Tag Archives: Depeche Mode

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
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.

Something To Do


I’ve been doing quite a bit of shopping lately, both online and at the malls. I just got this tweed moto jacket by I ‘Heart’ Ronson, British designer Charlotte Ronson’s line at JC Penney. I love it because the tweed material has a bit of sparkle to it, which can easily take it from day to night. Also, it’s a bit edgy because it’s cut like a motorcycle jacket rather than a classic cut mainly associated with a tweed fabric. I wore it with my favorite Depeche Mode t-shirt from the 1985 Some Great Tour concert. The title of this post is a song off of the album they were supporting at the time called “Some Great Reward”.

I was lucky to get these pictures in when I did. I went to the nearby Plaza Bonita mall right after I took these pictures to do a little more shopping and pick up some household things. When I was in Target, the rain started to pour. Unfortunately, I had nothing but this jacket to protect me because I forgot my umbrella. Luckily, the rain died down a bit so I managed to get to my car without getting too wet. What a way to christen my brand new jacket!

Outfit: I ‘Heart’ Ronson tweed moto jacket; Vintage Depeche Mode concert shirt; Hot Topic studded belt with gifted Union Jack belt buckle; “Walk the Walk” boots (seen here and here); Tiffany & Co necklace; Juicy Couture jeans and ring; Burberry sunglasses; Charm bracelet from my niece

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 YeasayerThe 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 B Sides

I realized that I didn’t continue the “My Favorite Mode” series with B-Sides, rarities and my top (insert number here) all-time Depeche Mode song list.  I still haven’t decided how long my top song list will be yet.  I thought 20 at first, but I may go top 25.  We shall see!

In the meantime, I have finally thought about my list of favorite Depeche Mode B-Sides.  What I love about my favorite band is that there is no shortage of little song treasures and surprises that come in the form of an additional song on a CD, 45 or 12 inch single.  Sometimes I wonder why these B-Sides weren’t on the album or singles, because they are so fantastic (maybe they didn’t fit due to the overall theme and cohesiveness of the album).  Whatever the case, it’s always nice that they still put out these extra song tracks.  It makes waiting for the next album a little more tolerable.

I really did want to include nearly all their B-Sides, but I kept it down to ones that were absolutely what are the best of the best in my eyes.

(Pictures are in the same order as the list, going from left to right.  Click on each for a larger image.  All images are courtesy of Depmod.com)

Shout! – I first heard this song in concert without knowing it was not on the “Speak and Spell” album.  It was only later that I found out that it was on the B-Side of “New Life”.   Would this sound be considered Calypso?  So many of their early songs were so good and catchy, and this is one of them.

Now, This is Fun – Definitely an early Martin song, so the lyrics are a little confusing.  Either way, it’s just a cute song.

Love in Itself 4/Fools – I cannot get enough of this rendition of “Love in Itself” from “Construction Time Again”, which includes a simple drum machine, acoustic guitar and jazz piano.  I call it “The Lounge Version”.  I immediately learned this version on piano rather than the original (which reminds me that I need to go back and revisit it).  If you ever get a chance to listen to this song, it will make you look at those Mode boys in a different light. 

“Fools” is a song by Alan Wilder that was also on the B-Side of the 12 in single.  It’s much brighter than “Two Minute Warning” or “The Landscape is Changing”, so I wonder if that’s why those songs made it to “Construction Time Again” and not this one. 

In Your Memory – Another Wilder song, the B-Side to People are People.  I’m biased, what can I say.

(Set Me Free) Remotivate Me – This B-Side to “Master & Servant” is one of the best Depeche Mode songs out there.  It’s danceable, fun and I just can’t help but like how catchy it is.

But Not Tonight – Yes, this is on the US version of “Black Celebration” and yes it was released as a single in the US, but this was originally just a B-Side to “Stripped” and does not appear on the UK version of the album.  The extended version gets my vote for a B-Side favorite.  This is such a feel good song and sounds great while driving in a car with all of the windows rolled down.  A bonus is that it appeared on the soundtrack of that 80’s classic “Modern Girls”.  Yes, I’m being facetious.  Only about “Modern Girls”.

Dangerous/Personal Jesus (Acoustic) – The acoustic version sounds like it belongs in a soundtrack to some kind of Western or road movie.  “Dangerous” is just a good song.

Happiest Girl/Sea of Sin – Two great songs on the B-Side of “World In My Eyes”.  My favorite lines from each song (respectively): “Wanted to feel the joy/Flow between our lips/Wanted to feel the joy/Flow between our hips” and “It gets better and better/As it gets wetter and wetter”.  It’s a little cheesy when read out loud sans instrumentation.  But with the music, it’s just ingenious.

