Book

R*E*P*E*A*T
Fighting the Power Since 1994

150 pages, many in full colour
£10 inclusive
Limited edition 16 track CD

Order it here

Please e-mail here for postal rates for non UK orders, I've found that it's not as cheap to post a book as it is a CD or record!

Initially set up as cut and paste homage to the early acerbic genius of the Manic Street Preachers, R*E*P*E*A*T Fanzine has grown from a messy, noisy, irreverent, childish, rebellious baby into a messy, noisy, irreverent, childish, rebellious adult. And who'd want it any other way?

Described by the press as an underground 'indie Tution', R*E*P*E*A*T has expanded from its humble fanzine beginnings to encompass a record label, gigs promotions and an enormous website, as well as, more recently, a DIY recording studio.

This book seeks to preserve some of R*E*P*E*A*T's earliest glories from the oblivion which is the usual unjustified destination of so much beautifully creative ephemera. It features scans of original gluey fanzine pages (several created by some of the kids its editor has taught), gig posters, photos (some never seen before), CD and record sleeves, rants and reviews, all from before the website was created and made everything a lot more accessible. So while more recent pieces and pictures are included in here, no apologies are made for concentrating on the early days.

And no apologies are made for the lack of a proper ending. R*E*P*E*A*T is an ongoing interactive musical, political and cultural struggle of love and petrol, and this book is not intended as an exit...


 

 

This book was compiled by Richard Rose and designed by Phil Rose Esq

Thanks to all the contributors, past, present and future – you make R*E*P*E*A*T what it is (a contradictory mess of highlighter and pritt stick, zeroes and ones) - apologies if we've still not credited you!

What's the point of looking back
When all you see is more and more junk?
Be part of the future – www.repeatfanzine.co.uk, rosey@repeatfanzine.co.uk, find us on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Bandcamp, Soundcloud and at chop shops.


R*E*P*E*A*T, fighting the power since 1994

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Greasing the Palms... People say nice things about us.

The fact that we've got like 25 fanzines and 50 unofficial websites and all the rest of it, does give you a gratifying smile because those people aren't just dedicated to the band, they're dedicated to the whole lifestyle, the literary aspects, the film aspects, the whole package really. It's not just liking the music... I wouldn’t be chatting to you if I didn’t respect R*E*P*E*A*T... I admire anyone who’s hung in there that long and it’s nice that there’s still enthusiasm around!
Nicky Wire, Manic Street Preachers

The early Manic Street Preachers ignited an explosion of DIY culture among their following which expressed itself particularly vividly the form of fanzines, and nobody has done more to keep that flame of inspiration burning than R*E*P*E*A*T. The questioning, dissenting spirit crackles off the page.
Simon Price, Music Journalist, author of 'Everything: A Book About the Manic Street Preachers' and curator of 'Stay Beautiful' Club

The R*E*P*E*A*T* Book blasts its Manic Street Preachers inspired vision of fifteen glitter-eyed years of culture, alienation, boredom and despair through these pages like a young James Dean Bradfield crunching through Motown Junk. Yet, far from the mascara'd nihilism that inspired its beginnings, what emerges from Richard Rose's dustbin of living history is a record of a DIY music scene that encouraged and nurtured belief, belligerence and badge collections - the ink won't come off on your hands anymore, but fifteen years after R*E*P*E*A*T*'s first manic rant was pritt-sticked to the page, this raw record remains no surface all feeling.
Greg McDonald, The Dawn Parade

A love pirate sez...
When it comes to street preaching, manic or otherwise, I sometimes I feel that The Times seems to be about other times, The Observer doesn’t observe, The Independent isn’t and The Telegraph sure ain’t no jungle telegraph. But that’s what social networking is for I suppose. Lets invent cheap solar powered batteries and we can keep it.
For now though, there are great broader sheets to read. May R*E*P*E*A*T stay laced with IQ, attitude and extra punk.  It’s an antidote to the sucky stale conformity enslaved to finance, trend making and celebrity that the mainstream sleep walks through, and a welcome part of the press. It’s wry mix of pros, prose and pose make it the perfectly portable gig travel literature. I like its accessibility, too. Still personal enough for passionately intense new energy to get a look in, but a big enough network for so much more to come from that.
Like punk happened.
Caffy St Luce, Love Pirate of Rocklands http://www.wix.com/artfulmtb/rocklands
One time MSP etc PR at Hall Or Nothing

Well, the Manics supported me once - I've got the poster - and by Christ they were good. And covered in stencils, and full of attitude (they shouted 'FUCK OFF' at me during my set, and then - rather letting themselves down - denied they'd done it afterwards!) They still are good, though maybe a bit corporate these days, but the flame they lit in the heart of one expat Swansea fan from Cambridge still burns as brightly as ever. Yes, the spirit of those early independent iconoclastic days is well and truly kept alive by Rosey and his 'Repeat' creation. It's the true DIY punk fanzine spirit, and from one DIY punk to another, I salute you, Rosey.
Attila the Stockbroker, Punk Performance Poet and Musician


More of these letters and posters here

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What's on the CD?


