Tag Archives: Alan Wilder

New Recoil DVD + Calendar Release November 1, 2011

I received an email from The Shunt Staff last week, and put my order in. It’s for the limited edition “Collected” DVD and new 2012 calendar. If you want your own copies, details are below!

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From the Shunt Staff:

On November 1st, Dentez Lab and Shunt will release a limited edition, remastered DVD of Martin Vladar’s documentary film which accompanied the AW/DM historic equipment, vinyl and memorabilia auction.

Thank you for all the feedback following our request for a response on this. As the original auction run proved so popular and to satisfy many who missed out, we have decided to produce this superior quality transfer of the film. Based on your comments, we are manufacturing a limited run of 1000 copies, with extra material available, entitled ‘Alan Wilder Collected +‘

Directed and edited by Vladar and featuring new artwork and photo manipulations by Akos Szenasi, the ‘Collected +’ DVD comes shrink-wrapped in a cardboard sleeve and includes 4 extra scenes of unseen footage – with more Emax demos from Alan, other outtakes which never made the final cut, a film review of the day at Zion in Manchester, and a 67-shot photo gallery. Total running time – about 62 minutes.

You can pre-order your copy right now! The DVD will ONLY be purchasable from the new Recoil Official Store.

Full content details:

ALAN WILDER COLLECTED +

01 ‘Collected’ (running time : 36.10)

02 ‘Collected +’ : 4 additional scenes (18 mins)

a) Overview
b) Fanatics
c) Emax 2
d) Auction day

03 Auction gallery : 67 photographs (8 mins)

All regions : PAL 16:9 : PCM Stereo : Subtitles: English

(Note: ‘All region’ discs will play in any DVD player)

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Also available for pre-order at the store (shipped from November 1st) – the brand new Recoil Calendar 2012 presenting 13 large photographs by Steve Gullick, all chosen by Alan. The A3 calendar is produced using waterproof, resin-coated, high gloss photographic paper. If you need an Xmas present for your fellow Recoil friends, here it is! Order yours soon as this is a very limited run up until the new year.

The Shunt team plans to bring more items to the store in the future, including a new selection of T-shirts and some other merchandise. Keep checking back and let us know which products you would most like to see appear there. Contact: [email protected]

For further details about the AW/DM auction :

www.auction.recoil.co.uk

Official catalogue

Secret is Out: Alan Wilder Confirmed to do a Secret Gig 9/3/2011

In searching for news about Alan Wilder, I came across a soon-to-be-new-addtion to my blogroll: Gothic News. They have confirmed that Alan Wilder has decided to play a “virtually free concert” on September 3, 2011, following the “Collected” main sale event in Manchester at the Zion Arts Centre, which is the Alan Wilder/Depeche Mode memorabilia auction. All the details can be found on the Gothic News post about the concert here. The only way to get tickets is to register by contacting the company running the online auction, Omega.

Seeing Recoil/Alan Wilder in concert is a must for any fan, so if you have the opportunity to go and you are in the Manchester area, hop to it!

My family and I are off to Vegas for the holiday weekend. Hope you have a good one!

(Image courtesy of auction.recoil.co.uk)

Randomness: Music for the Masses

I see that I have a few new followers, so firstly I would like to say “Welcome to my blog!” Although this blog is heavier on personal style and fashion, I definitely have a keen interest in music. Be forewarned that my musical interests are mainly tied to 80’s alternative, especially Depeche Mode, Recoil, Joy Division, OMD, Duran Duran and bands in the same genre. This means that most of the music news that I report on will be centered around these groups and this type of music. If you want to get to know more on my musical taste and interest, the “Musically Inclined” category is a great start. In the meantime, here are some musical tidbits that I’ve either received an email about, found on Facebook or have received a Tweet about. Have a great weekend everyone!

Independence (Record Store) Day – With the release of Depeche Mode’s Remixes: 81-11 on June 7th came several exclusives. One I nearly had in my hands, had I gotten myself together earlier in the day. On Depeche Mode’s official site, they posted several independent record stores that would have a very rare and exclusive 12″ single as a gift when purchasing the 3 CD or 6 LP Remixes release. Pictured on the left, it was a four song, promo only 12″ single of “Personal Jesus”. This is how I discovered “Record Store Day“.

