Depeche Mode Black Celebration Tour Programme
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From the Black Celebration tour programme
[1986. Words: Uncredited.]
So where do we start – it’s been five years since the beginning – that’s right – five years since the release of "Dreaming Of Me" and yet there was history before this. There was the original threesome, Andy Fletcher, Martin Gore and Vince Clarke – two guitars, a synthesiser and a bedroom in Basildon. The pangs of birth, songs worked on, songs forgotten, a need for a singer, a need for new songs, a need for a name.
Dave Gahan, the singer, a magazine, the name – Depeche Mode and out went the guitars, in came the synths and out went the bedroom and in came the gigs (Crocs, The Bridge House) and with the gigs – a following and in that following a Mute man – Daniel Miller; he saw and realized the potential. A record contract, recording, the start of the flow – "Dreaming Of Me", "New Life", "Just Can’t Get Enough", doors opened, horizons loomed, it’s a long way from Basildon, it’s a long way from home – T.V., travel, hair cuts, clothes, T.V., travel, Top Of The Pops, "Speak And Spell" and goodbye to Vince and it’s all still ’81.
A new chapter – same book, and the story develops, there are doubts, there is envy. There are those who don’t believe Depeche Mode will run the course, there are those at major record companies who would give their gold teeth to have signed the Mode. And then there is "See You" – number 6 in the U.K. charts, written by Martin and a page is turned, "Leave In Silence" follows and then Alan Wilder joins and the first steps in America are taken, then it’s back home to the studio. Three months and a little and there is "A Broken Frame", the second album, Do you remember? Democracy flourished and Depeche Mode proved them selves as practitioners, masters of an art and still in control of their destiny, Depeche Mode are still ahead of the game.
The same circle is navigated – only with success the loops get bigger, there is more of everything, week long tours, month long tours, television, promotional videos, more recording, no time off, no time off – this wheel is definitely on fire. "Get The Balance Right" and it’s January 1983, critically acclaimed – it’s the start of a new stage, one thing Depeche do is grow up in public, grow up with you, more than any other group in recent history, their development has been honest – it’s been with you. Do you remember?
Within weeks it’s America again – U.S.A. and Canada – and then for the first time Depeche travel to the Far East – overwhelming receptions in Hong Kong where there were riots and then onto garlands in Bangkok and the bullet train from Kyoto to Tokyo. Exhausted but happy to be home, they returned in April only to be rushed into the studio, situated in East End Shoreditch. The contrast was immense, the songs bore influence, the results were radical – a shift in gear – Sept 11 1983 and "Everything Counts" peaked at 6 in the UK charts. The album "Construction Time Again" is a milestone, Martin finds his feet, featuring such songs as "More Than A Party" and "Love In Itself" – we all became aware that "The Landscape Was Changing" (sic) and that the issues are universal, "and if we trust in our hearts we’ll find the solutions".
A European tour followed (3 Hammersmiths, 2 nights at the Hamburg Music Halle, Stockholm, Copenhagen and Dusseldorf and more), the tentacles were spreading. Home for Christmas and after the seasonal spell, it’s to Hansa studios, Berlin (it will soon become a second home) and recording begins anew. In quick succession "People Are People" and "Master And Servant" are released. Depeche are taking chances, questions are asked – answers evaded, both singles are hits. "Some Great Reward" (the fourth album) and "the world we live in and life in general" is charted and then there is "Blasphemous Rumours" a song misinterpreted by many.
1985 and Mode are taking the message to both extremes of the Iron Curtain, touring the U.S. extensively and playing to thousands in Poland and Hungary. America is won over and "People Are People" sees the first Top Twenty Hit.
Two singles are released in ’85, "Shake The Disease" and "It’s Called A Heart" – a quiet year on the homefront, time spent off the road considering new directions. The end of the year saw "The Singles 81-85" released, a compilation of 13 hit singles – a brilliant summation of the years so far, and yes it’s still only five years on. Do you remember?
With a mood of optimism it was back to Berlin once more and work started on "Black Celebration". Eleven songs written and worked on – the album was to become a true labour of love. "Stripped" – the first single was unlike anything else on the airwaves, shattering current pop preconceptions. Released on 17th March – "Black Celebration" confirmed all your expectations.
March 31st is the start of Depeche’s biggest tour to date – U.K., Europe, U.S.A. and the Far East, a five month celebration. You will remember!