Surrender – I had the pleasure of seeing this song performed live when I went to the Exciter Tour back on August 14, 2001 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.  I remember being the only one in my section beyond excited to hear this song live.  I stood up and sang every word.  Out.  Loud.

This song has some of the best lyrics Martin Gore ever penned.  This is a song that is not only a favorite B-Side, but one of my favorite Depeche Mode songs of all time.

Shackled like an animal
Chained to my desires
Just another sacrifice
To love’s eternal fight
Tame me with your tenderness
And break my brittle heart
Easily and elegantly
Tear my world apart

I’m still indulging this need to feed my Depeche Mode hunger, so I hope you again forgive the intermission.  My last two installments in the next couple of weeks will be my favorite rarities that I own (this includes hard to find items and 12 inch mixes), as well a list of my all time favorite Depeche Mode songs.   

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

Strange Hours: The Alan Wilder Experience

Sometimes one doesn’t have to plan for a spectacular event to happen. Sometimes it just happens because of synergy or karma. Sometimes it’s just pure luck, and sometimes it’s all about timing and opportunity.  Sometimes, it’s all of the above.

I had an unbeliveable day with my sister in meeting Alan Wilder and seeing his show “A Strange Hour” with Recoil and friends.  It started off with being the very first person in line at the M-Theory Music store signing (we got there and met up with my friend Rob and his friend, Todd at 2:30pm), winning the “dance-off” judged by Alan Wilder himself (music by DJ Edgartronic), then chatting with him briefly while getting many of my Depeche Mode and Recoil rarities signed.  The dance-off was quite funny because five people signed up, but I was the only who danced.  Alan remarked that I won not only because of the dancing, but because I was the only brave one to go up there and actually do it!

Winning the contest afforded me two tickets to the show, so I took my sister.  While still at the signing, Alan said that I need to be there because Anthology is such an intimate venue that he wanted to make sure I got up and danced to get the crowd going.  I said that since I won the contest that I had tickets, I would definitely be there.  After waiting for my sister, Rob and Todd and their signings, we exited M-Theory. 

Later that night, my sister and I went to the show at Anthology.  Because I won the contest, our seats were just five feet from the stage.  I’d never been to Anthology before, and it’s a very beautiful venue.  The night started with Conjure One, who did a pretty good set (this was my first time seeing them).  Then Alan Wilder himself came out to check out the crowd.  He scanned the front to see if there was any one he recognized, and pointed me out and said “I remember you from earlier!”  I got a couple of high-fives for the “shout out” from Alan, which just brought out the 16-year old in me all over again.  He then introduced Daniel Myer of Architect.  Alan encouraged people to please come down to the floor, as this set up was just too “sophisticated” and wanted to see people dance.  He also mentioned that the Architect set was cut short at the show the night before, so we would get the privilege of enjoying Daniel’s entire set (a little over 30 minutes long).  The Architect set mixed in some Depeche Mode samples which really got the crowd going.  It was a very strong proggy/industrial set, which I enjoyed. 

Of course, last but not least was Paul Kendall and Alan Wilder, who did a magnificent set from their new “Selected” album, which is a selection of classic Recoil songs that are remastered.  What surprised me the most about the set was just how much Depeche Mode was mixed in.  Songs that I remember the snippets of were “Never Let Me Down Again”, “Behind The Wheel”, “Walking in my Shoes” and the encore song that included “Personal Jesus”.  I guess I expected it to be strictly Recoil music, but one can never forget where Alan spent a big part of his musical career.

I felt that Alan was also so much more relaxed and grooved the entire concert, something I don’t recall seeing when he was with Depeche Mode (who I’ve seen at least eight times in concert since 1985).  Maybe it was the dynamics of the group at the time he was there, but Alan was in his element last night, enjoying every single moment of this musical journey he started well before he left Depeche Mode.  Additionally, Alan is just such a nice person.  He was so gracious judging the dance-off and so very sweet during the signing.  One always hopes for a great experience with someone they have admired and followed for so long, so the moment is even better when that person is as wonderful a person as Alan Wilder is.

All in all, it was a spectacular day.  I was so pleasantly surprised throughout the day by all the events that it made the day even better than I hoped it would be.  My inner-teenager was so thrilled to have had this opportunity to fulfill what seemed to be a lifelong dream.  I want to thank my sister, my friends Rob and Todd, M-Theory Music, Anthology, DJ Edgartronic and most of all, Alan Wilder for making this an experience I will not soon forget.