The gist of what I understand this to be is that artists create special and exclusive products for their new record/album releases, and distribute these items to only independently owned record stores. These stores cannot be corporate chain stores and truly celebrates the indie record business.

I think this is a great endeavor because I have almost exclusively patronized independent record stores my entire life and I only go to the bigger chains when I have no alternative. Since I was a teen, I have gone to local stores like Licorice Pizza before they were sold to a large chain, and Blue Meannie before they became exclusively a store for the metal genre. The only “large chain” music store I frequented before their demise in 2006 was Tower Records because of the music they stocked and the awesome people that worked there. Music stores that I shop at now include CSL, Lou’s Records, M-Theory and Amoeba (they all participate in Record Store Day). I firmly believe that all music enthusiasts should do their part and support independently owned music stores and I’m excited to know that artists feel the same way by driving sales towards these types of stores.

(Image courtesy of Record Store Day)

Alan Wilder Auctions His Goods – I’m now on Twitter more and more, and I discovered that this is also a great place to get news as it happens. Through Recoil (@recoilofficial and @Recoilboss), it has been announced that Alan Wilder has decided to sell some of his beloved equipment, vinyl and memorabilia that he has collected over the years. The items range from Depeche Mode rarities, instruments that he’s held on to, and even clothing he has worn to pictorials and videos (although I find it odd to purchase his pants). You can browse through the items at The Alan Wilder/Depeche Mode Collection website. One of my friends stated that he spent 2 hours looking through everything and reading Alan’s comments because it’s like a history lesson Depeche Mode and Recoil. The actual auction takes place on September 3, 2011 in Manchester, England and online. If you are a die-hard fan, you will not want to miss this fantastic opportunity.

(Image courtesy of Shunt)

“Girl Panic” Video Shoot – I follow John Taylor of Duran Duran on Twitter (@ThisIsTheRealJT and @duranduran), and there was Tweets galore regarding the new video for the song “Girl Panic” from their album “All You Need is Now”, filmed earlier this week. Yasmin Le Bon was reunited with her model friends Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Eva Herzigova, and Helena Christensen for this video. I’m excited to see the new video, but still worried about Simon Le Bon, who is recovering from a throat ailment that has sidelined their tour in the UK and Europe. In the meantime, here are some shots from the video shoot on Fashionologie here.

(Image courtesy of Record Store Day)

It’s Time to DANCE with DJ Lance Rock! If you have kids, you definitely know about the phenomenon that is Yo Gabba Gabba! It’s a show about four crazy characters (Brobee, Toodee, Foofa, Muno and Plex) and their adventures with their ringleader, DJ Lance Rock aka Lance Robinson. What I love about the show is that they feature so many good sing-a-long songs that teach lessons in an incredible fun and catchy way. But the best part of the show are their musical and celebrity guests. Past performers and guests include The Faint, The Shins, Jimmy Eat World, Chromeo, The Ting Tings, The Roots, Jack Black, and Elijah Wood.

I received a Tweet from @amoebamusic that you can see DJ Lance Rock up close and personal because he performs a DJ set on June 25, 2011 at Hollywood Amoeba location (details here). Maybe he’ll do a little “Dancey-Dance” with his Gabbaland pals!

(Photo of Dominic dressed as DJ Lance Rock for Halloween last year)

Depeche Mode’s New Remix Album Arrives June 6th & 7th 2011

Here it is, the full listing of the 3 disc version of Depeche Mode’s “Remixes 2: 81-11”. This is a very exciting remix album! I see some classic mixes that I already own, in addition to mixes by Alan Wilder, Vince Clark and Röyksopp. I have the US Reprise triple CD version of the “Remixes 81-04” album, so this will definitely be another “must add” to my collection.

