présentation

Pour transposer l'ambiance très particulière de l'album 'Sounds Of The Universe', il fallait un programme qui sorte de l'ordinaire. C'est chose faite, encore une fois par Corbijn, avec un curieux recueil de photographies principalement noir et blanc, parfois bardées de filtres rouges, et superposées au design très énigmatique créé par Corbijn pour l'album. Les photographies conservent la 'patte' Corbijn, avec un grain, et un rendu reconnaissable au premier coup d'oeil. La couverture contient ce fameux logo de 'Sounds Of The Universe', découpé pour laisser transparaitre la couleur rouge de la première page. Le texte, enfin, est l'oeuvre d'un observateur privilégié du groupe depuis 30 ans : Daniel Miller, qui relate dans son récit, l'étendue du chemin parcouru par Depeche Mode, depuis ce fameux soir de 1980 ou le boss de Mute les a découvert dans ce pub de Canning Town.

texte du tourbook

Depeche Mode Live
Then and Now
By Daniel Miller, April 2009.

Daniel Miller is head of Mute, the record label he founded in 1978 to release the now legendary double a-side single T.V.O.D./Warm Leatherette, which he made in his bedroom under the name The Normal. That was the start of Mute, and it allowed Daniel to invite Depeche Mode to release music under the Mute banner. Unfortunately, after 29 years of working with Depeche Mode, Daniel still has not found the time to record a follow up to the Normal's first and only single.

I first saw Depeche Mode play live at the Bridge House pub in Canning Town, East London. Lots of famous bands played their first gigs there: it has become a legendary venue. The pub's owner Terry Murphy made a point of supporting local bands. Fad Gadget - the band name used by Frank Tovey - was headlining that night. Frank's family originally came from the East End, and Depeche Mode were from Basildon, just outside the area.

There were four of them: Dave, Andy, Martin and Vince. They were dressed in slightly dodgy New Romantic clothes. Dave was up front with a drum machine, and he had a light on the floor, shining up to give him a gothic look. Vince, Andy and Martin each had a monophonic synth sitting in front of them on a pile of beer crates. Considering their apparent youth, they created an incredible sound. Every synth note and every beat played its part. The sound was musical, electronic and poppy. From the first moment I saw them play I was very impressed.

I went backstage after the show to tell them how much I enjoyed the gig. They happened to be playing at the Bridge House the following week, so I went back to check that my eyes and ears weren't deceiving me. They weren't. Afterwards I told them that I'd love to release a Depeche Mode single, and that was the beginning of a relationship that has lasted to this day. We didn't really sign a contract until 10 years and six albums later. Up to that point we were just working on a handshake.

It wasn't long before they graduated from playing to a handful of people in a pub to headlining much bigger venues. By 1985, they were doing open-air venues like Irvine Meadows in California to 10/15.000 people. Prior to that they'd just played in clubs, and maybe Hammersmith Odeon. But this was completely different, and they went down a storm. Everyone was taken aback by the fact that they could do it, and that they could sell out massive open-air venues in the States. It was just a few years later that they played the Rosebowl to 80.000 people.

One of the best things about a Depeche show is that the live ound is based on the studio sound. On stage, they use a lot of the sounds they use on the records. But although the live versions are faithful to the recorded versions, if you analyse the on-stage sound, you find that the songs are more like exaggerated versions of the record. THe arrangements are slightly different, and they sometimes extend them, especially classics like Never Let Me Down Again and Enjoy The Silence. And when you factor in the performance element, plus the sound of the stadium, what you get are songs that are faithful to the originals, but which are bigger and richer. When you think about it, it's what you want from a band playing live.

When I go to Depeche gigs, I go as a fan. I want to see and hear the band. But I also love watching the audience, and seeing how they respond to different songs and different hits in songs. I think the fans feel part of something special. Obviously they hear the songs the love, and they jump around and sing along, but the really important thing is that there's a guenine connection between them and Andy, Dave and Martin. They come out feeling they're part of the Depeche Mode family - the Depeche Universe !

What's great about the audience at Depeche gigs is that there's always an appetite to hear new songs. Sure, there's an element of nostalgia at the shows. There are people who have been going to gigs for 20 years - I recognize the faces ! But although they want to hear the classics, they also want to hear new material and new songs are always well received.

Over the years, the band have become masters of the art of putting on a show. A Depeche gig is an event. The fans turn up knowing that as well as great music they will also get a great spectacle. That means the best lighting, the best set design, and the best sound. And then there's Dave. Even at that first gig at the Bridge House pub all those years ago, I could see that he had stage presence. But over the years, he has become the ultimate showman. He gives everything. ANd it doesn't matter what size the venue is, he always manages to take the fans with him every step of the way. On stage he's mesmerizing Then there are the films made by the band's longtime collaborator, Anton Corbijn. They contribute to the special atmosphere at Depeche shows in a unique way.

The other thing I love to do at gigs is guessing which new songs will become live classics to sit alongside Personal Jesus, Enjoy The Silence, Stripped, Never Let Me Down Again and so on. Now, I'm guessing here, but I'd say that the single Wrong is destined to become a Depeche great. I'd also go for In Chains - it's one of the standout songs on the Sounds Of The Universe album. But I might be surprised. It might be a different one altogether. That's the beauty of a Depeche show : you know what are going to get, but you are always surprised by what you get.

They've come a long way from Bridge House pub.