MURAL APPLICATIONS

The mural of desperation was established in the final stages of preparing the 5th GANTOB book, Who Killed GANTOB? (GANTOB Books, 2026). The purpose of this construction is explained in that book. If you are an original recipient of the 5th book then you can apply to be added to the wall. This will unlock the 4th book, GANTOB’s 25 Paintings (GANTOB Books, 2025).

Successful applicants, and their applications will be added to this post.

Contact via the usual routes.

Maureen Katz, 24/2/2026

JR’s contribution:

Before:

Hello Maureen, and whoever remains in the GANTOBverse that reads this,

Having read “Who Killed GANTOB?” I know that I must state my case to receive a hard copy of the “25 Paintings” book.

I shall do so, but not out of “desperation”. I rarely despair. My inclination is more towards hope. Hence I make my request from a sense of dissatisfaktion over “unfinished business” and hope it will be accepted.

I’ll try to explain. I understand the logik; the KLF “ethos” of Kaos and Destruktion and desire to resist “Kompletionism”, but apart from a time in my childhood when I kollected the cards that came with PG Tea and was passionate about filling their albums I have never really been a kompletionist. I will not be searching out copies of Vipers Tongue or other such esoterika. And the KLF themselves reversed much of their destruktion when they reissued their music. The destruktion argument no longer holds, despite The Benefaktor’s orchestrated burnings on the IOM. 

My justification is that the GANTOB projekt drew me in from nowhere. One night of idle web browsing in August 2023 prompted a kwestion and the rest is history. I was in from the early days, I was prompted to do stuff I’d never done before and when the proof of the final opus appeared with a plea for assistance I gave it my best shot. I apologise again to The Observer for the italics business. But, as GANTOB knows well, my background involved projekt management, and no projekt manager worth their salt wants to walk away without a succesful konklusion and a formal sign off. This is usually followed with a review of “lessons learned”.

My proof kopy remains mysteriously out of sight. I’ve learned a lesson about keeping stuff organised. But there’s a hole on a shelf above BD’s “The 25 Paintings 2014” set aside for a similar sized book with a different set of 25 paintings. That kompanion book is required in order to kross the final stage boundary and close the last projekt gate. It will bug me for a long time if I don’t cross that (K)Line.

Regards

JR

After:

Thank you. The book arrived safely today. It’s something special.

JR

P.S. 

The missing proof was really irritating me. As I was out walking today I called for reinforcements and took out my mental “time teleskope” and began a process…it went like this…

When did you send the last korrektions to DGMoG(tp)?

– Checks email. Late on Monday 27 Oct 2025

What else were you doing then?

– Checks calendar. It was a chemo day. We were at The Christie.

So you probably drafted the email while you were there, and the book was with you?

– Korrekt.

You normally go for a walk while H is on the drip. The book is heavy. Did you drop it off in the car boot as you set off?

– Probably.

Did you ever take it out?

– I must have done at some point.

Did you go anywhere unusual shortly after?

– Checks calendar. The car went into the garage for some repairs on Weds 29th.

So you would have emptied the car beforehand.

– Korrekt.

You normally dump everything in that big Lidl bag and use the opportunity to clear the car of surplus CDs and other excess baggage. Did you do that?

– Yes, I always do that when it goes to the garage..

Where did you put the surplus CDs?

– In an old cheese box. 

Where did you put the box?

– On the desk in the spare bedroom with the other boxes.

Didn’t H make you tidy the spare bedroom before Christmas when you had guests?

– Korrekt.

Where did you put the boxes of CDs?

– In the bottom of the wardrobe.

Are they still there?

– Yes.

Have you looked in there for the book?

– Yes. And I looked in the big box under the bed.

Are you sure? Did you look properly? Or was it a “man look”?

– Errrm

Did you look behind the boxes of CDs and under those old coats that you really should take to the charity shop?

– I’d better have another look when I get home hadn’t I?

I think you should, I can see a hint of orange in that back korner…

Once again the time teleskope brought klarity.

Regards

JR

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Christine’s contribution:

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Stu’s contribution:

Dear Maureen,

First of all, thank you for the unexpected copy of ‘Who Killed GANTOB?’ (and the Relive pamphlet) that arrived last week. As you say in the pamphlet, it wasn’t the book I was expecting to arrive, but was welcome nonetheless.

