60 Second Interview: Martin Gore
[Metro, 28th April 2003. Words: James Ellis.]
Martin Gore is the songwriter in Depeche Mode. Along with Dave Gahan and Andy Fletcher, the band have had hits with Just Can't Get Enough, Blasphemous Rumours and Personal Jesus. Six years ago, the group almost imploded in a blaze of addiction, but are now back on form. Gore's second solo LP, Counterfeit2, a collection of covers, is out now.
How come you moved to California?
I live in Santa Barbara. My wife's American and she lived in England for 11 years and then told me she'd had enough.
Did she not take to Basildon?
Crikey - I haven't lived there for 20 years. We were in London for a while and then moved to Hertfordshire.
Do you miss England?
Obviously, I miss my friends and stupid things, such as football. But other than that, I find the way of life a lot more positive here. Though I've not gone for the Californian health kick thing. You do feel a lot healthier here anyway because of the weather. It's positive to wake up every morning and see sunshine.
Isn't it tough on Depeche Mode when you all live in different parts of the world?
It doesn't make any difference whatsoever where we live. It's irrelevant, really. We get together when we do projects, spend lots of time living in each other's pockets, as each project lasts for about two years or more, then we go off to our different parts of the world. It's probably a healthy thing that we then don't have any contact for a while.
Does a cover album mean your songwriting skills are drying up?
As part of Depeche Mode, I don't think it's right for me to be using my own songs for a solo project. I'm not a very prolific songwriter so I keep those for Depeche Mode. I don't think the others would be too happy with me if our projects started stretching out even longer than they already are.
How did you make the selection?
I sat down and did a shortlist of things I wanted to attempt to cover. I'm not sure what it is that makes a song so special that I want to cover it but it must strike some kind of weird emotional chord somewhere.
Andy reckons you can play every song that's ever been written. [1]
Hmm...I'd say it's more a case of me being able to have a bad go at most of them.
How come it took 13 years to come up with another Counterfeit?
I've been thinking about it for a long time but we had a lot of commitments with the band and I started to value my free time with my family. It's hard enough to combine having a family and being in a band at the best of times, so I put it on a back burner. Last year, I found out Dave was doing a solo album and so I thought it would be ideal.
Have you heard Dave's stuff?
I was just this minute speaking to our manager about it. I've tried to pick up a package Dave has sent me three times but it seems to have got lost in the post.
How much competition is there?
None, really. I don't really know what Dave's expectations are. I've no big commercial ideas about Counterfeit2 - I don't expect it will sell that many as it's not a commercial sound. I'd be surprised if it's a huge success.
Have the dresses and eye make-up gone for good?
I've not worn a dress since about 1985. It always amazes me how there is still a fascination for it in England. The rest of the world doesn't seem to care. I'm not sure whether they don't remember or whether they've just moved on from it. I was brought up in the glam era. That was when I was most impressionable - so I expect the eye make-up to stay for a while.
You and Dave both had April Fool's gags on your website. Is this a hitherto unnoticed lighter side to the Mode?
To be honest, it wasn't our idea. We were told about it and thought it was reasonably funny. We're not all gloom and doom - there is a lighter side to the band. We'll have something out towards the end of the year when Dave and I have these projects out of the way.
Isn't Stephen Hawking a fan?
His son definitely is. Stephen came to one of our London gigs a few years back and he said he enjoyed it.
Did he go for the make-up look?
No.
To find out what Martin thinks of 1980s nostalgia, log on to metro.co.uk
[Metro, 28th April 2003. Words: James Ellis.]
Martin Gore is the songwriter in Depeche Mode. Along with Dave Gahan and Andy Fletcher, the band have had hits with Just Can't Get Enough, Blasphemous Rumours and Personal Jesus. Six years ago, the group almost imploded in a blaze of addiction, but are now back on form. Gore's second solo LP, Counterfeit2, a collection of covers, is out now.
How come you moved to California?
I live in Santa Barbara. My wife's American and she lived in England for 11 years and then told me she'd had enough.
Did she not take to Basildon?
Crikey - I haven't lived there for 20 years. We were in London for a while and then moved to Hertfordshire.
Do you miss England?
Obviously, I miss my friends and stupid things, such as football. But other than that, I find the way of life a lot more positive here. Though I've not gone for the Californian health kick thing. You do feel a lot healthier here anyway because of the weather. It's positive to wake up every morning and see sunshine.
Isn't it tough on Depeche Mode when you all live in different parts of the world?
It doesn't make any difference whatsoever where we live. It's irrelevant, really. We get together when we do projects, spend lots of time living in each other's pockets, as each project lasts for about two years or more, then we go off to our different parts of the world. It's probably a healthy thing that we then don't have any contact for a while.
Does a cover album mean your songwriting skills are drying up?
As part of Depeche Mode, I don't think it's right for me to be using my own songs for a solo project. I'm not a very prolific songwriter so I keep those for Depeche Mode. I don't think the others would be too happy with me if our projects started stretching out even longer than they already are.
How did you make the selection?
I sat down and did a shortlist of things I wanted to attempt to cover. I'm not sure what it is that makes a song so special that I want to cover it but it must strike some kind of weird emotional chord somewhere.
Andy reckons you can play every song that's ever been written. [1]
Hmm...I'd say it's more a case of me being able to have a bad go at most of them.
How come it took 13 years to come up with another Counterfeit?
I've been thinking about it for a long time but we had a lot of commitments with the band and I started to value my free time with my family. It's hard enough to combine having a family and being in a band at the best of times, so I put it on a back burner. Last year, I found out Dave was doing a solo album and so I thought it would be ideal.
Have you heard Dave's stuff?
I was just this minute speaking to our manager about it. I've tried to pick up a package Dave has sent me three times but it seems to have got lost in the post.
How much competition is there?
None, really. I don't really know what Dave's expectations are. I've no big commercial ideas about Counterfeit2 - I don't expect it will sell that many as it's not a commercial sound. I'd be surprised if it's a huge success.
Have the dresses and eye make-up gone for good?
I've not worn a dress since about 1985. It always amazes me how there is still a fascination for it in England. The rest of the world doesn't seem to care. I'm not sure whether they don't remember or whether they've just moved on from it. I was brought up in the glam era. That was when I was most impressionable - so I expect the eye make-up to stay for a while.
You and Dave both had April Fool's gags on your website. Is this a hitherto unnoticed lighter side to the Mode?
To be honest, it wasn't our idea. We were told about it and thought it was reasonably funny. We're not all gloom and doom - there is a lighter side to the band. We'll have something out towards the end of the year when Dave and I have these projects out of the way.
Isn't Stephen Hawking a fan?
His son definitely is. Stephen came to one of our London gigs a few years back and he said he enjoyed it.
Did he go for the make-up look?
No.
To find out what Martin thinks of 1980s nostalgia, log on to metro.co.uk
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