Depeche Mode: Book Review

[rotator]

Here is a review I wrote for the following book...

[b]'Stripped: The True Story Of Depeche Mode'[/b]
Jonathan Miller -Omnibus Press-2004 - 596 pages


'Exhaustive' does not begin to describe this mammoth biopsy of Depeche Mode's career. With extra attention paid to the origins of DM, one gets the impression that these were not 'ordinary' punters forming just any old band.

The real 'exclusive' interviews in this book are with Vince Clarke and Alan Wilder. The other interviews from the other band members appear to be culled from press clippings. These two give real insight into the DM machine. The most interesting of which is Wilders tireless efforts to propel the band, and impossibly hard core work ethic. I used to just think Wilder was the pretty boy hired hand, but this book opened my eyes to the fact that he was rightly 1/3 of DM (the book relentlessly drives the point home that Andrew Fletcher contributed NOTHING to the musical output.)

The technical (synth) information will be appreciated by the hard-core synth player, but will provide glossy eyes for the rest. Mostly unnecessary footnotes are a bit of a distraction, as are the O. C. D. usage of the "[sic]" (which shows where the interviewee fucked up information) (OK, Mr. editor, we get it---just correct it, and move on.)

Aside from those minor infractions, this is a great book and a must for any DM fan. It truly provides insight into the music by dissecting every single and album. Full details of recording sessions and subsequent tours.

The book spends a little time on Gahans drug addiction, but as I just got through a book on The Smiths, as well as New Order, these revelations were hardly, um...revelations. Rock and Roll.. Drugs...whatever.

Again, If you like Depeche Modes music, and especially if you are a hard-core fan (if 'Oberkorn'(It's A Small Town) is your ring tone) then this book is especially for you. It will not disappoint.

[Spit]

Good review rotator , thanks . I like the books title . One of my favorite Depeche Mode songs.

[obs]

Hey, come on. Alan Wilder was half of the musical output, the other half being Martin Gore. I think I would have enjoyed DM more if Wilder had control of the musical direction. I guess he didn't care for the rock and roll sound the band moved towards in the 90s either.

[latebar]

Anyone likes Recoil here?

[rotator]

[quote][i]Originally posted by obs[/i]
<br>Hey, come on. Alan Wilder was half of the musical output, the other half being Martin Gore. I think I would have enjoyed DM more if Wilder had control of the musical direction. I guess he didn't care for the rock and roll sound the band moved towards in the 90s either.
[/quote]

pretty much everything after Violator was substandard in my opinion. It seemed as if they were playing catch-up with both bands like Orbital and Nirvana....

I have Recoils 'Faith Healer' 12", and it is quite simply, terrible.

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[MARV]

I really thought I had all the books on Depeche Mode that I'd need but based on this review, I might need to buy another [;)] Thanks for sharing this with us, Rotator!

I would'nt say that Recoil is terrible. Honestly, I just don't think it was ever promoted enough after Faith Healer. And even that sounded more like Nitzer Ebb than anything else. I guess what Alan needs is a solid lead singer who he can stick with like Vince Clark found with Andy Bell. If he did that and really took the reins in creating the image of "the man behind it all", people would have a much more accurate perception of what his role in Depeche Mode was. Not that he was *THE* man behind it all in DM but he was without question the hardest working and most accomplished musician of the bunch.

<a href="http://www.worldwildlife.org/cetaceans/index.cfm">I dig whales.</a>

[rotator]

[quote][i]Originally posted by marvymarv[/i]
<br>I really thought I had all the books on Depeche Mode...I might need to buy another

...I would'nt say that Recoil is terrible....
[/quote]

The book is very big/long ---highly recomend it (it's about $30 new if I remember correctly -Amazon.com)

I maybe shouldn't "throw the baby out with the bathwater" concerning Recoil....I love old 'angry' Nitzer Ebb, and when the lead singer of N.E. "softened up" I ceased to be interested in N.E. 'Faith healer' kind of reminds me of that. Also, I think (not sure) that Faith Healer is a cover song, hence the banal lyrics. I maybe should search out the mid 80's instrumental stuff by recoil...

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[obs]

[i]I have Recoils 'Faith Healer' 12", and it is quite simply, terrible.[/i]

Faith Healer wasn't very good, but I really like half the tracks on that album, and the previous album, Hydrology, was good. The first album (1+2) is old Depeche Mode kitchen sink sounds. Not exactly real songs, but is interesting to listen to. The later stuff, I haven't taken the time to listen to that much.