Depeche Mode Bong 46 (2000-12)
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- Start date
Bong 46 (December 2000)
Articles:
What's Up Fletch? (interview on the recording of Exciter) by Michaela Olexova
I Met That Bloke From Depeche Mode Once by Mariska Heijnen / Frank R. Holm
Pictures:
page 1 page 2 mini 2001 calendar
page 3 page 4 the band in the studio
Articles:
What's Up Fletch? (interview on the recording of Exciter) by Michaela Olexova
I Met That Bloke From Depeche Mode Once by Mariska Heijnen / Frank R. Holm
Pictures:
page 1 page 2 mini 2001 calendar
page 3 page 4 the band in the studio
Attachments
WHAT'S UP FLETCH?
[From Bong 46, December 2000. Words: Michaela Olexova.]
What have you been doing prior to getting back in the studio?
- Obviously, we had a tour, we had the singles album… basically, we’ve been spending time with our families and our friends and preparing for the next album.
What is the atmosphere like in the studio and why have you decided to spend so much time recording in the US?
- Dave now lives in the US, and Martin also spends a lot of time here now. [1] We have therefore, for this album, decided to spend more time over here. The atmosphere has been really good and everyone is getting on really well. We are very confident that we are going to release a really good album. We are enjoying ourselves and the weather is nice as well.
Is it harder to be in the studio with every new album? You’ve done it so many times…
- That’s one of the reasons why it’s good to actually move around to different places. That’s why we always make sure we’re recording in different places to make it more interesting for us. So every new project has got new memories.
Do you get recognised a lot in the US by your fans?
- We get recognised quite a bit. We are still a bit of an anonymous group, but we get recognised quite a lot and everyone is very nice, friendly and complimentary.
Do you have time to socialise or go clubbing at all?
- Generally, we finish in the studio at 9 or 10 o’clock and it’s good to unwind for an hour or so. I don’t think it’s been a case of heavy partying or anything.
Being in the US quite a lot lately, is there anything you are missing about England?
- Obviously, I miss my family and friends, my restaurant… my life. But like I said the atmosphere is good so it’s OK.
So far, what has been the best part, and the worst part, of recording and being in the studio?
- I think the hardest for me personally has got to be being away from home for so long. The best part is obviously working on new material and creating the CD which we really enjoy doing.
How many new songs has Martin written and how many of them will make it on to the new album?
- He’s done about fourteen or fifteen songs and about eleven or twelve make it on to the album.
What was it like when you first heard the new material? Does it always surprise you?
- That’s one of the highlights of being in the group. Listening to demos for the first time is always exciting. Some of the demos you like immediately and some you like after a while.
What subjects does Martin touch on in his new songs?
- It’s generally about his normal subjects… love, life, relationships.
How many songs does Martin provide lead vocals on?
- I think there will be about two or three songs.
What does your ordinary day in the studio look like?
- We all come in about 12:30 and get something to eat. I buy and read my newspaper. Then we tend to work all the way through till about 7 o’clock when we eat and then go back and finish. Then go out maybe or go home.
How much are you all involved in the production?
- I think we all are. It has been a very successful decision that we made getting Mark Bell as the producer as he involves everyone. We are doing lots of things at the same time. We have three different set-ups in the studio, so it’s quite busy.
Have you invited any outside musicians to collaborate with you on the album?
- Well, Christian Eigner did some drumming. We’ve had Knox Chandler, Dave’s friend, who is an orchestra arranger and we’re just working with Airto Moreira, a jazz percussionist.
Do you plan to use any acclaimed DJs to remix some of your songs for B-sides?
- We’ve got no ideas at the moment but a couple of tracks are quite dancy. We are going to work on that probably January or February.
How much do you want to be involved with the visuals of the new album, photos, videos?
- Anton is here right at the moment and he’s doing photos with us over the next couple of days. We’ve had a chat last night about the ideas for the album cover and what sort of image we want to portray. Anton has been doing a lot of stuff but we want to be involved and co-operate as much as possible.
How different do you think the new album is going to be, compared to other Depeche albums?
- It’s hard to say at the moment. I think the quality of the songs is very good, perhaps a bit more poppy than the previous stuff. We are right in the middle of it at the moment so it’s hard to judge, but I’m very confident that in the end it is going to be a great DM album.
