Nite Out: Depeche Mode
[No.1, 23rd January 1988. Words: Uncredited. Picture: Uncredited.]
Lots of eerie music accompanies the arrival of Depeche Mode on stage: it’s all very gothic. But Dave Gahan hasn’t got his vampire suit on – in fact he’s bedecked in very casual togs, just a leather jacket and a pair of jeans which are outrageously tight.
No messing about – the band go straight into their current single “Behind The Wheel”. The most noticeable thing is the clouds of dry ice which billow out continuously from behind the stage, making you wonder if someone’s burnt the band’s dinner… Dave doesn’t seem to mind, he’s prancing about all over the place, sticking out those buttocks, swinging around with the mike stand, and yelling “hey!” at every opportunity.
A lot of the band’s newer material is, well, a bit gloomy to say the least, but you wouldn’t think it watching these boys all having a killer whale of a time. In fact the redhead on synth (one of them) hardly touches the thing at all, spending most of his time giving us all a twirl. Eventually Martin Gore takes centre stage, producing the only real instrument of the night. He’s wearing a very bizarre outfit, which seems to consist of strips of PVC leather and lots of dangly silvery bits (perhaps my contact lenses weren’t working properly).
Suddenly the spotlight comes on again, for Old Gahan is back strutting his stuff – and a few of the old hits come out – “Shake The Disease”, “Everything Counts”… then the boy leaps up on to the raised platform and goes into a FRENZY!
The biggest roar of the show accompanies the return of Mr G… only he hands over the vocal role to the other Mr G and “Question Of Love” [sic]. This induces an amazingly hippyish outbreak of people raising lighted matches! Is this really 1988? But not for long… back comes Dave, straight into “Master And Servant”, and at last he hurls his jacket into the audience, causing a minor scuffle in which 50 policemen are fatally wounded (only joking…)
What looks like dry ice continues to pour out, the fire brigade are called, only to discover that Mrs Billings has left the burgers on the grill. Oh well, it all happens at Wembley doesn’t it?
[No.1, 23rd January 1988. Words: Uncredited. Picture: Uncredited.]
Lots of eerie music accompanies the arrival of Depeche Mode on stage: it’s all very gothic. But Dave Gahan hasn’t got his vampire suit on – in fact he’s bedecked in very casual togs, just a leather jacket and a pair of jeans which are outrageously tight.
No messing about – the band go straight into their current single “Behind The Wheel”. The most noticeable thing is the clouds of dry ice which billow out continuously from behind the stage, making you wonder if someone’s burnt the band’s dinner… Dave doesn’t seem to mind, he’s prancing about all over the place, sticking out those buttocks, swinging around with the mike stand, and yelling “hey!” at every opportunity.
A lot of the band’s newer material is, well, a bit gloomy to say the least, but you wouldn’t think it watching these boys all having a killer whale of a time. In fact the redhead on synth (one of them) hardly touches the thing at all, spending most of his time giving us all a twirl. Eventually Martin Gore takes centre stage, producing the only real instrument of the night. He’s wearing a very bizarre outfit, which seems to consist of strips of PVC leather and lots of dangly silvery bits (perhaps my contact lenses weren’t working properly).
Suddenly the spotlight comes on again, for Old Gahan is back strutting his stuff – and a few of the old hits come out – “Shake The Disease”, “Everything Counts”… then the boy leaps up on to the raised platform and goes into a FRENZY!
The biggest roar of the show accompanies the return of Mr G… only he hands over the vocal role to the other Mr G and “Question Of Love” [sic]. This induces an amazingly hippyish outbreak of people raising lighted matches! Is this really 1988? But not for long… back comes Dave, straight into “Master And Servant”, and at last he hurls his jacket into the audience, causing a minor scuffle in which 50 policemen are fatally wounded (only joking…)
What looks like dry ice continues to pour out, the fire brigade are called, only to discover that Mrs Billings has left the burgers on the grill. Oh well, it all happens at Wembley doesn’t it?