200% bookazine (a magazine in the form of a book) gives new insight into creative, passionate people and delves into their motivation, commitment and dedication to their work. It features extensive interviews with people working in the creative fields of art, music, film and fashion.

200% is published in English and can be purchased at (art) bookstores in London, New York, Paris, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Milan, Tokyo, Brussels, Berlin and the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao.

It can also be purchased at the website (www.200-percent.com). The second edition of 200% contains 132 pages and has – just like the first issue – the high level printing quality and longevity of an art book.

The new issue features 12 inspired creatives who have been interviewed about their passion, among which: The English artists Marc Quinn (the creator of 'Self' (1991) – a cast of his head in nine pints of his own frozen blood); Robert del Naja of Massive Attack about the album artwork of the band and his own paintings. The American photographer Philip-Lorca diCorcia; the fashion designer and stylist for Roxy Music and David Bowie in the 70s Antony Price. The author of the best seller ‘The Consolations of Philosophy’ Alain de Botton with a philosophic essay about passion.

In his first interview for 5 years – Matt Johnson of TheThe offers 200% an exclusive and extensive insight into the subject that makes his blood run faster; politics and pop music.

Throughout his career Johnson has written lyrics about subjects like globalisation, corporate capitalism, consumerism and religion that most artists in the music industry would rather avoid.

In the interview he talks about the criteria for a great political song (“about reaching people on an emotional as well as an intellectual level: about articulating what the listener may have strongly felt yet not quite formulated into thoughts and words.”); why his single ‘Armageddon Days are here (again)’ was shelved at the last minute (“because of threats received at both the offices of CBS (my ex record company) and against various radio stations that started to play it.”); his 14 favourite political songs (“I realised after writing out many of my favourite political songs that most were either by or about black people: James Brown’s ‘Say it Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud’, for example. Perhaps there has to be a certain amount of tension and oppression for great music to come about?”); a list of political issues in the world which screams out for a political song right now (the bastardisation of our political vocabulary/climate change/the war on terror/the rampant greed of corporations); if anything has changed since he wrote ‘Heartland’ in 1986 (“We are now in a situation where most of the UK’s foreign and defence policy is formulated and dictated from Washington.”)

The initiator of 200% is Thierry Somers. Just like the first issue of 200% (May 2006) he is the editor-in-chief of 200%, he did almost all the interviews and wrote almost all the stories, did the art direction and is the publisher of 200%. Somers is driven by his passion for magazine making and is passionate about somebody else’s passion.

The inspiration of 200% is the director Francis Ford Coppola who shows in the film-documentary ‘Heart of Darkness’ – the making of 'Apocalypse Now' – an unprecedented level of passion and commitment to realise his dream. 200% writes about people who show the same kind of passion and is interested in their motives.

The website of 200% functions like the Extra’s of a DVD film. On the website readers can follow a course 'How to speak like James Bond'. The dialect-coach Andrew Jack, who has been interviewed in 200% extensively about his profession, coached Pierce Brosnan for his role as James Bond. On the 200% website he explains how to speak like 007.

Lodown magazine wrote about 200%: "If we hand out grades here like they were for free, this one would be the straightest A. It’d be really, really close to 10/10, if yes, and maybe even closer. Here are a few reasons for this: It’s 200% personal, it looks good and it feels good. It’s passionate!

De Volkskrant: “200% is a remarkable novelty at the overcrowded newsstands.”

Richard Phillips (artist): “I find it very rare indeed (if ever) that a magazine is able to reach this level of quality and integrity.”
Eiko Ishioka (Academy Award winner for the Best costume design for Dracula): “200% looks fantastic! The enthusiasm and dedication really show in the final product.”

Read edited highlights of the Matt Johnson interview
Find out more about 200% www.200-percent.com