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[Information Service newsletter, December 1986.]
First of all, welcome back to all those that have renewed their membership, and
a special welcome to those who have just joined.
Thankyou all for your continuous support over the last year, and for helping to
make the Info Service a huge success.
We are pleased to announce that we have
expanded the Info Service to include America and Canada, where we have received
such a huge demand for information on Depeche Mode.
Record
News.
We had a lot of people writing in asking if
there would be another single out from the "Black Celebration" album.
Unfortunately there will definitely be no more single releases from the album.
There are also no plans at present to release a live album from the "Black
Celebration" Tour, although it was recorded on sound and video at various
concerts, during the Tour.
Extra
News.
Depeche Mode have contributed to the move
"Modern Girls" the single is called "But Not Tonight" (It
was the B side of "Stripped".)
This movie was released in Autumn 86 in the
U.S.A. only, yet there are no plans to release it in the U.K. or Europe.
Extra
Extra News!
Guess what! Depeche Mode will be recording
a new album in January 87, either in London or France!
There will be another World Tour probably starting in Autumn of 87. No dates
have been arranged as such, but it is hoped to visit even more Countries!! Keep
your fingers crossed!!
Last
Part of Andy Fletcher's Story from the "Black Celebration" Tour.
At the end of this European Tour we were
physically drained. Despite this we only had a few days' rest before the
daunting prospect of the American Tour. We had toured the U.S.A. the previous
year and had an unexpected enjoyable and successful time.
This year though, was our biggest to date and we were visiting places where no
electronic band had been before.
Before we left these shores we expected to
do well on the east and west coast, but in middle America we were prepared for
the worst. In the end though the whole tour was a huge success.
Despite minimal support from radio
stations, people turned up to the concerts in thousands. There were big crowds
in New York, Detroit, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles and so on..............
Everywhere
we went people wanted to hear our music, I don't think they had seen a band
present themselves in a way like us, with no Drums and Guitars.
The only minor disaster we had was in
Washington D.C. where the electricity was cut off, luckily on the last beat of
the last encore, "More than a party". [1] It was an amusing sight to see
the Security staff holding up lights and torches so the crew could pack away the
equipment.
So with America over, next on the agenda
was Japan. A busy schedule of three gigs in three days meant all we saw were
Trains, Hotel rooms and Concert Halls.
Fortunately for Martin the last day fell on
his birthday. After a great Concert in Tokyo, we were on a T.V. programme where
the producer gave him a video camera as a present. My thoughts went back three
weeks earlier when I spent my birthday ill in bed in Vancouver.
The World Tour was now nearing the end.
While the equipment was coming back from Japan Alan and Martin had a short stay
in Bali. Dave and myself feeling a bit homesick went home.
The last leg of the tour was a few concerts
in Southern Europe ending with a final concert in Copenhagen. This all sounds
very nice but in the end we were plagued by the weather. The concert in Bordeaux
had to be cancelled because of rain and we nearly lost our loves in Annecy
because of water leaking onto our keyboards. All was made up with the Danish
gig. A large crowd made up of people from all over Europe made it a night to
remember.
Due to lack of space there are many tales I
have left out.
On behalf of the rest of the group I'd like
to thank everyone for supporting us. We realise that without our fans there
would be no Tour!
Till next year,
ANDY.
Competition
Answers.
Thanks to everyone who took part in the
competition. There were hundreds of entries received!
The question was:
How many Countries did Depeche Mode visit?
And how many Concerts did they actually play on their World Tour this year?
The answer was 13:
Great Britain
Ireland
Norway
Sweden
Denmark
West
Germany
Switzerland
France
Belgium
Holland
U.S.A.
Japan
Italy
Total
number of shows was 76 (one was cancelled.)
Congratulations! You have won the original
piece of artwork framed and signed by Depeche Mode! You will be receiving it
soon.
Pen
Pals.
All those who want to join the Pen Pal
Service: Write your name, address and age on a piece of paper.
A number of the names and addresses will be
printed in the next news letter.
We asked Depeche Mode what they were doing
over Christmas.
Alan said he was taking his Driving Test!
Dave was staying in a Caravan on Pitsea
Marshes.
Andy and Martin will be going to Basildon,
where they will be Rocking all over Christmas!
Please
find enclosed a Christmas Card from the group.
Depeche Mode would like to personally thank
and wish all their loyal fans, all over the World a Merry Christmas and a Happy
New Year!
And hope to see you all next year.
[1] - Oh dear, Andy! According to the June 1986 newsletter and depechemode.com, the band didn't actually play a date in Washington D.C. . [continue]