Bill Drummond (born William Ernest Drummond) is an English singer-songwriter, record producer, visual artist, and author. He is best known for his work in the group The KLF, a pioneering and influential British synth-pop and electronic dance music act, which he founded with Jimmy Cauty in 1987.
Drummond was born in 1950 in South Shields, England. He grew up in a musical family, and his father was a jazz musician. As a teenager, Drummond moved to Liverpool and studied at the Liverpool College of Art. After graduating, he moved to London and got a job at a record label, where he met Jimmy Cauty. The two formed The Justified Ancients of Mu Mu (later known as The JAMs and then The KLF), blending samples with original music and creating a unique sound.
The KLF released several successful albums, including 1987 (What the F*ck Is Going On?) and Chill Out. They also released a string of hit singles, including "Doctorin' the Tardis," "3 a.m. Eternal," and "Last Train to Trancentral." The group won the 1992 Brit Award for Best British Group and was nominated for two other awards.
In 1992, Drummond and Cauty left the music industry and began creating art and literature, including the book The Manual (How to Have a Number One the Easy Way). They also founded the K Foundation, an art collective focused on creating radical and subversive art. In 1994, they famously burned one million pounds as a statement against the music industry.
Drummond has gone on to have a successful solo career, releasing the albums Tilt (1995) and The Man (2005). He has also written several books, including 45 (1998), The 17 (2001), and 45 Years of Music (2004). He has also published several works of fiction, including the novel The Obscene Study of a Man (2005).
In 2008, Drummond and Cauty reunited as The KLF and released the album "The White Room." They also released a new single, "Justified & Ancient," which became a top ten hit in the UK.
Drummond continues to be a prolific artist and musician. He recently released the album "Dreamweavers" (2017) and continues to write and release music. He has also released several books, including the novel "The Big If" (2018).