3-Disc version
Disc 1:
1. Dream On – Bushwacka Tough Guy Mix (2001)
2. Suffer Well – M83 Remix (2006)
3. John The Revelator – UNKLE Reconstruction (2006)
4. In Chains – Tigerskin’s No Sleep Remix (2011)
5. Peace – SixToes Remix (2009)
6. Lilian – Chab Vocal Remix Edit (2006)
7. Never Let Me Down Again – Digitalism Remix (2006)
8. Corrupt – Efdemin Remix (2009)
9. Everything Counts – Oliver Huntemann And Stephan Bodzin Dub (2006)
10. Happiest Girl – The Pulsating Orbital Vocal Mix (1990)
11. Walking In My Shoes – Anandamidic Mix (1993)
12. Personal Jesus – The Stargate Mix (2011)
13. Slowblow – Darren Price Mix (1997)

Disc 2:
1. Wrong – Trentemøller Club Remix (2009)
2. World In My Eyes – Dub In My Eyes (1990)
3. Fragile Tension – Peter Bjorn and John Remix (2009)
4. Strangelove – Tim Simenon/Mark Saunders Remix (1988)
5. A Pain That I’m Used To – Jacques Lu Cont Remix (2005)
6. The Darkest Star – Monolake Remix (2006)
7. I Feel You – Helmet At The Helm Mix (1993)
8. Higher Love – Adrenaline Mix Edit (2004)
9. Fly On The Windscreen – Death Mix (1985)
10. Barrel Of A Gun – United Mix (1997)
11. Only When I Lose Myself – Dan The Automator Mix (1998)
12. Ghost – Le Weekend Remix (2009)

Disc 3:
1. Personal Jesus – Alex Metric Remix Edit (2011)
2. Never Let Me Down Again – Eric Prydz Remix (2011)
3. Behind The Wheel – Vince Clarke Remix (2011)
4. Leave In Silence – Claro Intelecto ‘The Last Time’ Remix (2011)
5. In Chains – Alan Wilder Remix (2011)
6. When The Body Speaks – Karlsson And Winnberg Remix (2011)
7. Puppets – Röyksopp Remix (2011)
8. Tora! Tora! Tora! – Karlsson And Winnberg (from Miike Snow) Remix (2011)
9. Freestate – Clark Remix (2011)
10. I Want It All – Roland M. Dill Remix (2011)
11. A Question Of Time – Joebot Presents ‘Radio Face’ Remix (2011)
12. Personal Jesus – Sie Medway-Smith Remix (2011)

(Track listing and image courtesy of depechemode.com)

My Favorite Mode: Rarities

I had to think long and hard about what Depeche Mode rarities are my favorites, which is why it took awhile to do another installment of “My Favorite Mode”. Keep in mind that these are the rare items from my very own collection (please refer to depmod.com for a more exhaustive list). These are cool little gems that I’ve collected over the years, and three just got a little more worthy because Alan Wilder signed them (the “Love In Itself” numbered 12 inch single, the “Some Great Reward” grey vinyl, and the “Everything Counts” 10 inch single). I was too afraid to bring the “Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth” flexidisc to the signing because it’s so thin and incredibly rare.

(Descriptions are in order from top to bottom, then left to right)

My Favorite Mode: Rarities by sighgee on Polyvore.com

Love In Itself · 2 And Live Tracks – Love In Itself 12″ with 4 live tracks – Numbered limited edition with texture and goldfoiled sleeve.

Some Great Reward – Grey Vinyl Germany 12″ RECORD – Some Great Reward LP in Grey Vinyl, German import – “If You Want To” on back sleeve instead of “If You Want”.

Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth – Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth, Flexidisc – “Happy Christmas 87 From Depeche Mode”, sent to members of the official fan club during Christmas 1987.

A Question of Lust – A Question of Lust cassette – Package includes cassette, booklet & badge.

Everything Counts 10″ – Everything Counts 10″ – Strictly limited numbered envelope sleeve. Deluxe black die cut inner sleeve includes 2 postcards and window sticker.

Death’s Door – Death’s Door (Jazz Mix), Flexidisc – Sent to members of the official fan club in 1991, it was included with Bong 16, the Depeche Mode official fan magazine.

