Depechemode

June 18th, 1988-- Pasadena, California --75,000 people pack the Rose Bowl, for the one-hundred-and-first show of the band's latest world tour. The band has scored eight top ten albums in eight years in the UK alone. Their last nineteen singles have gone top twenty. The legendary filmmaker D.A. Pennebaker has just completed a major documentary on them. The band is Depeche Mode.

The Rose Bowl concert date was a long way from the days in 1980 when Depeche Mode was a totally unknown band supporting Fad Gadget at the Bridge House pub in East London.

In February, 1981, Depeche Mode -- then composed of Dave Gahan, Andy Fletcher, Martin Gore and Vince Clarke (now of Erasure) -- released their first single, "Dreaming Of Me." It made number one on the UK independent chart and No. 54 on the UK national chart.

"New Life"

Depeche Mode released their second single in June, 1981. It shot straight to the top of the UK independent chart and made No. 11 in the national chart, putting them firmly on the map.

"Just Can' t Get Enough"

The third single, and the third Vince Clarke composition, established Depeche Mode as the most sought-after band on the scene and Vince as a major song writing talent. At this crucial stage in the group's career, Vince left the group due to mounting tour commitments, preferring the studio environment. The first LP, Speak And Spell, released in October, 1981, hit the UK Top Ten album charts.

"See You"

Since the formation of the band, Martin Core had written a steady stream of fine songs, the evidence of which can be found on Speak and Spell. After Vince Clarke's departure, the three remaining Modes went into the studio to record a song ("See You") written by Martin. Released as a single in January 1982, "See You" not only reaches No. 6 on the UK national chart but was critically acclaimed as Depeche Mode's finest work yet. Alan Wilder replaced Vince on keyboards, and Depeche Mode played their first major UK tour culminating in two sold out nights at London's Hammersmith Odeon.

A Broken Frame

Depeche Mode followed up "See You" with their fifth single, "Love in Itself", in April of 1982. It reached No. 12 in the UK

"The Meaning Of Love"

After a hugely successful American tour, they returned to London to work on their second album. The single "Leave In Silence," in August, climbed to No. 18 on the UK charts and marked a change in direction that brought Depeche Mode worldwide critical acclaim. If anyone doubted that Depeche Mode could survive without Vince, the release of the second LP, A Broken Frame, silenced doubters for good. All ten songs on the album were Martin Gore compositions, and the album established him as one of the most promising songwriters in popular music. Depeche Mode followed the album's release with a sellout two-month European tour.

"Get The Balance Right"

January, 1983: Depeche Mode released their seventh single, "Get The Balance Right," which shot straight to No.13 in the UK In the spring they embarked on their biggest tour yet, performing concerts and making television appearances in the US, Canada, Japan and Hong Kong.

Construction Time Again

By now Alan Wilder, an excellent writer and musician in his own right, was well established as the fourth Mode. In April, 1983, Depeche went into the studio to record their third album. The single "Everything Counts", (by Martin Gore,) with the "B" side "Work Hard" (co-written by Martin and Alan) was released in July and made No. 6, tying "See You" for the group's highest chart position yet. "Everything Counts" and the new album, Construction Time Again, clarified the group's new direction and brought overwhelming critical acclaim from all sides.

101

Many of the group's strengths are on abundant display with 101, the powerful live album, documenting Depeche Mode's landmark 1988 US tour. Featuring in-concert versions of twenty of the group's biggest hits, 101 was recorded at the group's historic appearance at the Pasadena Rose Bowl (the one hundred and first concert of the 1987/88 world tour) before a sold out crowd. Highlighted by a mesmerizing version of "Everything Counts," this impressive double-album package is more than just a concert collection. It is the crowning achievement of a band which, almost single-handedly, fused technology with passion, integrity with accessibility, to redeem modern music. 101 also serves as a soundtrack to a remarkable film of the same name, directed by legendary filmmaker D.A. Pennebaker (Don't Look Back and Monterey Pop), which captures Depeche Mode both on and off stage during the concert tour that brought the band before a half-million fervent fans. With 101, Depeche Mode made a bold leap into a new medium, proving, in the process, that the band's penchant for direct, honest communication is as strong on film as it has been on record and in concert for the past nine years.

"Personal Jesus"

On August 29th, Depeche Mode released their first new single in two years. "Personal Jesus" was a head-on collision between Kraftwerk and rock 'n roll and was the first new song to be heard from the studio in Milan where Depeche were ensconced. The release of "Personal Jesus" was preceded by advertisements in the personal columns of UK regional newspapers using just the words "Your Own Personal Jesus." This campaign was followed by a series of the same ads containing a phone number which, when dialed, played the song. In the ensuing controversy, many papers refused, however this didn't stop the single from reaching No. 13 on the UK charts and becoming one of Depeche Mode's best-selling singles ever. "Personal Jesus" also became the band's first gold single in the US.

Music For The Masses.

The group's new studio album, Violator, was released on March 19th, 1990, and was their first original collection since 1987's Music For The Masses. The second single from the album was the melodious "Enjoy The Silence," a coolly tender shower of melancholy, a love song made of steel which rocketed into the UK Top 10.

Violator

For the new decade, the group has opted for a new sound and a new approach although old fans won't be disappointed. Violator is already being hailed as the first great pop album of the decade. With Violator, Depeche Mode moves even further away from its earlier lightweight synth-pop into more intense, atmospheric areas. Some tracks, notably "Clean"! and "Sweetest perfection," indicate a shift towards harsh electronic blues territory. Violator is a fine way for Depeche Mode to start the '90s.