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DEPECHE MODE Why Depeche Mode's popularity ever reached the heights that it did in the 80's baffles my mind. My disbelief does not result from any lack of musical prowess on the band's part, but rather from my misgivings about the average pop music listener's taste. Somehow, this synth-pop band from Essex, England managed to develop and sustain a fan-base all over the world while (most of the time) staying true and taking very seriously the music they were creating and performing. Depeche Mode can be called the godfathers of modern techno and electronic music, because it started with them in 1981 and the release of their first album Speak and Spell. Following albums varied in their musical qualities: 1986's Black Celebration was undoubtedly their darkest album featuring the chilling single "Stripped;" Songs of Faith and Devotion, released six years later, shows the band turning more towards their guitars and away from their trademark synthesized sound. Amazingly, DM is still touring and releasing albums despite numerous setbacks over the years, including rotating frontmen in 1981, the loss of Alan Wilder (keyboards, drums) in 1995, and the (now recovered) drug addictions of lead singer, David Gahan. I had been a fan of Depeche Mode since I was 8 years old, and just this past July, I finally saw them perform live on the Exciter Tour at Meriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, MD. Like the old pros that they are, Depeche Mode put on an excellent show. Their live performance did not suffer at all despite their music's heavy dependence on synthesized sounds. Depeche Mode's influence on the gamut of music artists is undeniable. An astounding sixteen DM tribute albums have been recorded over the years, with artists ranging from the Deftones to the Cure to the Smashing Pumpkins all contributing.
DISCOGRAPHY:
LINKS: Depeche Mode site - biography (in German) BONG and Depeche Mode Home Page KOH's Depeche Mode Page - international page REVIEWS: Musicfolio Reviews of all Depeche Mode albums Rolling Stone Review of Exciter TOUR DATES: Unfortunatley, Depeche Mode is not currently on tour. Please e-mail me if you have reviews, links, tour-dates or comments to add to the Depeche Mode page. About LOTD Contact/Staff Advertise Home All content © LEFT OFF THE DIAL 2001-2005. All rights reserved. |
