Dave Gahan Dave Gahan Slashes Wrists In L.A. (NME, 1995)

[demoderus]

Dave Gahan Slashes Wrists In L.A.
[NME, 2nd September 1995. Words: Andy Richardson. Picture: Anton Corbijn.]

Brief news article, clearly written in a hurry, breaking the news of Dave's suicide attempt (although Dave has consistently denied it was such).

Dave Gahan, singer with Depeche Mode, is recovering at home in Los Angeles after being released from hospital following a suicide attempt.

Gahan was rushed to Cedars Sinai hospital on Thursday, August 17, checking in under an assumed name. One report says he slashed his wrists and then called the police.

A detective from the West Hollywood Sheriff's department confirmed that Gahan, 33, was taken to hospital with lacerations to the wrists consistent with being slashed with a razor blade. He could not confirm that Gahan himself called 911, the emergency number.

The singer was kept in hospital to evaluate his mental competence before being discharged on Tuesday, August 22.

According to some sources, Gahan has been under severe strain. Depeche have all but split up; they haven't worked in the studio for two years and have not been touring. [1] Andy Fletcher, one of the band's co-founders, quit the band earlier this year [2] and Theresa, Gahan's second wife of several years, had walked out on him.

Mute records claimed not to know the reason why Gahan was hospitalised. Depeche Mode have been on the label for nearly 14 years. [3]

[1] - This is normal. Since the late 1980s there has been several years between albums, and the previous tour, eighteen months long, had ended only the previous year.
[2] - Whoops! It was Alan Wilder who quit.
[3] - Nearly fifteen, just for the record.