How many songs have you finished so far?
- I think we’ve got virtually all the songs up to about 80%. We go to New York in the middle of November to mix.
Have you decided on the first single and when do you think it is going to come out?
- The single will come out in late February or March. [2] We’ve got a choice of four at the moment but we haven’t made the decision.
Is there a title for the new album? Do you usually have arguments when you choose the name?
- We’ve got a working title, which I cannot divulge at the moment.
What is the release plan for the album and are you still considering hitting the road following its release?
- Yes, I think we hit the road in August or September following the album release in May.
Do you already have plans of what venues you would like to perform – arenas, stadiums or clubs?
- We are just concentrating on making the album at the moment so we’re not sure.
How do you see Depeche Mode music in the era of the Internet, MP3 and Napster?
- I think it’s better for us as our fans are really loyal and really into the music, so that sort of thing is good for us. Also most chart music these days is really sort of kiddie music so I don’t know if its going to be easy or hard.
Are you afraid of seeing your new music on the Internet before its actual release, which has happened many times before with other musicians?
- We sort of think it’s going to happen at some point. We just have to live with it.
What are your plans till the end of this year and for Xmas?
- We’re just mixing right up to December 22 and after Christmas we are going to get together again in London, I think, to do press, videos and things like that.
[From Bong 46, December 2000. Words: Michaela Olexova.]
What have you been doing prior to getting back in the studio?
- Obviously, we had a tour, we had the singles album… basically, we’ve been spending time with our families and our friends and preparing for the next album.
What is the atmosphere like in the studio and why have you decided to spend so much time recording in the US?
- Dave now lives in the US, and Martin also spends a lot of time here now. [1] We have therefore, for this album, decided to spend more time over here. The atmosphere has been really good and everyone is getting on really well. We are very confident that we are going to release a really good album. We are enjoying ourselves and the weather is nice as well.
Is it harder to be in the studio with every new album? You’ve done it so many times…
- That’s one of the reasons why it’s good to actually move around to different places. That’s why we always make sure we’re recording in different places to make it more interesting for us. So every new project has got new memories.
Do you get recognised a lot in the US by your fans?
- We get recognised quite a bit. We are still a bit of an anonymous group, but we get recognised quite a lot and everyone is very nice, friendly and complimentary.
Do you have time to socialise or go clubbing at all?
- Generally, we finish in the studio at 9 or 10 o’clock and it’s good to unwind for an hour or so. I don’t think it’s been a case of heavy partying or anything.
Being in the US quite a lot lately, is there anything you are missing about England?
- Obviously, I miss my family and friends, my restaurant… my life. But like I said the atmosphere is good so it’s OK.
So far, what has been the best part, and the worst part, of recording and being in the studio?
- I think the hardest for me personally has got to be being away from home for so long. The best part is obviously working on new material and creating the CD which we really enjoy doing.
How many new songs has Martin written and how many of them will make it on to the new album?
- He’s done about fourteen or fifteen songs and about eleven or twelve make it on to the album.
What was it like when you first heard the new material? Does it always surprise you?
- That’s one of the highlights of being in the group. Listening to demos for the first time is always exciting. Some of the demos you like immediately and some you like after a while.
What subjects does Martin touch on in his new songs?
- It’s generally about his normal subjects… love, life, relationships.
How many songs does Martin provide lead vocals on?
- I think there will be about two or three songs.
What does your ordinary day in the studio look like?
- We all come in about 12:30 and get something to eat. I buy and read my newspaper. Then we tend to work all the way through till about 7 o’clock when we eat and then go back and finish. Then go out maybe or go home.
How much are you all involved in the production?
- I think we all are. It has been a very successful decision that we made getting Mark Bell as the producer as he involves everyone. We are doing lots of things at the same time. We have three different set-ups in the studio, so it’s quite busy.
Have you invited any outside musicians to collaborate with you on the album?
- Well, Christian Eigner did some drumming. We’ve had Knox Chandler, Dave’s friend, who is an orchestra arranger and we’re just working with Airto Moreira, a jazz percussionist.
Do you plan to use any acclaimed DJs to remix some of your songs for B-sides?
- We’ve got no ideas at the moment but a couple of tracks are quite dancy. We are going to work on that probably January or February.
