1989
Articles,
reviews of concerts and releases, and band member interviews from
magazines and newspapers.
Singles:
'Everything Counts (Live)', 'Personal Jesus'
Album: '101'
Video: '101'
Depeche Mode begin to achieve mainstream critical recognition as their work is cited as a major influence on the dance scene. In the USA, 'Personal Jesus' becomes the biggest selling 12" single in Warner Bros. history. Martin releases a solo album of covers, 'Counterfeit EP'.
Modus
Operandum
[The Face, February 1989. Words: John McCready. Pictures: Anton Corbijn / Bart
Everly.]
The celebrated article which
kicked off an era of Depeche Mode being hailed as pioneers of the
house music scene, changing the way the music industry viewed the band
in the process. The Face arranged a meeting between Depeche
Mode and house DJ Derrick May in order to explore this proposition
further. Ultimately, it concedes that Depeche Mode did not 'detonate
house', as the cover asks; but the number of big house names nodding
towards their influence - both at the time and since - makes this
article required reading.
[2606
words]
Record Mirror, 11th March 1989
[Words: Eleanor Levy.]
A fairly detailed review of the 101 album. The reviewer is exceptionally pleased with the album, enough to see it not just as a recording of a concert, but as a career retrospective and a very good one at that. Encouraging, especially given the sort of reviews live albums usually get.
[298 words]
Love
It Or Shove It
[Sounds, 11th March 1989. Words: Sam King. Picture: Anton
Corbijn.]
It's
hard to take the views expressed in this 101 album review seriously
when the author claims to be a "serious fan" yet can't get a
song title right. Nonetheless,
they are valid views and they have been made by many other reviewers
since, so please try to see through the urge to laugh aloud when
reading this lukewarm piece.
[346
words]
View
From Room 101
[Sounds, 11th March 1989. Words: Keith Cameron. Picture:
Uncredited.]
A witty review of the 101 film,
picking up mainly on the financial theme and the bus full of teenagers
but ultimately with misgivings about the band's place in the
film.
[306
words]
The
Unlikely Lads
[Q, April 1989. Words: Mat
Snow. Pictures: Various.]
In-depth,
almost academic article on how Depeche Mode conquered America, both as
a band and as a business. The author is heavy on the sociology and
interviews a wide range of sources, while Andy and Dave talk in detail
about how they have had to present themselves to an American market.
Although a casual reader will do well to get to the end, this article
is a goldmine for a media student or someone with a serious interest
in the music business.
[4069 words]
Frenzied
[Q,
April 1989. Words: Robert Sandall. Picture: Uncredited.]
A
review of the 101 live album, and a British journalist fails to make
head or tail of the effect Depeche Mode had across the pond.
Nonetheless he is thoroughly amazed and impressed by the 'racket' of
the Californian masses at the Rosebowl concert and it has evidently
challenged his mental image of the Mode. Another to keep fans
smirking knowingly.
[411 words]
Boys
On Film
[Melody Maker, 15th April 1989. Words: Francesco Adinolfi.
Pictures: Anton Corbijn.]
An unusually relaxed and open Martin
discusses the intentions of the 101 film and its making. He also takes
stock of the band at the end of their first decade, seeing them as very
much coming to the end of a chapter artistically. Much food for thought on
these two subjects here.
[1503 words]
Depeche
Mode
[Record Collector, May 1989. Words: Dave Thompson / Graham
Needham. Picture: Anton Corbijn.]
In-depth review of the
band's releases from 1981 to the release of '101' in 1989. As it
appears in a specialist collectors' magazine there is only enough on
the band themselves to give the reader a basic idea of their history,
but the article discusses releases on all formats as well as foreign
issues. Pages 4 and 5 (scanned but not transcribed here) are an
exhaustive discography of their UK releases.
[2568
words]
[NME, 26th August 1989. Words: Uncredited. Picture: Anton Corbijn.]
News item reporting how Depeche Mode’s celebrated marketing campaign for Personal Jesus – yes, those classified newspaper adverts – caused controversy in some areas. I’m embarrassed to say this is also the only piece this website currently has from the time of the song’s release.
[208 words]
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