Freeboy – Patrick's Got Me Down (1996)
Our first ever release, on a split 7' single with hand stamped labels free with R*E*P*E*A*T #6, played by Radio 1 and reviewed nationally, making this record label lark seem far too easy.


The Saffs – Pamela Anderson (1999)
The anthem for a generation of 1990s Cambridge Glitter Punks, the song that established R*E*P*E*A*T in the minds of the music loving kids of Cambridge.


Alcopop - Last of the Secret Agents (1999)
Formed in a music therapy session, Alcopop had it all - Huge choruses, Melody Maker interviews, Radio One plays, a Steve Lamacq single of the week, rock star behaviour and wonky keyboards, as encapsulated in this Bond Theme that never was.


Foxy Ramone vs the Cottenham Kids – I'm A Believer (2001)
Featuring Rosey R*E*P*E*A*T, this version (which appeared on the rarely equalled 'Histon' compilation) is better than the one on Shrek. Allegedly.


Pala featuring Makif Aka Quillis – Cat-Like Creatures (2000)
Treading a previously untapped line between arena-conquering bombast and lo-fi poise, Pala added Makif Aka Quillis' inspirational rap to their sublime indie to make this track unique for its time.

Miss Black America – Don't Speak My Mind (Original 2001 single version)
Long term allies MBA instantly understood what R*E*P*E*A*T was all about; they got Radio One sessions, NME rave reviews, John Peel Festive 50 entries (entirely without cheating!) and signed to a bigger label. Their Adrenaline Junkie Class A Mentalist ep was our first recording to sell out before it was released, a feat yet to be R*E*P*E*A*Ted. This track (later re-recorded for the Integrity Records album) appeared on the very rare Dental Records split single with the similarly fantastic Antihero.


The Hammers -When You Go Away (2001)
This track got the band a slot playing live on Blue Peter in front of 6 million people, still R*E*P*E*A*T's only terrestrial TV appearance. It may embarrass them a bit now but when they recorded it, aged 11, they played themselves to sleep with it.


The Virgin Suicides – Elizabeth Royal (2002 single version)
The teen punk band that had the Cambridge Scenesters seething, - still big sellers on I tunes today, this track appeared on the Republican Red 'Fuck the Jubilee' single.


The Dawn Parade – Good Luck Olivia (live John Peel session from Maida Vale, 2003)
Part Richey Manic, part Bruce Springsteen, this incredible recording (from the 'Best Of' compilation) shows why the Dawn Parade were always a band close to (the hole in) our hearts.


Attila The Stockbroker's Barnstormer – Baghdad Ska (2004)
Attila has been a long term inspiration and friend of R*E*P*E*A*T, so we were delighted to be able to release a this anti war track by him on lovely white vinyl, shared with the equally outspoken Bomb Factory.


Cosycosy – Drive Drive (2004)
Fantastic girl-boy shouty punk-pop released on a lovely translucent purple double sided split vinyl, shared with the equally fantastic Chris T-T.


Autons – Snakes (2006)
Epitomises the R*E*P*E*A*T ethos – if we like it we will release it. We did both.


The Hope – Confessions of a Whore (2008)
The Hope walked it like they talked it a lean, mean, sleazy onslaught of noise, energy, melody, anger and attitude taking aim at apathy and acquiescence. No wonder R*E*P*E*A*T was fond of misquoting Orwell - “if there's any hope, it lies with The Hope”.


Johnny Panic – The Rebel (2008)
Our first ever vinyl picture disc shows why Johnny Panic deserve to be the biggest band in the world.


The Resistance – Stevie Nicks (2008)
A trashy piece of cut'n'paste pop genius. Just like R*E*P*E*A*T. Pressing plant problems means this was never properly released, so here it is now.


Feedback – Bad Habit (2010)
Rehearsed and recorded in the R*E*P*E*A*T's Big Badger Music Shack, Feedback were a young band taught by Rosey from Junior School age.