How much do you want to be involved with the visuals of the new album, photos, videos?
- Anton is here right at the moment and he’s doing photos with us over the next couple of days. We’ve had a chat last night about the ideas for the album cover and what sort of image we want to portray. Anton has been doing a lot of stuff but we want to be involved and co-operate as much as possible.
How different do you think the new album is going to be, compared to other Depeche albums?
- It’s hard to say at the moment. I think the quality of the songs is very good, perhaps a bit more poppy than the previous stuff. We are right in the middle of it at the moment so it’s hard to judge, but I’m very confident that in the end it is going to be a great DM album.
How many songs have you finished so far?
- I think we’ve got virtually all the songs up to about 80%. We go to New York in the middle of November to mix.
Have you decided on the first single and when do you think it is going to come out?
- The single will come out in late February or March. [2] We’ve got a choice of four at the moment but we haven’t made the decision.
Is there a title for the new album? Do you usually have arguments when you choose the name?
- We’ve got a working title, which I cannot divulge at the moment.
What is the release plan for the album and are you still considering hitting the road following its release?
- Yes, I think we hit the road in August or September following the album release in May.
Do you already have plans of what venues you would like to perform – arenas, stadiums or clubs?
- We are just concentrating on making the album at the moment so we’re not sure.
How do you see Depeche Mode music in the era of the Internet, MP3 and Napster?
- I think it’s better for us as our fans are really loyal and really into the music, so that sort of thing is good for us. Also most chart music these days is really sort of kiddie music so I don’t know if its going to be easy or hard.
Are you afraid of seeing your new music on the Internet before its actual release, which has happened many times before with other musicians?
- We sort of think it’s going to happen at some point. We just have to live with it.
What are your plans till the end of this year and for Xmas?
- We’re just mixing right up to December 22 and after Christmas we are going to get together again in London, I think, to do press, videos and things like that.
I MET THAT BLOKE FROM DEPECHE MODE ONCE
[From Bong 46, December 2000. Words: Mariska Heijnen / Frank R. Holm.]
It was June 1, 1993, the date I will never forget. Depeche Mode were playing the Ahoy Stadium in Rotterdam. After being a fan since 1984 this was the second time I was going to see them live. I went to the concert with a guy I hardly knew, but I didn’t have a driver’s licence at that time, so I was glad of a ride. We talked before the concert started about meeting the band… I said I would really like that. We separated in the crowd during the concert, because I moved closer to the sage, ending up just a few metres from the stage – totally going out of my head. At the end of the concert, I realised I had no idea where the guy was, but knew we were to meet by the car. I bought a T-shirt and a poster, which took a while, and after about 20 minutes, I was walking in the direction of the car, and a man approached me and asked, in English, if I wanted a backstage pass. I immediately thought about my ride home. I didn’t have any money left to take the train as I had spent it all on Depeche Mode stuff, he asked again and I said yes. I went back to the doors. They were closed already and a couple of big security guys were standing at the entrance. I showed the pass and they let me in. I had no idea where to go and so I decided to take the door behind the stage, which the band used. I went through a kitchen and everything until an English girl showed me which way to go. I finally came into a room where there were more people with passes and press cards. There was music playing and you could get something to drink. There were also mirrors on the wall and I saw myself looking really lost and confused. I began talking with some other girls. I realised when I looked round that I appeared totally different from anyone else in the room. They all looked quite “ordinary”, while I had black hair and lots of make up and was, of course, dressed in black. Suddenly, I saw a familiar face and relaxed a little bit, until I realised that it was Martin Gore. And there I was with my big mouth! I had no idea what to say to him, he just looked at me and smiled. People began to ask for autographs, I thought what do I have to get signed? My poster of course. So I had to borrow a pen and asked Martin if he would sign it for me “very big please” – he laughed and signed it. Meanwhile, Andy arrived, I asked him to sign the poster too, which he did. They told us that Dave wasn’t coming because he was too tired, it was Alan’s birthday, so he wasn’t coming either. Later on, Martin and Andy left so I decided, together with the other girls, it was time to go too. I had no idea of the time and was afraid I wouldn’t be able to get home – as I live about an hour and a half from Rotterdam. When we got outside, I ran in the direction where I thought the car had been parked. There was no-one left outside the concert hall anymore but suddenly a car came towards me and I recognised the licence plate. I waved – it was the guy I came with. He had waited for over an hour, not knowing where I was. He decided to drive around the concert hall one more time before going home, as he had to work the next day. I hopped into the car, slowly realising where I had been. I had experienced it all in a whirl of excitement, but luckily I had my poster with the autographs to prove I had really been there. The poster is now framed and hangs in my living room, I was fated to get that backstage pass, because I am a very big fan of Depeche Mode and 1993 was a real rotten year for me and this really helped me to get through it.
