The Obligatory Depeche Mode thread

[fat cherry]

Like many of you, I was a fan of theirs from the first time I heard them. The sweet, fluffy stuff of the first album even. And that guy who started Yaz did them the biggest favor by leaving.

so you were a fan from the start, but you cant remember his name? or did you do that for comedic purposes? they were called yazoo over here though he did a cracking couple of singles with feargal sharkey in the interim period.

I think it would be possible to write a miserablist musical based on abba songs, queen, I'm not so sure about.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92cwKCU8Z5c[/youtube]

ok i only did that just to put an abba vid on a DM thread.

[DivaDiana77]

Isn't life a big comedy? Vince Clark left to form Yaz(oo) and they told us all about it on the radio. When I say fan, I mean I bought their music not that I knew their names, bought their posters, and mooned over them. I confess I've always had a thing for Martin. Heaven help me! Honestly, other than KROQ, clubs, and the video shows giving them airplay, the press were rather cruel to them and they thought they would never be successful here.

The videos and photos of Alf from the recent reunion are very flattering. She's still very beautiful.

The main point was that Yazoo didn't end up with the very long life that DM has had and Vince did them a favor by leaving. Made it easier to shed their early New Ro classification by album 3--even though they were adorable in "See You," (from the first album w/o Vince) and "Just can't Get Enough." We also got "New Life" out here.

Check this out:
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[Scouser]

They werent New Romantics, they were Futurists (along with the Human League and Soft Cell) - i.e they were 100% synthetic. New Romantics used coventional instruments (Duran Duran, Visage, Spandau etc).

[DivaDiana77]

New ro was also a fashion trend, and several of the New Ro bands also did some electronic things. In '81 and '82 they were looking sharp in those suits and Martin in that fedora. In any case, they did move on from that but were associated with it at one time. [They get a mention in the wiki on New Ro http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_romantic

Oh and look at their high-tec computers they were using to program their synths in the 80s. 5 inch floppies!

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[DivaDiana77]

Oh Lordy, Vince Clark is responsible for Erasure. That's something from the 80s I'd like to forget.

[black francis]

They werent New Romantics, they were Futurists (along with the Human League and Soft Cell) - i.e they were 100% synthetic. New Romantics used coventional instruments (Duran Duran, Visage, Spandau etc).

I've heard the New Romantic used for Depeche Mode but it never meant anything to me. I classified them as Radical myself.

[DivaDiana77]

I've heard the New Romantic used for Depeche Mode but it never meant anything to me. I classified them as Radical myself.

Only at the very beginning, though. 80-82 at most. You can see Martin wearing a hint of the gear he became notorious for in Just Can't Get Enough, but he also wears fabulous fashions.

I think Vince Clark leaving was inevitable, I'm glad it happened, and if it hadn't happened when it did, it would have been far more detrimental.

[black francis]

I think Dave Gahan singing A Little Respect would be kick ass.

[fat cherry]

wasn't into any of this stuff though would never have put DM in the 'new ro' camp. Spandaua Ballet had that one single with a massive synth riff in it and then went all wannabe soull boys if i remember correctly. I used to have a cartoon cut out of the nme where an old leathr clad couple are bemoaning that they gave their son the best rock'n'roll education money could be ony for him t go out every night wearing the table cloth round his neck. seemed funny at the time.

[fat cherry]

so then.... if i were to dip my toe into the DM water, which album should it be?

[Scouser]

wasn't into any of this stuff though would never have put DM in the 'new ro' camp. Spandaua Ballet had that one single with a massive synth riff in it and then went all wannabe soull boys if i remember correctly. I used to have a cartoon cut out of the nme where an old leathr clad couple are bemoaning that they gave their son the best rock'n'roll education money could be ony for him t go out every night wearing the table cloth round his neck. seemed funny at the time.

I think only the Yanks lump them in with the New Romantics (or New Ro as they annoyingly call it). The UK music press always made the distinction. Seeing as it's a UK movement I'd stick with our definition Chez.

Vince Clark was too much of a control freak to share songwriting duties. When he left he claimed DM were too poppy...then he formed Yazoo and Erasure!

Luckilly for DM they had Martin Gore, the most underated songwriter of his generation and then they found Alan Wilder - a musical god.

Unfortunately for DM they have spent 25 years trying to shake off the image of them doing Just Cant Get Enough on TOTP. Despite Violator and everything else brilliant they have done.

[Scouser]

so then.... if i were to dip my toe into the DM water, which album should it be?

Violator - best entry point for a beginner.

Just avoid Exciter - the Flowers of DM's back catalogue

[JackT]

What about Black Celebration?

[Scouser]

That would be my second choice.

[black francis]

I think only the Yanks lump them in with the New Romantics (or New Ro as they annoyingly call it). The UK music press always made the distinction. Seeing as it's a UK movement I'd stick with our definition Chez.

I always rejected the New Romantic tag for DM (never heard it referred to New Ro till yesterday) but it wasn't just limited to the US press.

http://www.abestbook.com/Magazine/NME_O ... 80129.html


Following acclaimed volumes celebrating Glam and Goth, NME Originals proudly presents The 80s, an A-Z of The New Romantics. Lavishly produced in all new glossy glory, this 148 page magazine reprints articles and reviews from the NME and Melody Maker archives dedicated to the nightclubbing escapades of the early 80s when Spandau Ballet and Duran Duran ruled the world and blokes were proud to wear blouses.

Featuring the dandy chart pirates Adam And The Ants, gender bending giants Culture Club and Grace Jones, saucy lads like Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Soft Cell, Japan and Prince, the go-getting genius of Madonna, the sheer chart bliss of Human League and Depeche Mode and the very weird and wonderful Michael Jackson, Tears For Fears, Dexy's and Kraftwerk, NME Originals: 80s also features original reviews of the 80 greatest new romantic anthems of the 80s.