It’s interesting how much Nigel Kneale influence makes in into the novel. I’d always say I was a fan of his work although, thinking about it, I may only ever have watched the original Quatermass trilogy (in both its TV and film versions) and The Year Of The Sex Olympics.

However, I had read ‘Minuke’ (mentioned in the pamphlet) quite recently, thanks to its inclusion in ‘Circles Of Stone: Weird Tales Of Pagan Sites And Ancient Rites’ (in the British Library ‘Tales Of The Weird’ series, this one edited by Katy Soar, 2023).

The climax of ‘Minuke’ reminded me of the finale of the BBC “as live” drama Ghostwatch (as did a key moment in ‘Who Killed GANTOB?’) but, in case you’ve not seen the TV programme, I won’t say why just now.

Anyway, the GANTOB novel is terrific: I read it down the launderette on Saturday afternoon and then again on the train up to London the following day. At least not EVERYONE in the story comes to a sticky end!

Of course, I would like to see a copy of ‘The 25 Paintings’ arrive in the post too one day, even if my previous 52 Pamphlets contributions and illustrations didn’t make the final edit.

I’m not feeling as desperate to see it as I was when I learned, from a reader, that I’d contributed to Bill Drummond’s ‘Biog 2024’/’Winning Is For Losers’ novella (Bill hadn’t passed that information on, so I had to chase down a copy via various Facebook groups).

And I’m sure I’m not feeling as disappointed as contributors to Bill’s ‘The Life Model’ must have done when a print edition didn’t come to fruition (twice!)

It’s not for completism’s sake. I know as a KLF fan I’ll never see, let alone own, a ‘Deep Shit’ flexi or plenty of their impossibly limited DJ promos and test pressings.

And I don’t even now hold copies of all the magazines etc I used to write for, having lent them back to friends and publishers or missed out on getting hold of them in the first place (I remember once bumping, unexpectedly, into an old friend in New York and she said “It was great to see you profiled inthe Guardian article the other weekend” – I’ve still no idea what that was about!)

It’s just, if ‘The 25 Paintings’ is, as described, GANTOB’s magnum opus, that’s got to be worth a look, especially if I did a bit in it.

If it had been GANTOB’s ‘The Black Room’ and never emerged, that would be worse I suppose!

Anyway, I hope when the dust settles on the strange incidents around the death of GANTOB, that the rest of ‘The 25 Paintings’ do indeed resurface and make their way to those who helped in its creation, albeit inadvertantly!

Right, gotta sign off and head to work now,

Catch up soon I hope,

stu

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Gaynor’s contribution:

Before:

Dear GANTOB, Grapefruit, Gillian, Maureen whoever and whatever 

I miss GANTOB. Where the devil is Gillian what am I having for tea ?

As a contributor to the 25 paintings book and with great consistency indeed included in the email of a GANTOB (ish)  creation please may I have a copy of the book?

I just love it you know – thats all there is to it and I will accept this fantastic journey we have all been on will have come to an (whispers) end 

I have loved it, found myself, accepted myself and let my lone ranger ride 

Gaynor

After:

Just wanted to say book safely  received 

the sheer weighty ness

Opening it I’m just so overwhelmed to have been a part of this. Without you /them/ whoever

It would never have been 

Who has the sheer grit to pull books off let alone this beauty ? You did 

I’d forgotten all of this or maybe it was seeing it all together  as one I don’t know? It’s truly amazing .

You made me brave 

Thank you extremely sincerely

I’ve been inspired

By the pencil drawings from Bill’s writings  

 This week i’ll be sending some over for Little Grapefruit At Sea once I’m down from this cloud 

Gaynor 

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Brechtian’s contribution:

Before

Aloha

Which is both a word for both hello and goodbye, and I think that’s a good match for the GANTOBesque GANTOBonian GANTOBness surrounding books,
and the unburnt existence and locations thereof.

Late to the request and mural application I may be – I spy from
Instagram that far more photogenic and poetic cases have been made by others far more talented than I (and that they seem to have successful) – I would still like to make my application and/or plea for a copy of the fine quality publication that is:

GANTOB’s 25 Paintings

My reason is simply that of wanting to continue, for as long as possible the adventure. Although I am behind on an earlier mention of typing up my contribution to The Life Model (and even extending it beyond the word
count constraints), I still have plans to do these things, and when they are done, I’ll let people know about it.