I Want You Now / Behind the Wheel (Remix) – I Want You Now 3″ CD, Japanese import – A special 3″ Edit of “I Want You Now” exclusive to this release.

Confirmed: Alan Wilder to Remix a Song on the New Depeche Mode Remix Album

This update is from Side-Line.com (article dated Nov 13 2010). Very exciting!

Alan Wilder to remix Depeche Mode track for new remix album

Side-Line has received positive confirmation that Alan Wilder (Recoil and ex-Depeche Mode) is indeed to remix a Depeche Mode track for a forthcoming Depeche Mode remix-abum, planned for 2011. First launched as a mere rumour, we received solid info that the remix is indeed a fact. In related news, Vince Clarke from Erasure fame tweeted back in October that he had done a “Behind The Wheel” remix. Which could mean that the upcoming Depeche Mode remix album will be the first ever ‘reunion’ CD so to speak featuring all 5 (ex)-members of Depeche Mode, one way or another.

According to Depechemode.de Wilder would have picked a track from the band’s current release “Sounds of the Universe” with “In chains” being the final choice.

(Photo taken at the M-Theory Records signing on 10.23.2010)

Too Good to be True: Will Alan Wilder Remix Depeche Mode?

I saw this on depeche-mode.com (a site called HOME, not the official site), and I really hope it’s true (the post is dated Nov 5 2010):

Alan Wilder remixes Depeche Mode *updated*

Alan Wilder joins Vince Clarke on the list of people who’ve done remixes for the forthcoming Depeche Mode remix album, tentatively set for release early next year. The two Mode legends’ involvement signal a very interesting project is in the works. Also rumoured to be included in the project are ~~Yeasayer~~The Yeah Yeah Yeahs!, Brandon Flowers and Arcade Fire. More details should be trickling through in the coming weeks.

(Photo taken at the M-Theory Records signing on 10.23.2010)

My Favorite Mode – The Tour Edition

Now that the phone and internet situation has been corrected at home (I bumped into the AT&T guy on the way to work), I feel whole again. This is when I wonder, “What did we ever do before the internet?” But I digress…

I’ve been really thinking about what my favorite Depeche Mode shows have been. Most of my favorites were when they were still four members in the band, and the most recent have been the solo tours. All images of tour programmes are from depmod.com (see the “Listen to This” blogroll), one of the most comprehensive Depeche Mode discography/collectors sites I’ve ever come across. Ever since I’ve been on the internet, they are my source for everything Depeche Mode (other than the official site). If you are anywhere near a Depeche Mode fan, you must check out depmod.com. Your socks will be knocked off. Plus if you’re like me, you will truly realize there is a lot more that you don’t have in your collection. Also, all dates listed are for the concert date I attended in San Diego.

Note: I have the set lists from every concert I’ve seen up until the Devotional Tour because I would religiously write down every song during the concert. This is why I’ve included the set lists for the first three of my favorite concerts. I have since stopped doing that because I can no longer see that well in the dark, and I’m just plain lazy. It’s amazing what you have the tolerance for in your teens to your early 20’s. The only list I am unsure of the order (with the exception of the encore songs) is the Some Great Reward Tour.

Some Great Reward Tour – April 1, 1985

I have mentioned previously that this was the first concert I had seen by Depeche Mode, and have since discovered that it was their first appearance in San Diego. I truly feel blessed to have seen this concert knowing that information. A couple of funny notes about this show: my friend Eileen and I had not purchased any of their albums yet prior to this show, so we thought “See You” was “Sing You” and “Boys Say Go” was “DE-PECHE MODE!”. I’m pretty sure we sounded absolutely silly to all the die-hard fans around us, but hey, we were 15-years-old at the time. Needless to say we each got our parents to purchase all of their previously released albums so that we can catch up. I think Depeche Mode knew there were many of us out there who were in the same boat because the album “Catching Up With Depeche Mode” soon followed.

I am forever glad that we went to the SGR tour because we got to hear songs live that I never heard again in concert, as you can see by the set list.

