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After seeing Jim from Milliepeed records selling compilation CDs at a couple of Southampton gigs we were impressed with the artists and dedication in this D.I.Y. label and we thought we'd interview the guy. So here it is...
tp - How long has Milliepeed Records been running? How did it start off?
MR - Milliepeed kicked off in March 2000, to be honest it was just something I'd wanted to do for a long time, after going to see so many good bands in London when I was younger who were so damn good but had nothing released. Plus I figured there would be nothing better than being involved in putting together CDs or records that other people might end up loving...
tp - Do you run the label by yourself? What sort of things does it entail?
MR - Yep, it's just me running the label, which might explain a lot! Basically I have to work out what bands I want to release, and get them to record. That's pretty easy, there are always bands you see at gigs you'd love to have do a Cd for you. Also have to do all the horrible menial stuff though once its all manufactured and the artwork done, along the lines of sorting out store to stock them, mailorders, websites, and trying to get distributors to help get it into indie stores. Plus the dullness of flyering every gig I can and trundling about gigs selling them myself! But Milliepeed wouldn't exist without all the friendly people in the punk scene all over the world, I've asked so many favours and hopefully I'll be able to return them in future.
tp - I noticed most of your releases seem to be compilations or splits with punk bands from out of the area (or even out of the country in the case of the Chinkees split). Do you have or aim to have any local (or even UK) bands on the label releasing albums/singles?
MR - Well when the label started, I was living near Watford, NW London, so I got local bands there such as REASON 69 and MY DAD JOE onboard. I just release what i like really, THE CHINKEES/ FIRE APPLE RED vinyl, was just a bit of fun and an attempt to raise money for shelter, and hopefully one day we'll have sold enough to give them something!
The compilation CD we released was pretty much UK bands I really liked with a couple of good US bands thrown in, and I really couldn't be happier with how it turned out!
But I'm definitely doing local releases now, trying to sort out a 4 way split CD of South cost hardcore bands, so far I've spoken to ( but not confirmed at all!) JETS VS SHARKS ( portsmouth hot water music style melodic hardcore), DEAD MEMENTO (the south's planes mistaken for stars style searing punk rawk) and PILGER (soton based seven seconds style HC) and one as yet undecided band. But the scene down here is great, and I'm hoping to do releases with a lot of the bands down here...
tp - Like many punk labels, you offer a postage-paid mail order service. Is this an alternative to getting shops to stock your CDs? Whats the address for the mail order service?
MR - Mailorder is still the best way to do punk records I think, it gets rid of the costs of using stores to sell the CDs, so you can keep the prices low. The Milliepeed prices have been changed recently, and now the most expensive item is £4 -postage paid, and thats definitely the best way to get the CD to people. I'm definitely going to build on the mailorder though, starting a distro on our new website, to help sell other band's merch, especially local bands.
The address is 1 Rose Road, Southampton, SO14 6TE for mailorder, and if anyone wants to know anything, they can always e-mail milliepeedrecords@hotmail.com for more info or a list of releases.
tp - How did the "These Things Happen" compilation come about? There's some amazing UK bands on there like Annalise, Travis Cut (RIP), Southpaw and San Quentin. Was it easy to get bands to agree to putting tracks on a compilation?
MR - That compilation CD is probably one of the bext things I've ever done with my pathetic little life to be fair! It's always easy to get bands to do comp CDs, I had over 45 bands express interest, which was great, cos it allowed me to cut and paste the bands I wanted, plus I got to work with some bands i actually love! You mentioned TRAVIS CUT and ANNALISE, and they are in my view the two best UK punk bands of the last few years, and the comp has unreleased tracks by both, which I was so pleased about! All the bands on that Cd are bands I've listened to for a while really, and there's nothing better than releasing some of the music that you've been listening to for years...
tp - What releases have you got planned for 2003?
MR - 2003 should be a really rockin' year for Milliepeed if I get everything sorted properly! The 4 way Southern Hardcore split Cd I mentioned before will hopefully happen soon, and hoping to have our first full length album by a single band out this year too.. but 2003 is really all about promoting the label, and making something out of it, I feel now that the label has the potential to do really well and get a name for itself, so the website at www.milliepeedrecords.co.uk will be central to that, as will the mailorder and distro that's being organised, together with flyer swaps with labels all over the country to get the name around.
tp - Finally, what advice have you got for anyone wanting to start their own punk label?
MR - The best thing I did was just ask people for advice and help, so many labels have been kind enough to give really useful advice, the punk scene is such a welcoming place, and people all over the world always do their best to help you. People have done me free websites, free ads, flyers, whatever, and it all really comes down to the internet! The internet's allowed the punk scene to become so well integrated, and without it to be honest, Milliepeed Recs wouldn't have started at all...
But basically, if you really want to start a punk label, do what every other label has ever done, and just go ahead and do it, people will help you out as much as they can along the way, and it's more fun than anything else I've ever done.
Cheers!
Jamie
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