I now realise there may be other things I am behind upon. I do remember submitting a jam jar photo for one thing, and an illustration of a big
drum for something else. But I’m not sure now if these needed something else to follow up with. Penkiln Burn requests and GANTOB projects blend
together like a cocktail of references, Mog books and Isle of Man train tickets. Throw in whatever KLF(RS) are up to these days, and it can be tricky to keep up, and perhaps, that’s the point….

I will be attempting a drawing for  Little Grapefruit As Sea, once the
desk is clear and the colour pencils are found.

Anyway, that’s all. Aside from a note that I feel I have a better chance of this request being approved than any of the books I backed via Unbound(*) seeing the light of day.

Aloha, hope all is as well as can be these days, and with regards,

Brechtian –

* – ex-book publisher which formally used crowd funding methods to get books published. They collapsed a few years back leaving some authors unpaid and backers out of pocket and with no books, much to a few grumbles.

After

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Stephen Dorphin’s contribution:

Before

Dear GANTOB, what a journey this has been. Based on my earlier discovery and connection with GANTOB via the KLFRS axis and subsequent sporadic contributions to the GANTOB-verse – it feels only right that I too should submit my application to be added to the wall of shame mural of desperation.

Having been a lifelong obsessive of KLF and KLF-related culture especially Bill Drummond’s output in recent years – I have now taken part in crazy events, met delightful interesting folks and shared creations I could never have dreamt of. 

Simply stated it has been a pleasure to be a part of (albeit on the fringes) of a collective of like-minded individuals interested in creativity inspired loosely by a common interest.

I would be most grateful if I was selected to be an honoured recipient of the magnum opus that is GANTOB’s 25 Paintings.

Yours fatefully, Stephen Dorphin

After

Dear GANTOB, thank you for the hefty tome that is GANTOB’s 25 Paintings. It arrived safely and although I have yet to delve in fully, Archie and I enjoyed flicking through the many pages full of wondrousness. I am inspired to try my hand at illustrating a chapter of LGAS – although I am still getting over my embarrassment at my drawing of The Life Model chapter (shared via the Penkilnburn website today) which I never envisaged would be seen by anyone other than Bill Drummond. Considering it was created as a template for a Bill Drummond wood cut and not a standalone drawing in its own right I feel slightly miffed that he’s seen fit to share it as is.

Nevertheless, onwards and upwards.

Kind regards, Stephen Dorphin

To which I would reply that I very much enjoyed Stephen’s illustrations, both for GANTOB’s 25 Paintings and the prototype for Bill Drummond’s GRAFFIC NOVEL.

Maureen, 3 April 2026

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F’DA F’DA’s contribution

WANTED

(WITH A HINT OF DESPERATION)

A HARD BACK COPY OF: ’25 PAINTINGS WITH THE 52 PAMPHLETS’ by GILLIAN FINKS & PALS…

 

Dear Maureen,

After some time away from the world of GANTOB I was pleasantly surprised when a copy of ‘Who Killed GANTOB?’ fell through my letterbox a few weeks ago. After reading said kopy I find myself writing this applikation to be added to the ‘Mural of Desperation’, which will hopefully, on akceptance, result in myself finally receiving a hard back kopy of the now infamous ’25 Paintings With The 52 Pamphlets’ book…

 

The KLF(RS) Universe definitely works in mysterious ways!!! It has kreated a kollective of likeminded souls who kollaborate, kreate and kause Kaos & Konfusion, kombined with Klarity & Knowledge, and always with a sense of humour!!! Since GANTOB first reached out to me on 23 Nov 2023 when I was trying to appropriate some of her early pamphlets that were available at the ‘2023: The Krossing’ MuMufikation Ceremony, I have found myself falling down many a ‘K(LF(RS))-Hole’…

 

From my initial offerings as a GANTOB kontributor, via visits to both ends of the K-Line, Pre-Skool, 2025: Calling the Ancestors (Birkenhead Day of the Dead), and the (re)diskovery of the F-Line; An ancient powerline that stretches from Stanton Drew Stone Circle to a perpendicular konnektion spur on the K-Line. (Which lies between the villages of Maidford & Little Preston). I have fully immersed myself in all things KLFRS & GANTOBIAN, and, without much conviction, yet full of hope, I feel that I would be a worthy recipient of this magnum opus!!!

