Even if you've never listened to Depeche Mode, you probably still know that the Essex band are the pioneers of electronic pop music. And even if you don't own a single one of their albums (or singles), you'll have heard—and maybe even sung or danced along to—one of their songs. Maybe it was the spritely, up-tempo, feel-good, slightly camp synth-pop of "Just Can't Get Enough," or the sinister retro-futuristic chug of "Personal Jesus." Perhaps you know Johnny Cash's stripped down cover of that song, or Marilyn Manson's grotesque and revved-up version. You've probably even found yourself, as I once did, mouthing along the words to "Enjoy the Silence" without even realizing. You may have sung along to "It's No Good" without paying attention to just how damn dark and creepy the lyrics are. You'd probably recognize vocalist Dave Gahan's moody tones even if you didn't know his name. That's all because they're one of those bands who transcend their genre—largely because they created the whole damn thing—and the era they formed in. Since forming in 1980 when they were still teenagers, their dark synths and moody electro-pop/rock have not just pushed boundaries but helped them sell over 100 million records. In those 37 years, the band, now a trio completed by Andy 'Fletch' Fletcher and lead songwriter Martin Gore, have continued to evolve, despite the ineluctable pressures of fame and fortune, and an occasionally turbulent history. New album Spirit, which was produced by Simian Mobile Disco's James Ford, is their 14th studio album and it's another bold step forward for the band, so it made sense to talk to Gore and Fletcher in order to really get to know them—now and then.
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SPIRIT IS THE MOST POLITICAL ALBUM OF THE BAND'S CAREER
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"During the writing process is when black people were getting killed on a weekly basis. At one point, it seemed like every week there was someone new getting shot and videos of them with their hands held high. And it's the massive divide between the rich and the poor over here—and everywhere, but over here at the moment especially—it's at the root of a lot of the problems."Nevertheless, Gore insists the band aren't prepping themselves to be voice of the resistance. "For me I think the album was really trying to point out to people that we've lost our way and we need to somehow find it again," he explains. "We're not politicians, but we're getting people to think. This has definitely come at the right time to prod people a little bit. That's always the big question: can music achieve very much? I don't know if we'll ever answer that question other than I think it can make people think. I wouldn't expect all our fans to start having all of the same views as us. But we do have some crazy fans and if we can motivate them to think…."
IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT THEY'RE OBVIOUSLY NOT THE OFFICIAL BAND OF THE ALT RIGHT
"He's obviously crazy," says Gore. "I think it's as simple as that. He claims he's a big Depeche Mode fan, which is fine—if he wants to be a Depeche Mode fan that's up to him—but I pointed out in another interview recently that when I was 31, I found out my biological father was black. So if he reads that, will he still be a fan? It's an interesting question."
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THINGS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DIFFERENT
CONSTRUCTION TIME AGAIN IS THE BAND'S FIRST REAL ALBUM
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IT TOOK A RIOT FOR THEM TO REALLY BREAK AMERICA
VIOLATOR AND SONGS OF FAITH AND DEVOTION ARE STILL THE BENCHMARKS FOR THE BAND…
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