Alan Goodrick
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Alan Goodrick is usually known by his nom de guerre Gimpo. He is most well known as a friend and collaborator of the KLF and K Foundation. He filmed (and owns the print of), the Watch The K-Foundation Burn A Million Quid film, drove Bill Drummond and Mark Manning to the top of the world (as recounted in Bad Wisdom), and was the ski-masked person fumbling with lighter fluid and matches when Rachel Whiteread came to claim the K Foundation art award. He is currently an underground/alternative arts film maker and is frequently involved with both Drummond and Jimmy Cauty's current projects.
He is often described as a roadie. However, the last known roadying he did was at the 1996 BRIT Awards where he touched the sole of Michael Jackson [1] (http://www.libraryofmu.org/display-resource.php?id=432). Since then he says he's given up roadying (cos' he doesn't need the money) and went on the Bad Wisdom reading tour just for the heck of it.
Gimpo is also known for organising an annual 25-hour drive around the M25 called the M25 spin. The first time this took place was in 1997 when he was accompanied by Bill Drummond and artist Dave Green. Gimpo occasionally shows a film of this event at alternative arts events. This road trip has become somewhat of an institution since then and is repeated every year on the weekend closest to March 23rd, with many KLF fans joining in. The M25 spin can be seen as exploring similar motifs as Iain Sinclair's London Orbital book.
Backround and character
Throughout Bad Wisdom, Bill tells us a bit about his background - the best descriptive passage is in the first chapter. Bill says he was born and raised in Manchester (although there are rumours that Gimpo himself says he's from Mold in Wales), and is a 'brother-in-law' to Mark Manning (Zodiac Mindwarp aka Z). Gimpo was a squaddie and served with the British_Army in the Falklands War. After that war he met up with Zodiac and started to work part-time for Z's band The Love Reaction and after a period of roadying for various Food Records bands (eg. Jesus Jones) he set up Pit Bull management and began to manage the Love Reaction.
"Gimpo is also very strong; very very brave - can look death in the face and piss in its mouth; does not smoke; has short wavyish dark hair; blue eyes; sensible clothes." - Bill Drummond.
He has achieved a minor celebrity status amongst fans of the KLF, especially for those who have met him. Bill sums him up very well with: "He's one of the warmest and most honourable men you are ever likely to meet."
Apparently he had to sign a £50 contract with Penguin Books over Bad Wisdom so that he can't sue them for slander, but he hasn't got the money from them yet - he reckons he's been done.