 

The KLFRS journey kontinues, at times it has been a beakon of light in my dark & depressive days…

 

Your ever hopeful kontributor,

 F’da F’da (Troubadour to the Trail)

 🐄🐄2️⃣3️⃣

 

*You can find the F-Line here

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Peter’s contribution:

BEFORE

Yes, I would love to receive a copy of GANTOB’S 25 Paintings. And belated thanks for “WHO KILLED G”. In exchange, I attach a photo of what I believe is the ONLY copy of Bill’s “60”. He did a unique talk in Birmingham on December 5th, 2013, about key books in his life – starting with Rupert! Towards the end he held up a copy of his manuscript for “60” and explained he didn’t know what to do with it. Then he said he would hand it to one of the audience, who should read it at leisure and email to advise him what to with it. He then handed it… to me!!

I did email my advice as requested (basically, to publish as a limited edition) but I think it turned out to be too complicated to publish, as it is basically a compilation of many of the emails he sent and received in 2013. Too many permissions required etc.

All good wishes, 

Peter

AFTER (after a swapping of 60 and What Is Harmonic?)

Hi Maureen,

I must admit the bits I liked most in Harmonic were the brief but vivid insights into Bill’s domestic and parenting life – which he very reasonably avoids in his more public works. 

I am truly boggled by the breadth, depth and staggering commitment in the 25 Paintings. Both Sue & I deeply appreciate the generosity – spiritual and material. And His Supreme Marmalade Radiance Catkin the Third of Carnguwch Manor (“Catkin” to his servants) tells us that the Cat portraits capture layers of Feline authenticity that (he assures us) artists usually miss.

I remain confused as ever about actual identities, and I don’t want to heap praise in the wrong place :-), but Wow, What an achievement, Well-bloody-done. Anything you clarify about who’s actually who is appreciated, tho wholly accept if it must remain in the Highland mists. 

I was a Bookseller in most of my “professional” life. My favourite period was in the mid 1980s running “The Whole Bookshop” at St James’s Church, near Piccadilly Circus, during the visionary Rectorship of Donald Reeves – who cared little what one believed so long as one wanted to transform “London & The World” !! I’ve just reached my 3 score + 10 – a couple of years behind Bill. 

I was wondering if I had anything else you might be interested in, and I thought maybe Bill’s response to my submission for The Life Model. Probably the easiest way is I’ll just forward the (brief) correspondence in a following email. 

More anon no doubt,

Very best

Peter

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Mary’s contribution:

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Jane’s contribution:

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Andrew’s contribution:

Maureen:

As one of the original people involved in the GANTOBverse I would like a copy for the following five reasons:

1. The bonding experience I shared with my youngest daughter.

Her anxiety issues were at a “non-leaving the house” height at the point of our original exchanges. The adventure inspired by our secret “book and pamphlet” drops in August/September 2023 were a massive help at that point in moving her mental health onwards and upwards.

She still talks about this adventure today and gets excited when a letter from ourself appears in the mail.

The Snip/Stick/Solve exercise added to that. We spent a whole day together on it. Her poorly but chipping in as she could and me floundering around but having great fun in the process.

2. Little Grapefuit

I believe part of the inspiration came from her engagement and involvement (though as someone in their mid fifty’s it could all be a jumble in my mind). She has always loved Little Grapefruit and the link between her and Little Grapefruit in your world has always been special to me.

3. You inspired me to write

I had never tried to write before but you manage to tease 400 words out of me for this project. I am very proud of that.

4. Regain a foothold in the Universe

Life has been tricky on the past 18 months and as you know I have struggled to engage with the GANTOB world. Life events, combined with the demise of Twitter, meant I lost my time/ease of engagement. As I try to reengage then having a copy would be highly appreciated and allow me to continue to inspire my youngest.

Art is a continued source of comfort to her (I have added some random examples at the end).

5. Who wouldn’t want a copy!

[I may be behind but I am getting there and I am excited to hang the original picture when I have my own space.. I have not forgotten that I still owe you for your kind Bill related gesture. If there is anything I can do for you in return please please do let me know]

Some recent art of hers ❤️

Kind regards,

Andrew

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THE STUDY MASTER’S CONTRIBUTION:

BEFORE

Good afternoon

I hope this email (which may possibly elicit no reply) finds you well. 

