We're In The Mode!
[Oh Boy!, 24th October 1981. Words: Uncredited. Picture: Uncredited.]
WE'RE IN THE MODE!
Depeche Mode are one of the newest bands around. But they’re no one-hit wonders…
London’s only a few miles away from the lads’ home town, but they’re not interested in enjoying the bright lights.
Their feet are firmly on the ground and they’re determined not to lose touch with the fans who backed them, encouraged them, and who helped them make their hit single “New Life” a success.
“We spend most of our time at home,” they said.
“We do normal things, really. We love going to the cinema, and the local clubs here, meeting up with the mates we’ve had for years.
“All of us would hate to lose touch with our roots – that’s what got us our success in the first place and we’ll never turn our backs on that.”
During the early days of the band, lead singer Dave wasn’t too popular with one person in his town.
“When the band first started, I was at college studying fashion. I loved it – the lecturers, the people there – but my heart was in music. So I was forever missing days and disappearing off to rehearse with the rest of the band.
“This went on for ages, until I was hardly ever in college.”
EXPELLED!
“So in the end, there was only one thing the principal could do – expel me. I was pretty upset at first as I enjoyed the course, but I know it wasn’t totally right for me. [1]
“But I’ve been forgiven, thank goodness. When we got to the charts with our first single, the principal sent me a note congratulating us on our success – I was really pleased. I didn’t think he’d ever speak to me again.”
Since the hit single, they’ve been hard at work producing their first album, which should be out any time now. Hopefully, it’ll contain their hit single, “New Life”, plus their most recent release, “Can’t Get Enough”. And after that?
“Carry on working,” they told us.
“We’ve been doing a lot of concerts lately, so we might have a break for a while. We did one great gig recently specially for the under 18s and in aid of charity. [2] The atmosphere was great and we enjoyed it as much as we hope the audience did.”
The band spend a lot of their time rehearsing and they’ve found a pretty unusual place to do it in.
“It’s a converted church,” they told us, “And it’s a really nice place to work in. Very peaceful and relaxing.”
And when they’re not doing that you could find them playing bowls back home in Basildon.
“We’re getting pretty good now – we might just form our own Depeche Mode team,” they laughed!
Well, you’ve bowled us over already, lads…
[Oh Boy!, 24th October 1981. Words: Uncredited. Picture: Uncredited.]
WE'RE IN THE MODE!
Depeche Mode are one of the newest bands around. But they’re no one-hit wonders…
London’s only a few miles away from the lads’ home town, but they’re not interested in enjoying the bright lights.
Their feet are firmly on the ground and they’re determined not to lose touch with the fans who backed them, encouraged them, and who helped them make their hit single “New Life” a success.
“We spend most of our time at home,” they said.
“We do normal things, really. We love going to the cinema, and the local clubs here, meeting up with the mates we’ve had for years.
“All of us would hate to lose touch with our roots – that’s what got us our success in the first place and we’ll never turn our backs on that.”
During the early days of the band, lead singer Dave wasn’t too popular with one person in his town.
“When the band first started, I was at college studying fashion. I loved it – the lecturers, the people there – but my heart was in music. So I was forever missing days and disappearing off to rehearse with the rest of the band.
“This went on for ages, until I was hardly ever in college.”
EXPELLED!
“So in the end, there was only one thing the principal could do – expel me. I was pretty upset at first as I enjoyed the course, but I know it wasn’t totally right for me. [1]
“But I’ve been forgiven, thank goodness. When we got to the charts with our first single, the principal sent me a note congratulating us on our success – I was really pleased. I didn’t think he’d ever speak to me again.”
Since the hit single, they’ve been hard at work producing their first album, which should be out any time now. Hopefully, it’ll contain their hit single, “New Life”, plus their most recent release, “Can’t Get Enough”. And after that?
“Carry on working,” they told us.
“We’ve been doing a lot of concerts lately, so we might have a break for a while. We did one great gig recently specially for the under 18s and in aid of charity. [2] The atmosphere was great and we enjoyed it as much as we hope the audience did.”
The band spend a lot of their time rehearsing and they’ve found a pretty unusual place to do it in.
“It’s a converted church,” they told us, “And it’s a really nice place to work in. Very peaceful and relaxing.”
And when they’re not doing that you could find them playing bowls back home in Basildon.
“We’re getting pretty good now – we might just form our own Depeche Mode team,” they laughed!
Well, you’ve bowled us over already, lads…