1986
Articles,
reviews of concerts and releases, and band member interviews from
magazines and newspapers.
Singles:
'Stripped', 'A Question Of Lust', 'A Question Of Time'
Album: 'Black Celebration'
The band begin to develop their best-known image and shoot their first video with Anton Corbijn. Alan Wilder produces his first solo demos, '1+2'.
Depeche
Mode
[Bobcat
Books, London 1986. Words: Dave Thomas. Cover picture: London Features
International Ltd / Barry Plummer]
Short
paperback biography of the band. The author spends a disproportionate
amount of time covering the very early years and begins with a
detailed examination of the music scene which led to Depeche Mode's
appearance. The time after 1981 seems to be written more as a chore,
covering little more than the names and dates of releases.
Consequently this book is useful as a very basic overview only of
their early career. On the other hand, if you are interested in their
absolute beginnings or the music world generally in the late
seventies, there is plenty to immerse yourself in here.
[6701
words]
"I
Love The Idea Of Wearing Leather And I Love The Idea Of Being Tied Up,
Because I Love The Feeling Of Helplessness..."
[Record Mirror, 8th February 1986. Words: Nancy Culp. Pictures: Joe
Shutter.]
This
article is from the same issue of Record Mirror that was giving
away a record featuring a version of "Dressed In Black". It's
also the interview that Martin gave while lying down in the road and,
while interesting, it's somewhat disappointing. The author doesn't set her
sights very high, and although doing it in the best of spirits is
evidently only really interested in scooping a naughty quote from Dave or
Martin. Dave talks in some detail about his marriage.
[2260
words]
Back
To The Wall
[No. 1, 22nd February
1986. Words: Max Bell. Pictures: John Stoddart.]
The
band are interviewed in West Berlin, discussing the atmosphere of the
city and the resulting weightier tone of the forthcoming Black
Celebration album. Fletch is putting the world to rights, Dave is
fired up and ripe for world conquest, and Martin has, frankly, gone
off on one, which leaves Alan to provide all the sensible answers.
[1737
words]
[NME, date unknown (March 1986). Words: Steve Sutherland. Picture: John Stoddart.]
This review comes as a great antidote to those of us who adore Black Celebration now, but forget that we probably disliked it on the first hearing. It's also a reminder that a lot of "great" music only sounds "great" with hindsight. The writer finds much of the content laughable, but it's not hard to empathise, and to his credit he doesn't slip into abusing the whole album. Not a "good" review, but a quality one.
[522 words]
From
Lads To Dads
[Just Seventeen, 19th March 1986. Words: Jenny Tucker. Pictures:
John Stoddart.]
A
teen mag sits down with Dave and Andy for a nice chat, and the result is a
squabble between the two on… anything and everything really. Read this
for a snapshot of the two’s famed ability to draw sparks from each
other. There’s virtually nothing here in the way of music-related
details, but this is a pleasure to read and the kind of article this site
was made for.
[883 words]
One
Of Those Days...
[Smash Hits, 26th March 1986. Words: Chris Heath. Pictures: Andy
Catlin.]
Smash
Hits had the wheeze of sitting Depeche Mode's members in separate
rooms and trying to force them to act jolly, with wholly predictable
results. Nothing redeems this vacuous 'interview', and the degree to which
the band members refuse to act the part (both in the article and the hammy
photos) is pretty excruciating. Journalist found battered to death? I
think it was Alan. In the sitting room. With the piece of lead piping.
[1090
words]
Basildon
Bond
[Blitz, April 1986. Words: Bruce Dessau. Picture: Russell Young.]
Impressively
well thought-through article with plenty of comment from each band member.
The article examines the band's staying power by moving carefully into
darker and more pensive territory while keeping a pop sensibility, all set
against a sublime-to-the-ridiculous backdrop of three minutes of miming on
a TV show. With articles like this it's a wonder that it took another four
years for Depeche Mode to attain all-round critical acclaim.
[2413 words]
[Unknown magazine, April 1986. Words: Max Bell. Pictures: John Stoddart.]
A sparkling, uncomplicated report on the 1986 concert in Birmingham (the show that supplied the live tracks on the A Question Of Time single), which captures the pre-show band antics as well as the buzz of the show itself with some lovely little details.
[1035 words]
Celebrity
Squares?
[Sounds, 26th April 1986. Words: Dave Henderson. Picture: Ronnie
Randall.]
Untaxing but sparkling interview centred on several UK dates in the 1986 world tour, with the interviewer hitching a ride in the tourbus. While the subject matter is limited to a few general lines on virtually everything, the sense of atmosphere and snap-edited opinions from fans and other people on the tour mean the article feels like a written 101.
[1540 words]
Depeche Mode,
Wembley Stadium, London
[Smash Hits, 7th May 1986. Words: William Shaw. Pictures: Andy Catlin,
d.i.d. Circle.]
Brief
and somewhat flat, albeit positive, review of a Depeche Mode show during
the Black Celebration tour. The highlight of this piece is the stunning
main photograph.
[298
words]
[Creem, July 1986. Words: David Keeps. Pictures: Ian Hooton / Andy Freeberg / Retna.]
Easy-to-read and somewhat humourous discussion with the band (mainly Dave) while recording Black Celebration. The piece focuses on their finally succeeding in America and the problem of pushing the artistic envelope without falling foul of censorship and pigeonholing. A pleasure to read, and comments from Andy that he should regret for a very long time.
[1350 words]
If
You Call Yourself A Pop Band You Can Get Away With Anything
[Record Mirror, 23rd August 1986. Words: Andy Strickland. Pictures:
Joe Shutter.]
Focussed
interview of the band, with Martin for once doing most of the talking,
during their touring in Italy in 1986. The article concentrates on the
tension between the offbeat and subversive content Martin's work has
taken, and the strictures of producing radio-friendly music. A balanced
piece that manages to keep on a decent level while remaining easy to read.
[2120 words]
Yes, It's Two Typical Days On Tour With Depeche Mode
[Smash Hits, 27th August 1986. Words: Ro Newton. Pictures: Tim Bauer.]
Smash Hits hitches a lift with the band as their 1986 tour winds down, following them through two festivals in France and Italy. The band refer to them as the "funny gigs" and with dodgy backstage provisions, crazy fans and a lot of mischief from the boys it's clear why. A refreshing behind the scenes view and a joy to read.
[2778
words]
From Smash Hits, 22nd October 1986
[Words: Uncredited. Picture: Uncredited.]
An interview with Dave that covers an unusually varied mix of subjects, from band-related things to the most random and trivial personal things imaginable. There's nothing too deep, but it's not banal either, and very amusing to read.
[896 words]
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