1981

Talking Hook Lines [Melody Maker, 31st October 1981. Words: Paul Colbert. Picture: Uncredited.] TALKING HOOK LINES So obviously bright, so clearly sparkling with new life, it’s a wonder they don’t burn permanent dancing shadows onto the walls. The joy of Depeche Mode is that there’s...

Fresh Depeche [Record Mirror, 24th October 1981. Words: Mike Nicholls. Picture: Antoine Giacomoni.] FRESH DEPECHE No restaurants except for Chinese and Italian. No amusements apart from pool and bingo. No live entertainment save in the Towngate Theatre. No soul in the clubs but then there...

We're In The Mode! [Oh Boy!, 24th October 1981. Words: Uncredited. Picture: Uncredited.] WE'RE IN THE MODE! Depeche Mode are one of the newest bands around. But they’re no one-hit wonders… London’s only a few miles away from the lads’ home town, but they’re not interested in enjoying the...

Astrologer Fixes Depeche Release [NME, 17th October 1981. Words: Uncredited.] ASTROLOGER FIXES DEPECHE RELEASE Depeche Mode will have their album ‘Speak And Spell’ issued by Mute Records some time next month. They can’t give a precise date because, they say, they’re waiting...

On The Way [Record Mirror, 26th September 1981. Words: Mike Nicholls. Picture: Uncredited.] ON THE WAY Dreaming of (fa)me? Then awake, ye brave souls, for your 15 minutes start now. It’s hardly been the roughest ride up the charts but then smart chaps always did know how to cut corners. A...

Single Of The Week - Depeche Mode: “Just Can’t Get Enough” (Mute). [Record Mirror, 12th September 1981, Words: "Sunie". Picture: Uncredited.] Single Of The Week Depeche Mode: “Just Can’t Get Enough” (Mute). Bubblegum is back! OK, the title’s embarrassingly banal, and its repetition...

Another Rock Week At The ICA [NME, 5th September 1981. Words Leyla Sanai. Picture David Corio.] ANOTHER ROCK WEEK AT THE ICA The second day of the ICA Rock week sees the immaculate combination of The Chefs, Tarzan 5 and Depeche Mode. The Chefs are high-grade Peelie pop, accessible...

Basildon Band! [My Guy, 5th September 1981. Words: Uncredited. Picture: Uncredited.] BASILDON BAND! Dave Gahan is the dishy lead man with Depeche Mode. Their second single New Life crashed into the charts and when you hear what Dave has to say you’ll know why… “We’re all very young...

Three Modes In A Boat [NME, 22nd August 1981. Words: Paul Morley. Pictures: Anton Corbijn.] THREE MODES IN A BOAT So I’m surrounded by three of the sweet Depeche boys, impressed by the variety of their haircuts, surprised by their simplicity, and I do what any responsible writer would do...

Angels With Shining Faces [Record Mirror, 1st August 1981. Words: Mike Nicholls. Picture: Uncredited.] ANGELS WITH SHINING FACES There’s something very unusual about these lads. Not just the funny threads and lop-sided haircuts. It’s those faces: Stern, well-scrubbed, shiny, angelic...

Play For Tomorrow [New Sounds, New Styles, August 1981. Words: Pete Silverton. Pictures: Jill Furmanovsky.] PLAY FOR TOMORROW In which Vince, Dave, Martin and Andrew play Depeche Mode, Peter Silverton plays The Journalist and Daniel Miller stays off screen. Cameraperson… Jill Furmanovsky...

Profile - Andy Fletcher [Record Mirror, 25th July 1981. Picture: Uncredited.] PROFILE - ANDY FLETCHER Full Name: Andrew John Fletcher. Date Of Birth: 8/7/61 Educated: Nicholas Comprehensive, Basildon. First Love: Never been in love. First Disappointment: Life in general. First Performance...

Looking Good [The Daily Star, 13th July 1981. Words: Rick Sky. Picture: Joe Bangay.] LOOKING GOOD Depeche Mode are one of the best-looking bands around. And they reckon that gives them an edge over the competition. Vince Clarke, 21, says, “Ugly bands really don’t get anywhere in this...

Going U.P.! [Smash Hits, 9th-22nd July 1981. Words: Steve Taylor. Pictures: Jill Furmanovsky / Paul Slattery.] English text 1 English text 2 Polish translation

Depeche Guevara [Sounds, 27th June 1981. Words: Betty Page. Pictures: Virgina Turbett.]

Depeche Mode: Hurried Fashion [The Face, June 1981. Words: Ian Cranna. Pictures: Sheila Rock.]

The Knee Drone Is Connected To The Thigh Drone [NME, 2nd May 1981. Words: Paul Du Noyer. Picture: Anton Corbijn.] THE KNEE DRONE IS CONNECTED TO THE THIGH DRONE This ole house, the London Lyceum, becomes a gilded palace of synths tonight as it plays host to Daniel Miller’s Mute Records, a...

Mute Speak [NME, 2nd May 1981. Words: Vivien Goldman. Pictures: Jean Bernard Sohiez.] MUTE SPEAK “When I’m introduced to people they all look in horror at me, and say – that’s Daniel Miller?!? “Which suits me perfectly. That’s what I like. They all expect some kind of Steve Strange...

Depeche Mode [Smash Hits, 30th April 1981, Words: Ian Cranna. Picture: Paul Slattery.] English text 1 English text 2 Polish translation

Basildon A La Mode [NME, 21st March 1981. Words: Chris Bohn. Picture: Peter Anderson.] BASILDON A LA MODE Mute maestro Daniel Miller has a notoriously sweet tooth - one that’s balanced by a taste for bitter extremes. The opposite poles of the spectrum are reflected on his label by Non’s...