I Heart Depeche Mode

What a better way to spend a rainy Fourth of July than writing about my infatuation with Depeche Mode. The first time I heard DM was on the 101 cd. I then saw the movie and became intrigued by this weird band and their kooky fans. At the time I was going through my Hip Hop stage and couldn’t conceive that there was other types of music. But Depeche Mode was the first band that spoke to me. I was hooked. I could relate to the central themes of alienation, sex, death, religious doubt, and lack of reciprocal love. They’ve had their share of missteps Exciter being one, but they get a free pass because they’ve had so many great albums that they’re entitled to have a couple of crappy albums.

The first and only time I saw Depeche Mode live was in 1998. It was during their Singles album. They played at the Miami Area and Stabbing Westward opened for them. We had really bad seats cuz I tend to procrastinate even for my favorite band and waited at the last minute to purchase the tickets. At the concert my brother suggested we sneak closer to the stage. We managed to find two empty seats next to the stage. Keep in mind there where more than two people in the group. Everything was going great until the owner of the sits showed up. He was obviously pissed off. He said some choice words and there was nearly a scrap. I know how absurd is it that we almost got in a fight at a Depeche Mode concert, but cooler heads prevailed. We found one empty sit on the other row and prepared ourselves for DM. We where squeezed in there but we didn’t care cuz Depeche Mode tore it up. Martin Gore wore a shiny dress and did a beautiful rendition of “Somebody”. David Gahan danced and sang his heart out. A gay guy offered to put me up on his shoulders. I politely declined. The prerequisite marijuana smoke filled the air. And I danced like I never danced before.

I was going to see them for their Playing the Angel tour but Hurricane Wilma caused the cancellation of the concert. Damn you, Wilma! Ticketmaster offered a refund or tickets to the Tampa show. I couldn’t go to Tampa concert because I had a very important class that I had to attend. Cause you know your education is far more important than a concert. I had another opportunity to see them at Coachella, but finals got in the way and I was dead broke. Although I was told their set wasn’t all that great. The best part of being a Depeche Mode fan is that they tour often so that gives the fans countless opportunities to see them live.

The first song that drew me into the Depeche Mode fandom was Strangelove. I love the line Will you take the pain/I give to you/ Again & Again/ And will you return it/. The album that I absolutely love is Some Great Reward. The best tracks on the album are “Stories of Old”, “Master and Servant”, “Somebody”, “It Doesn’t Matter”, “Lie to Me” and “Blasphemous Rumours”. Master and Servant is the best dance song ever. Stories of Old is another great dance song. It Doesn’t Matter is happy and sad at the same time. Lie to Me has the best lyrics, Lie to Me/ Like they do it in the factory/ Make me think/ That at the end of day/ Some great reward/ Will come my way. Blasphemous Rumours should be the anthem for angst ridden teens. Somebody is the sweetest DM song with a wink and nod that it’s kinda of sick that love can cause you to become a total softy.


Doom and Gloom


L