Set list:

Master and Servant (instrumental intro)
Something to Do
Two Minute Warning
Puppets
If You Want
People Are People
Leave in Silence
New Life
Shame
Somebody
Ice Machine
Lie to Me
Blasphemous Rumours
Told You So
Master and Servant
Photographic
Everything Counts
See You
Boys Say Go
The Meaning of Love

Encores:
Shout!
Just Can’t Get Enough

Black Celebration Tour – July 11, 1986

This was the tour where we followed the tour bus from the Sports Arena to the…wait for it…Travelodge across the street. I’m sure they have upgraded their hotel stays since those days, but that’s where they were back in 1986. I have pictures of their tour bus, which was the closest I ever got to any member of Depeche Mode until I got to meet Alan Wilder last week. I also remember the first song and the lasting effect of the dropped curtain. It was “Black Celebration” and if you are familiar with the song, you know that the song starts off very slow. During this slow beginning, the curtains were still up, so we only saw shadows of the band behind it. When the lyrics “I look to you…” were sung with music in full force behind it, the curtain dropped and the band was revealed to a screaming crowd. I still feel the crescendo between the first note to the dropping of the curtain to this day.

I also really enjoyed seeing Book of Love live, who opened for Depeche Mode for the US leg of the tour (I am unsure if they opened up for any other shows). Their self-titled album was a staple in my CD player for months after seeing them live.

Set List:

Christmas Island
Black Celebration
A Question of Time
Fly on the Windscreen
Shake the Disease
Leave in Silence
It’s Called a Heart
Everything Counts
A Question of Lust
Blasphemous Rumors
New Dress
Stripped
Something to Do
Master and Servant
Photographic
People are People

Encores:
Boys Say Go
Just Can’t Get Enough
More Than a Party

World Violation Tour – July 28, 1990

Of the three dates they were here for this tour, I only went to the first show (a friend of mine went to two dates). Another bonus was that I won tickets to the show and sold the tickets that I bought before. I also recall someone saying that they went to the Fashion Valley Mall and saw Martin Gore and Andy Fletcher shopping one of the days they were here. Depeche Mode, shopping? In my city? Where was I when this was happening?

Shocking that I didn’t pick the Music for the Masses as one of my favorite tours, and it’s only because of the sad memories of not going to the Rose Bowl concert (still a very sore spot for me). Truly, I liked this concert because it is one of my all time favorite albums. I also really loved the images of the band dressed as cowboys and that some of those images were actually funny in nature. The highlight of the show was seeing “World in my Eyes” and “Halo” live.

I’ve always regarded Depeche Mode as “my band” because I didn’t follow the crowd when I discovered them (like Duran Duran). I felt for a long time like they were my little discovery, and would share them when I decided to. But after the Wherehouse store incident, there was no escaping that the boys were on the map, and three sold out shows in San Diego just proved to everyone that Depeche Mode were no longer some obscure band. They were on the charts and violating the world, in a city near you.

Set List:

World in My Eyes
Halo
Shake the Disease
Everything Counts
Master and Servant
Never Let Me Down Again
Waiting for the Night
I Want You Now
World Full of Nothing
Clean
Stripped
Policy of Truth
Enjoy the Silence
Strangelove
Personal Jesus

Encores:
Black Celebration
Question of Time
Behind the Wheel
Route 66

The Singles Tour – December 15, 1998

Because I did not go to the Exotic Tour or the Ultra Parties (neither came to San Diego, but I should have gone to the Irvine Meadows show), the first concert I went to where I saw the band as three was the Singles Tour. I went with my friend Angi, and we had a hard time in the beginning of the show with a few guys behind us who just kept chanting like it was a soccer game. They finally stopped a few songs in, which was such a relief.

I have to say I was quite apprehensive seeing the band live without Alan Wilder. For years he was my favorite, and after five concerts, you get used to looking forward to seeing him with the rest of the guys. But I was surprised at how much I enjoyed myself and was looking forward to more Depeche Mode albums and tours with the three left. Alan kept putting out Recoil music, so at least he was still around, even if he wasn’t with them. I really missed not seeing Depeche Mode live. It had been five years since the Devotional Tour, so this was a welcome sight.