If I did not remember to thank you for the proofreading copy, then I offer my apologies and my gratitude. I very much enjoyed reading it, although I fear I did not respond as requested with any suggested amendments. That said, I didn’t spot any typos.

I would also like to thank you for the copy of Who Killed Gantob? which arrived more recently, and I also very much enjoyed. I’ve finished re-reading it this afternoon and am still in a quandary as to whether I should request a hardback copy of GANTOB’s 25 Paintings or not. 

I find the point that “it is not very KLFish” (made on page 88 of Who Killed GANTOB?) to be persuasive.

For personal reasons which I won’t go into here, I’m also struck by the number 88.

So instead of requesting a copy I will make an offer which may be accepted or ignored. I’m feeling very Zen at the moment, and have decided that either response from you, to accept the offer or ignore it, will turn out to be the correct one, if that makes sense.

I will exchange one pristine, unplayed vinyl copy of The KLFRS presents Calm Down for one hardback copy of GANTOB’s 25 Paintings. 

In recent months, for reasons I can’t fully explain, Calm Down has grown out of a previous live re-enactment of The KLF’s Chill Out.

But Chill Out seemed like the wrong sort of title for these rage-bait driven times. Chill Out was supposed to represent a journey. Calm Down also represents a journey, along an imaginary line through Albion.

Not to make things too easy for ourselves, we’ve been playing a series of Calm Down live appearances, but only at venues within 2.3 miles of this line, travelling up and down it, and we will continue to do so until our final show on 23rd August. 

What we’ve seen as we’ve journeyed along the K-Line is a country of painted roundabouts and weaponised flags designed to intimidate people who look like my bandmate. A country that needs to Calm Down, and get some fresh air and explore the K-Line.

In our live projected film, we use a quotation from a social reformer named Octavia Hill who campaigned for better social housing for the poor and access to green spaces.

“We all want calm. We all want beauty. We all want space. Unless we have it, we cannot reach that sense of quiet in which whispers of better things come to us gently.”

Curiously, I found this quotation on display in a “Chill Out” field, sort of. It was in the next field along from where I took the album cover photo, on a National Trust property (which will remain nameless) which had an area set aside for neurodivergent folk to get away from the crowds and, well, calm down I suppose. 

But I digress.

Thanks again for the books, which I have loved.

Kind Regards

The Study Master (18 April 2026)

AFTER

Hi Maureen

The book arrived yesterday and I really enjoyed re-reading some of my favourite parts of it last night. Thank you very much – it’s a triumph. 

I’m pleased to hear a Gantob representative may be attending the Hale Village Calm Down event. A few other Gantob project contributors will also be in attendance, I believe. I hope it doesn’t disappoint.

Of course, now I’ve got the hardback version, that means I have a spare – the proof-reading copy. If you’re happy for me to do so, I’ve got an idea what to do with it.

I’d like to use it as a prize in a raffle at Hale Village Hall. It’s a village hall – there has to be a raffle.

Two of my work colleagues take groups of 6th formers who’ve volunteered to Kenya to help build and set-up a school every summer, and they’re raising funds. The raffle will be to support that and, since the tickets are free, we’ll be asking those who can afford it to make a small donation on the night as well. 

[And a bit more that I have removed to avoid spoilers]

The Study Master (24 April 2026)

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MASE WISTER’S CONTRIBUTION:

Mase Wister has submitted an application in 5 chapters, with 5 extraordinary images.

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Ariadne’s contribution:

We received this on the 5 April, replied to it, then completely forgot to do anything about it. My only excuse is that things have been incredibly busy in real life recently. Ariadne’s input was crucial to the 25 Paintings book, as acknowledged in bridges between sections.

Hello Maureen (and the spirit of Gantob)

I have to admit this is a little hard. I have never been asked before why I should justify why I should get a book. But here goes. I realised early on in my record collecting life that its impossible to be a completionist. Sorry kompletionist. Too many cd singles with nothing but re-mixes, import versions, original pressings, I could go on, but who has the money or will to do so. But with Gantob, I feel that I must. Having joined the Gantob journey early on, I feel like I need all of the pieces of the puzzle otherwise the journey doesn’t make sense. Its all just loose threads without the 25 Paintings. 

Ariadne