Depeche Mode played secretly on this date under the alias "Modepeche" to help support the struggling Bridge House, and they are listed as such on The Bridge House E16 website's diary section. DM had played many gigs at the Bridge House during their early years. Despite the success of the concert, the Bridge House closed later that year in 1982. The info file included in the archive has a wealth of info, copied below:
The gig
This gig from the See Y ou T our is an important one for many reasons:
- The band was launched by gigs at the Bridge House (like many other British bands from the 80's like Iron Maiden, U2 or Generation X). Fad Gadget was playing at the Bridge House on November 12, 1980, and Frank T ovey was the first artist to sign with Mute Records, the new label of Daniel Miller who just released his first single on the label. Fad Gadget's first single was to be the second release of Mute Records. Dreaming Of Me, the first Depeche Mode single, will be the 13th release of Mute Records. At the time, Daniel Miller was also the soundman of Fad Gadget. On November 12, T erence Murphy , the manager of the Bridge House, proposed to Depeche Mode to open for Fad Gadget. The rest is history . Despite already having offers from all the major labels, Depeche Mode and Daniel Miller finally made a verbal contract in late 1980.
For more information also check the extensive info on the website of T erence Murphy , the landlord of the venue.
- The first confirmed audience recording of Depeche Mode was... at the Bridge House in late 1980 (around the 15th live show ever).
- In 1982, the Bridge House was starting to have financial problems so the band decided to play a secret gig to support T erence. What made this gig even more special was that it was a secret gig. Depeche Mode will play their only secret gig (ever!) under the alias of "Modepeche" on February 27, just before their last UK gig at the Hammersmith Odeon. Please note that some listings list the secret name as "Modepeche Thin Men" however T erry Murphy confirmed that "Thin Men" were probably the support act. He said "I would think it was a support band unless one of their tracks are named that... I thought if a support they would have played the place was jam packed from midday sensation gig regards T erry M". T erry has fond memories of the gig saying it was a "great night". He also stated the band refused to take any money . T erry stated "It was a secret gig ha ha and they would not take their fee so we sold plenty of beer and got the door taking as well". Despite the success of the gig, the Bridge House closed later that year . A great institution had come to an end.
Terry Murphy recollected in 2006 :
“I was speaking to a Melody Maker reporter , who was at the pub reviewing one of the bands, and it was a quiet night, not many customers. He said to me, “Lost money tonight?” I said, “Y es, it’s getting a bit to regular .” I am thinking of moving on, the record company was busy . I might channel my energy more into that side of the business and leave the pub. Of course the next week I was shutting down the Bridgehouse over falling sales. “This gig will be sorely missed”, Was a typical headline in the Melody Maker and some of the other papers. A phone call from Depeche’s agent, the band wants to do a secret gig at the Bridge. “Great” was my reply . He said they are on tour , and have Saturday free. A secret gig? At 12 o’clock crowds began to arrive, of course we had to keep them outside. Come 5 o’clock when Depeche were doing their sound check, the pub was full. They were climbing through windows, through the toilets at the back, no way could we keep them out. So the band let them stay for the sound check providing they leave after that and make an orderly queue. Dave had made the speech and from my point of view we had to get them out so they could pay to get in, sounds funny doesn’t it? I thought the band wanted their money for the work they were putting in. They did however obey Dave’s instruction and left the pub. By 7 o’clock when we opened the doors the place was surrounded. Over 1000 paid to get in the pub. When they were in, we opened all the doors so the crowd outside could here the music. Needless to say it was a sensational gig. At the end I went into the dressing room with the door takings and Dave said we want you to keep it and keep the pub open, it’s a great gig. And he gave me the bundle of money back. The amount was… well I’m not telling. The average amount for a good gig would have been around 200. A lot of time there was only 50 or 60. Remember this was before they even had a record out. This got the band around £40.00 for the gig.”
Terry said a similar thing to Trevor Baker :
"It was unbelievable the number of people [in the pub] at one o'clock in the afternoon. I had to sling them out so I could get them to pay to come back in later . It was bedlam. There was a grand or two grand [of money from the door]. It was well over a thousand pounds and they said, 'No, no, you keep it. Keep the pub open. It was a great gig!' It was very nice of them because they weren't rich at all, they were still penniless!"
- With a new member (Alan Wilder , who will quit the band in 1997), Depeche Mode started a small UK tour to promote their recent single See Y ou, which will be available on the first album written by Martin Gore without Vince Clarke (who left the band in late 1981), "A Broken Frame" in September 1982. This is one of the first gigs with Alan.
- The "banter" from the London crowd is hilarious. Dave gets annoyed when someone in the crowd keeps requesting Shout!. Also Television Set is much in demand. It is amazing to think that track was as popular back then as "Enjoy The Silence" and "Personal Jesus" is today .
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