Paper Monsters Tour, David Gahan – August 21, 2003

My sister and I went to this concert not knowing exactly what to expect. I think it’s because it was Depeche Mode’s front man, the voice of the band, on tour without anyone else that we recognize. How could Dave be up there withtout Martin or Fletch? No matter how we felt about a tour without his band mates, we would not miss this for the world.

I liked the single “Dirty Sticky Floors” and thought the rest of the album was pretty good. I knew that Dave would definitely infuse Depeche Mode songs in there, so we were not surprised when he closed with a song or two. I just remember my jaw dropping when he sang a bit from a song that I have always thought he would be great at because his voice is so similar to Ian McCulloch, which is “Lips Like Sugar” by Echo and the Bunnymen. When the words came out of Dave’s mouth, my sister and I looked at each other in disbelief. Easily the highlight of the show for me.

A Strange Hour, Recoil – October 23, 2010

Of course I would pick this as a favorite show, simply because it had been 17 years since I have seen Alan Wilder live with Depeche Mode, or live at all. If you’ve seen my “Strange Hours” post, you will know exactly how I felt about the concert and the whole experience of meeting him, so I won’t repeat it all here again (just click the link for my post on Anthology’s blog). Suffice it to say that sitting in a club with my sister watching Alan Wilder in a very intimate setting has made up for the fact that the Tour of the Universe concert date was canceled last year in San Diego. Hands down.

I hope you enjoyed this portion of “My Favorite Mode”. After this weekend, I will post my favorite B-Sides and rarities, then a list of my all time favorite Depeche Mode songs. I just haven’t decided how long the list will be yet!

My Favorite Mode

Our internet is still very intermittent at home (due to flooded phone lines causing our DSL to act up), so my post about cape jackets will have to wait until the repairs to our lines happen later this week. I’m on my little Nokia Booklet 3G with an LG wireless modem, and it doesn’t have any kind of photo editing program, so my ability to post a nifty pictorial is very limited. What I will do is stay on my Depeche Mode/Alan Wilder high and post my all time favorite albums, songs, tours and rarities.

Favorite album: Some Great Reward

For all the reasons I’ve stated before, this is still by far my absolute favorite album. This album solidified me as a fan, and provided the soundtrack that justified all my reasons for feeling different at an age when conformity was forefront. It also marked the first time I had seen the band live.

No other album juxtaposes the angst of personal religious struggle with sadomasochism like “Some Great Reward”. The lyrics have some of the sexiest lines, and some of the most ironic. The album also showcases the beginnings of how they started mastering their industrial yet fluid sound, which really was very metallic on “Construction Time Again” but became more organic with “Some Great Reward”. I have an interview were they said that they would just walk around outside the studio recording sounds and manipulating them before running them through their synthesizers.

One of the songs that sort of hit me was the beautiful ballad “Somebody”. The haunting acoustic piano with the street background noise only enhance the irony of the words. The lyrics are quite sentimental and lovely, until the very end of the song:

But when I’m asleep
I want somebody
Who will put their arms around me
And kiss me tenderly
Though things like this
Make me sick
In a case like this
I’ll get away with it

As I got older, the words of all of their songs started to really take on new meanings, only because I really started to understand exactly what they meant (I was a very naive 14-year-old). Here are my favorite lines from various songs:

It’s a lot like life
This play between the sheets
With you on top and me underneath
Forget all about equality
Let’s play master and servant

So lie to me
But do it with sincerity
Make me listen
Just for a minute
Make me think
There’s some truth in it

I don’t want to start
Any blasphemous rumours
But I think that God’s
Got a sick sense of humour
And when I die
I expect to find Him laughing

Of course a line from “If You Want”, the only song on the album penned by Alan Wilder, became the quote that I would use time and time again:

Let tomorrow and today
Bring a life of ecstasy

Funny how that at the age of 14 this album became a defining musical moment in my life. Was I really that complex at that time? I’d like to think so.