[1986. Words: Uncredited.]
So where do we start – it’s been five years since the beginning – that’s right – five years since the release of "Dreaming Of Me" and yet there was history before this. There was the original threesome, Andy Fletcher, Martin Gore and Vince Clarke – two guitars, a synthesiser and a bedroom in Basildon. The pangs of birth, songs worked on, songs forgotten, a need for a singer, a need for new songs, a need for a name.
Dave Gahan, the singer, a magazine, the name – Depeche Mode and out went the guitars, in came the synths and out went the bedroom and in came the gigs (Crocs, The Bridge House) and with the gigs – a following and in that following a Mute man – Daniel Miller; he saw and realized the potential. A record contract, recording, the start of the flow – "Dreaming Of Me", "New Life", "Just Can’t Get Enough", doors opened, horizons loomed, it’s a long way from Basildon, it’s a long way from home – T.V., travel, hair cuts, clothes, T.V., travel, Top Of The Pops, "Speak And Spell" and goodbye to Vince and it’s all still ’81.
A new chapter – same book, and the story develops, there are doubts, there is envy. There are those who don’t believe Depeche Mode will run the course, there are those at major record companies who would give their gold teeth to have signed the Mode. And then there is "See You" – number 6 in the U.K. charts, written by Martin and a page is turned, "Leave In Silence" follows and then Alan Wilder joins and the first steps in America are taken, then it’s back home to the studio. Three months and a little and there is "A Broken Frame", the second album, Do you remember? Democracy flourished and Depeche Mode proved them selves as practitioners, masters of an art and still in control of their destiny, Depeche Mode are still ahead of the game.
The same circle is navigated – only with success the loops get bigger, there is more of everything, week long tours, month long tours, television, promotional videos, more recording, no time off, no time off – this wheel is definitely on fire. "Get The Balance Right" and it’s January 1983, critically acclaimed – it’s the start of a new stage, one thing Depeche do is grow up in public, grow up with you, more than any other group in recent history, their development has been honest – it’s been with you. Do you remember?
Within weeks it’s America again – U.S.A. and Canada – and then for the first time Depeche travel to the Far East – overwhelming receptions in Hong Kong where there were riots and then onto garlands in Bangkok and the bullet train from Kyoto to Tokyo. Exhausted but happy to be home, they returned in April only to be rushed into the studio, situated in East End Shoreditch. The contrast was immense, the songs bore influence, the results were radical – a shift in gear – Sept 11 1983 and "Everything Counts" peaked at 6 in the UK charts. The album "Construction Time Again" is a milestone, Martin finds his feet, featuring such songs as "More Than A Party" and "Love In Itself" – we all became aware that "The Landscape Was Changing" (sic) and that the issues are universal, "and if we trust in our hearts we’ll find the solutions".
A European tour followed (3 Hammersmiths, 2 nights at the Hamburg Music Halle, Stockholm, Copenhagen and Dusseldorf and more), the tentacles were spreading. Home for Christmas and after the seasonal spell, it’s to Hansa studios, Berlin (it will soon become a second home) and recording begins anew. In quick succession "People Are People" and "Master And Servant" are released. Depeche are taking chances, questions are asked – answers evaded, both singles are hits. "Some Great Reward" (the fourth album) and "the world we live in and life in general" is charted and then there is "Blasphemous Rumours" a song misinterpreted by many.
1985 and Mode are taking the message to both extremes of the Iron Curtain, touring the U.S. extensively and playing to thousands in Poland and Hungary. America is won over and "People Are People" sees the first Top Twenty Hit.
Two singles are released in ’85, "Shake The Disease" and "It’s Called A Heart" – a quiet year on the homefront, time spent off the road considering new directions. The end of the year saw "The Singles 81-85" released, a compilation of 13 hit singles – a brilliant summation of the years so far, and yes it’s still only five years on. Do you remember?
With a mood of optimism it was back to Berlin once more and work started on "Black Celebration". Eleven songs written and worked on – the album was to become a true labour of love. "Stripped" – the first single was unlike anything else on the airwaves, shattering current pop preconceptions. Released on 17th March – "Black Celebration" confirmed all your expectations.
March 31st is the start of Depeche’s biggest tour to date – U.K., Europe, U.S.A. and the Far East, a five month celebration. You will remember!
