 23.

The KLF (also known as The Jams (Justified Ancients of Mu Mu) and The Timelords) were a British acid house, rave, electronica, hip hop, and/or techno outfit formed in the late 80s. But the duo were mostly avant-garde artists who utilized music, literature, film and publicity as their canvas to debunk the music industry. After producing the top selling single, Doctorin’ The Tardis they spit in the face of music by authoring The Manual (How To Have A Number One The Easy Way), a tongue-in-cheek formula to making a top single. In 1992 they retired at the height of their career having just been named Best British Group at the Brit Awards. Slated to perform “3am Eternal” the crowd got a horrific thrash version which the band concluded by unloading a machine gun (blanks) in to the crowd and announcing, “The KLF has left the music industry.” To their dismay the act was somewhat well received by the typically stuffy award show audience and bridges needed to be fully burned. That was quite easily achieved when they delivered dead sheep and gallons of sheep blood to the show’s after party. The press finally turned on them, claiming their outrageous behavior was just a publicity stunt to sell more records. In response to those claims The KLF burned more than just bridges – they deleted their entire back catalog of music and incinerated one million British pounds. They wont reunite unless peace reigns around the world.

Brand: Fruit of the Loom

Measurements: 20″ (pit-to-pit) 26″ (rear collar-bottom seam)

Condition: Excellent vintage condition.

Variables: None.

Available for purchase here.