Iconoclastic anarcho punk pioneers Crass have announced the long overdue re-issue of their keystone album The Feeding Of The Five Thousand.

The following news reached The Quietus bunker this morning, courtesy of our friend at Southern Records, Allison Schnackenberg:

The Crassical Collection is finally here, and the first release is the newly remastered The Feeding Of The Five Thousand. After many years of being out of print, this legendary album has been been restored from the original analogue studio tapes, repackaged and bolstered by rare and unreleased tracks, and stunning new artwork from Gee Vaucher, who has lovingly created what could only be considered a real artefact. Included in this package is a 64-page booklet featuring all lyrics along with extensive liner notes from band members Penny Rimbaud and Steve Ignorant, which shed light on the making of the record. Also included is CD-sized recreation of the iconic original fold-out poster sleeve.

"Five thousand's a crowd (four thousand nine hundred and ninety nine more than I imagined were going to buy the record), but two's company (I knew for certain that my Mum would want one), so it was on the plate, ready to serve, The Feeding Of The Five Thousand."

"We were setting out as purists: hard, uncompromising and utterly bemused."

"On one thing we were very clear, in bringing a prosecution of Criminal Blasphemy against us the authorities would have been giving us the kind of publicity which overnight would have made us a household name. They were aware of this, and so were we. It was a situation that allowed us carte blanche to say pretty much whatever we wanted without any real fear of incrimination, a situation which over the next seven years we exploited to the hilt."

"Easy listening? You ain't heard nothing yet."

First released in 1978 on Small Wonder Records, and later re-released on the band's own Crass Records, The Feeding Of The Five Thousand showed Crass as an anti-establishment and highly uncompromising act, and one that would influence countless other bands to follow.

The package comprises: CD in digiwallet, 64 page perfect-bound book of lyrics/liner notes/art/photos, miniature recreation of original fold-out poster sleeve, all in a cardboard slip-case. All new artwork from band member Gee Vaucher (aka G Suss) including a recreation of the original poster sleeve. Liner notes from band founders Steve Ignorant and Penny Rimbaud. Newly remastered, and bolstered with rare and unreleased tracks from the same period.

This signals the first in a series of remastered versions of each of Crass' now legendary albums, each one including bonus tracks and brand new artwork.