My blog has been neglected for 3 years, so please, if you're only here for the JAMs, there's sod all relevant before this post! And so it starts...
In 1990, I was 17 years old, and really into the burgeoning acid house rave music scene. I finally got to go to some raves, the Butter Loggies in Eston near Middlesbrough. The three raves I attended at that venue opened my eyes to the underground music that was around at the time, from new unknowns, like Nightmares On Wax, 808 State, Orbital, The Orb and, of course, the KLF. As the imagination of the young was grabbed by the scene, the cream of the crop began to creep its way into the public eye, and ultimately Top of the Pops.
Bill and Jimmy in their guise of The Timelords on TOTP
At the time, electronic artists weren't sure what to do with this attention, so they would simply mime to their music while hunched over their equipment, with a dancer bouncing around them looking awkward. Except for the Orb, whose performance consisted of the guys sat playing a cosmic looking chess game, and of course, the KLF, whose stage presence really captured my attention.
As time went on, as a now devoted fan of the KLF, it confused me when they brought out the following singles, Justified and Ancient with Tammy Wynette and America: What Time Is Love? I didn't know what to make of them, and it felt, to my purist heart, that they were perhaps selling out a bit. But then there was the slightly terrifying, and utterly brilliant It's Grim Up North by their alter egos, the JAMs, which was definitely not mainstream and not half as accessible as their previous records, not for me personally anyway. I quickly fell in love with it though, and IGUN is one of my absolute favourite tracks of theirs.
The KLF vs Extreme Noise Terror at the Brit Awards
Finally, after the Brit Awards triumph, I was shocked and saddened by their huge announcement that the KLF had left the music industry. I didn't believe it at the time, but they disappeared, and soon my life took over and I stopped wondering what they were up to. Without the resource of the internet that we have now, there was little opportunity for me to keep a track of their activities, so they simply disappeared from my radar.
As a fan, though, the White Room has featured in my consciousness constantly since then. The record keeps coming out for another listen, and it has lasted the test of time. In fact, some 8 or so years ago, I actually had a tattoo of the Pyramid Blaster done on my right leg. Mentions of Cauty and Drummond kept on making my ears prick up, and I have endeavoured to collect the books produced by the two of them on their own. Their projects captured my imagination, and the more I read, the more I wanted to see and experience something that Bill or Jimmy did. Which brings me to this year...
When the announcement came through that time was almost up on the JAMs embargo on discussing the KLF, and in particular, why they decided to burn a million quid, my heart leapt through the roof and I HAD to get involved. The tickets went on sale and I got one. I was OVER THE FUCKING MOON!
What followed was an exciting and intriguing email...
INFORMATION FOR VOLUNTEERS
INFORMATION FOR ATTENDEES OF WELCOME TO THE DARK AGES
Please find information herein to aid in the preparation for your
entry into the Dark Ages.
Welcome To The Dark Ages will encompass daytime and evening activities across
23rd, 24th and 25th August.
A full event schedule - including timings and locations - will be provided
at The Dead Perch Lounge in Liverpool when you transfer your event ticket for a
wristband.
The events of Friday 25th August will involve a slow paced walk of
around three miles. Bring suitable shoes and attire. If you use an umbrella,
bring one.
WRISTBAND EXCHANGE
In order to take part in Welcome To The Dark Ages you will need to
exchange your ticket for a wristband. Wristband Exchange will be based at
The Dead Perch Lounge, Static Gallery, 23 Roscoe Lane, Liverpool, L1 9JD.
Wristband Exchange will be open at the following times:
Tuesday 22nd August Midday - 6pm
Wednesday 23rd August 9am - 9pm
If you arrive after 9pm on Wednesday 23rd August you will be able to
exchange your ticket for a wristband at the Dead Perch Lounge the
following morning.
THE DEAD PERCH LOUNGE @ STATIC GALLERY
The Dead Perch Lounge @ Static Gallery will be the event hub during
Welcome To The Dark Ages. It will be open for breakfast on 23/24/25 August
from 9am-11am and throughout the rest of the day for coffee and refreshments.
There will also be a presentation related to Welcome To The Dark Ages
activities on Saturday 26th August at 11.23am held at the Dead Perch Lounge.
Details will be revealed during the event.
2023 BOOK STAMPING by THE JUSTIFIED ANCIENTS OF MU MU NEWS FROM NOWHERE,
BOLD STREET
To mark the publication of the novel 2023 (Faber & Faber),
The Justified Ancients of Mu Mu will arrive in their Ice Kream Van at
News From Nowhere on Bold Street in Liverpool at 23 seconds after the
clock strikes midnight on the 22nd of August. Or to be more accurate
at 00:00:23 on Wednesday the 23rd of August.
They will climb out of their Ice Kream Van and enter the shop.
News From Nowhere is a bookshop. It will be the first bookshop in the world
to sell copies of 2023.
The Justified Ancients of Mu Mu will then sell and stamp copies of 2023
to all those that are there and are in need of a copy of the book.
If you pre-ordered a copy of the book with your ticket, you can also collect
it at News From Nowhere and have it stamped by The Justified Ancients of Mu Mu
at 00:00:23 on Wednesday the 23rd of August
VOLUNTEER INITIATION
All ticket holders for Welcome To The Dark Ages are volunteers.
Volunteer jobs will be delegated at the Volunteer Initiation.
This will take place at 1pm on Wednesday 23rd August.
This will see the commencement of Welcome To The Dark Ages activities.
News From Nowhere is a bookshop. It will be the first bookshop in the
world to sell copies of 2023.
The location for Volunteer Initiation will be communicated to you at
Wristband Exchange when you arrive.
If you arrive after 1pm on Wednesday 23rd August you will be designated
a job in your absence. We would advise that you are present.
THE GRADUATION BALL
The Justified Ancients of Mu Mu will be throwing a Graduation Ball,
following the events of Welcome To The Dark Ages.
This Graduation Ball will be for all of The Volunteers who have graduated
to the Dark Ages.
This Graduation Ball will be at the Invisible Wind Factory.
The Invisible Wind Factory is many things. One of those things is a nightclub.
The Invisible Wind Factory's doors will open at 22:00 on
Friday the 25th of August.
The address of the Invisible Wind Factory is
3 Regent Rd, Liverpool L3 7DS
There will be guest DJs - DJ Food and Greg Wilson.
There will be the world premier screening of the 69 minute director's cut
version of the film 2023: What The FUUK Is Going On? by The Justified
Ancients of Mu Mu.There will be the one and only performance by Badger Kull.
Badger Kull will be performing their one and only song. Their one and only song
is Toxteth Day of the Dead
Although this Graduation Ball will be free for all of The Volunteers
who have graduated to The Dark Ages, there will be a limited number of
tickets for the general paying public - £10 entrance fee.
Tickets are available from bidolito.co.uk/JAMs
On the guest list will be Vladimir Putin + 1, the Little Perch,
The 23 Sparrows, and Tat'jana & Kristina. But no one else.
This Graduation Ball will last as long as it lasts. Or until the last
of the Little Perch have been kicked out and thrown back into the Mersey.
Be there at the Birth.
And remember:
'Life is the gateway drug to death'
No comments:
Post a Comment