Funny enough, when I first heard about this years ago, I thought it was just a fad or show-off move. But now at 44, without enough money for everything I'd like, I totally get it. The point is often missed-it was their own showbiz money. In most cases, people burn that cash on villas, yachts, hookers, perversions and lavish lifestyles without being judged. Instead, the KLF chose to reject that, burning their money as fast as they made it. And now they live knowing what they did. It was a bold, punk move-a performance art with real guts. Yet people judged them, totally missing the point what was on the other side (hint: egomaniacal lifestyle). If anything, they proved that they DON'T have inflated egos. In fact, they rejected the whole idea of the big dreams and bloated lavish lifestyles. As Bill said, they didn't burn anyone's bread. They burned the paper, their own paper. Must have been liberating. They continued doing what they do, without becoming bigger than life personas like most showbiz people think they are.
They inverted the meaning of money. That's what makes it so special. Burning their million quid, burnt the dreams everyone else saw in it. Probably the most beautiful statement I've seen in my life. Because not only did they burn the bad & greedy dreams, but they also burned the good dreams. I think the cherry on top is the idea, that neither good nor bad can be achieved with money alone. It's clear that that the majority of the audience and observers didn't understand that or didn't care.
By 1995 , the British and US government had spent 500 million bombing men women and children in Iraq. Half of all US taxes (500 billion a year) go to killing people. Maybe they should have bought 3 cruise missiles ? Maybe that arsehole Gay Byrne should ask the Pentagon for 1 million for charity ? He has the naivete to ask Why not do something better ? No one would notice. Most of all, it was theirs, unlike the taxes which go to bullets and overpaid RTE moguls
I always thought that this was a piece of performance art as the point was weather you believe they burned the money or not There was only the film of the money burning and the information about how much money was found on that beach, so only these two men knew how much actually was burned Or how much money they took to the Island to begin with so do you believe they burned all that money? or have I thought about this too much?
To not be born with any millions, make a million or two, then burn a million green queens. It doesn't get much better. I miss The KLF. Personally, I couldn't burn the fiver in my pocket, without a lifelong regret....
The baffled, offended reaction proves that money is our society's god - they did something far more unthinkable and taboo than burning a bible or a flag
Try getting a million quid in cash out of the bank these days, you can't even take a grand out without the teller asking what it's for, The obvious answer? "I'm going to burn it".
"People won't be thinking about it tomorrow." I'm thinking about it in the tomorrow 20 years later. Money is a meme. Enjoy the meme, don't become the meme. GG the KLF, the OG token burners.
giving the money to charity or other thought to be good causes is missing the point. money should never be the issue when it comes to getting the help people need, community is more important for that, so much money is sent to charities and so called good causes , its a bottomless pit and but it rarely reaches those that really need it, it corrupts and is one of the main causes for the controlled politicians of today, we have money in this country but a lot of it is sent abroad supposedly to help others and yet our own people are increasingly left uncatered for. Money is held too highly in many peoples minds and it corrupts but obviously not them.
Wow! "It wasn't a publicity stunt, because we played with the idea of making it a bigger publicity stunt but we ultimately didn't"... That's a great argument!
If most folk on the street really understood how money works in the modern financial system they would be more relaxed about KLF burning a million quid. Central Banks literally produce money with the click of a mouse and then distribute it as debt for clearing bands to sell to us mugs in the street as debt for the banks to earn interest on. Being unlinked now to Gold, most new currency is Fiat Currency issues as a debt for some worker drone to realise its value in the future. An IOU as it were for the future of that country's economy. At the end of the day Drummond or Cauty could have brought a yacht with it, so the whole charity argument is a straw man. Most people who own millions of pounds just keep it in the bank or put it into property or assets that do nothing but appreciate (they hope) and make them richer still.
I love KLF, I’m 43 and still listen to them today. The way Gay Is putting it to them about people needing hip replacements and people being in poverty who need that money is unbelievable…If at that time, and it was a long time ago, that people had to fast in Cork to raise money for the homeless…what the fuck has that got to do with the KLF? Would that not be the government’s problem and not an electronic bands problem? And the the audience are going along with Gays’ narrative…Fucking unbelievable…The KLF were inspired by an artwork to do this, and they copied it but seriously upped the ante on it…Bollox to anyone who tells you what to do with your money when the CEO’s of “charitable organisations “ are sitting pretty on a fortune and expect the people who are being screwed over day by day to give their hard earned cash away…Bollox, it’s your money and you should do with it what you choose…If Gay was that concerned or any audience member felt the need for that money to go to someone needing a hip replacement why didn’t they put their hands in their pocket…there was nothing stopping them…Years too late but a rants a rant…stop looking to musicians and celebrities to sort shit out..Live Aid done fuck all and where’s the government?
I did like their music very much but the fact that they caused debate with the action of burning the quid speaks to the value they added into the world of debate and art.