Favorite Song: World In My Eyes

I have many favorite songs from my favorite band, all of which would require its own top 20 list. But when someone asks me to define what I think the “Depeche Mode” sound is, I don’t ask them to listen to “Enjoy the Silence” or “Personal Jesus”. I don’t even ask them to listen to anything from “Some Great Reward” because that was just the beginning of their ever evolving sound. I think the song that is quintessentially Depeche Mode is the song “World in my Eyes”. Another very sultry song, it comes from their most popular album to date, “Violator”. All of the songs on the album again juxtaposition religious overtones next to very sexual undertones. The reason I think it’s the most “Depeche Mode” sounding song of their repertoire is because of the overall production, the rhythmic beat and the layering of sounds along with very seductive lyrics. It’s upbeat yet dark, all at the same time. Dave Gahan had truly honed his soothing voice by this album, so this song is just dripping with pure sensuality. The best part is that you can dance to it.

As it is time that I tend to my son who is having trouble sleeping, I will tackle some of my other favorites in the next few posts. Good night!

Next: Favorite B Sides, Rarities, and tours

Never Let Me Down Again

I’m going to be on this Alan Wilder high for a little while longer. I’m sorry if my blogs posts have become so Depeche Mode/Alan Wilder centric, but I guess I have to confess about how the fandom started in order for anyone to understand why this weekend was so important to me.

I remember when I first heard Depeche Mode. I was in CCD class when I first heard about the station 91X back in 1983. Someone had told me about this station because of my taste in music, so I started listening to it. The first song I ever heard by Depeche Mode was “Everything Counts” and I thought it was a great song. I saw the video and I really enjoyed their music. When “People are People” came out the following year, I started to pay attention more and more. I found out that they were an all synth band, and as a classically trained pianist, it was a band I could relate to because they played the same instrument that I did. A whole band, all on keyboards? Could it be true?

The fandom really didn’t kick in until the next album “Some Great Reward”. It’s ironic that I had heard about 91X and Depeche Mode in CCD class because I really was trying to figure out what role religion was supposed to play in my life. At the tender age of 13 going on 14, I had started to struggle with my relationship with God and Catholicism. Then I heard “Blasphemous Rumours” and for whatever reason it spoke to me. It let me know that I wasn’t the only one wondering about what it all meant. There in lyrical and musical form was my struggle. From then on, I had found my band.

Luckily the following year, Depeche Mode toured to support “Some Great Reward”. By some miracle, my friend Eileen and I were able to snag these incredibly hard to come by tickets. They only opened up about a third of the San Diego Sports Arena because they were unsure of how well the tickets would sell. We already purchased our tickets when they opened up a few hundred more seats, then those sold out almost instantly. I didn’t realize then that this was the first time Depeche Mode had ever played in San Diego (April 1, 1985). I still have the ticket stub that says the tickets were a mere $13.75. My how times have changed!

I went on to see Depeche Mode eight more times, only missing “Tour of the Universe” last year because it was cancelled here in San Diego. The only other member I had seen solo prior to seeing Alan Wilder this weekend was Dave Gahan for his “Paper Monsters” tour. My biggest regret was missing the 1988 Rose Bowl concert that turned into the “101” movie. I did see a show for the “Music For the Masses” tour, but the Rose Bowl concert was the one that almost any fan who was in the Southern California area was in attendance, except for me (it seemed at the time).

Through it all, my favorite member had always been Alan Charles Wilder. The oldest of the group, he is the only classically trained musician, so I related instantly with him. I taught myself how to play “Somebody” on piano, among a number of other Depeche Mode songs. I bought myself a drum machine and a Korg keyboard to write songs. Much like people followed the Beatles, I followed Depeche Mode. And much like people liked Paul McCartney or John Lennon, I liked Alan Wilder. I had followed his career from all the way through Depeche Mode, and now to Recoil.

As you can see, this weekend was very important to me because it marked such a milestone in my fandom. I had never tried too hard to try to meet Alan or any member of Depeche Mode because it was always an elusive idea. When the opportunity presented itself the way it had this past weekend, it felt like fate. This weekend was meant to happen, exactly the way it was supposed to, and it did not disappoint.

So please pardon the interruption while I let this weekend’s experience sink in.

Photos 1, 2, and 3 are courtesy of the official Recoil Facebook page