Mariska Heijnen
Krommenie, The Netherlands
I also met those blokes from Depeche Mode once, but this time as pictures show they are the blokes from the Depeche Mode camp of the Singles Tour… The first photograph shows Tim Simenon with the twins Kerstin and Sandra (left) Wagner from Dresden on October 10, 1998 in Hannover and the second one shows Janet, Jordan and myself in Cologne on October 6, 1998.
Frank R. Holm
Stuttgart, Germany
[From Bong 46, December 2000. Words: Mariska Heijnen / Frank R. Holm.]
It was June 1, 1993, the date I will never forget. Depeche Mode were playing the Ahoy Stadium in Rotterdam. After being a fan since 1984 this was the second time I was going to see them live. I went to the concert with a guy I hardly knew, but I didn’t have a driver’s licence at that time, so I was glad of a ride. We talked before the concert started about meeting the band… I said I would really like that. We separated in the crowd during the concert, because I moved closer to the sage, ending up just a few metres from the stage – totally going out of my head. At the end of the concert, I realised I had no idea where the guy was, but knew we were to meet by the car. I bought a T-shirt and a poster, which took a while, and after about 20 minutes, I was walking in the direction of the car, and a man approached me and asked, in English, if I wanted a backstage pass. I immediately thought about my ride home. I didn’t have any money left to take the train as I had spent it all on Depeche Mode stuff, he asked again and I said yes. I went back to the doors. They were closed already and a couple of big security guys were standing at the entrance. I showed the pass and they let me in. I had no idea where to go and so I decided to take the door behind the stage, which the band used. I went through a kitchen and everything until an English girl showed me which way to go. I finally came into a room where there were more people with passes and press cards. There was music playing and you could get something to drink. There were also mirrors on the wall and I saw myself looking really lost and confused. I began talking with some other girls. I realised when I looked round that I appeared totally different from anyone else in the room. They all looked quite “ordinary”, while I had black hair and lots of make up and was, of course, dressed in black. Suddenly, I saw a familiar face and relaxed a little bit, until I realised that it was Martin Gore. And there I was with my big mouth! I had no idea what to say to him, he just looked at me and smiled. People began to ask for autographs, I thought what do I have to get signed? My poster of course. So I had to borrow a pen and asked Martin if he would sign it for me “very big please” – he laughed and signed it. Meanwhile, Andy arrived, I asked him to sign the poster too, which he did. They told us that Dave wasn’t coming because he was too tired, it was Alan’s birthday, so he wasn’t coming either. Later on, Martin and Andy left so I decided, together with the other girls, it was time to go too. I had no idea of the time and was afraid I wouldn’t be able to get home – as I live about an hour and a half from Rotterdam. When we got outside, I ran in the direction where I thought the car had been parked. There was no-one left outside the concert hall anymore but suddenly a car came towards me and I recognised the licence plate. I waved – it was the guy I came with. He had waited for over an hour, not knowing where I was. He decided to drive around the concert hall one more time before going home, as he had to work the next day. I hopped into the car, slowly realising where I had been. I had experienced it all in a whirl of excitement, but luckily I had my poster with the autographs to prove I had really been there. The poster is now framed and hangs in my living room, I was fated to get that backstage pass, because I am a very big fan of Depeche Mode and 1993 was a real rotten year for me and this really helped me to get through it.
Mariska Heijnen
Krommenie, The Netherlands
I also met those blokes from Depeche Mode once, but this time as pictures show they are the blokes from the Depeche Mode camp of the Singles Tour… The first photograph shows Tim Simenon with the twins Kerstin and Sandra (left) Wagner from Dresden on October 10, 1998 in Hannover and the second one shows Janet, Jordan and myself in Cologne on October 6, 1998.
Frank R. Holm
Stuttgart, Germany