Book Description
13 fan favorites from these '80s mainstays: Barrel of a Gun * Dream On * Enjoy the Silence * I Feel You * It's No Good * Just Can't Get Enough * Only When I Lose Myself * People Are People * Personal Jesus * Policy of Truth * Precious * Strange Love * Walking in My Shoes.
Product Description
An electrifying new biography about the four Essex lads who became award-winning stadium superstars and champions of synth pop! Jonathan Miller's groundbreaking book features in-depth interviews with founder member Vince Clarke and producers Gareth Jones and Mark Bell, and contains never-before seen interviews with the band members themselves. With additional input from Gary Human, Howard Jones and Thomas Dolby this is a unique portrait of a band that almost lost control when their lives went off the rails and lead singer Dave Gahan's heroin addiction nearly killed him. In the end Depeche Mode not only survived, they triumphed, racking up a staggering 40 million-plus album sales on the way. This is their amazing story, told in full for the first time. Born out of the post-punk backlash in the early 80's, Depeche Mode took their name from a phrase in a French style magazine and became the definitive international synth-pop group. Vince Clarke, Andy Fletcher and Martin Gore had started out as an Essex guitar band but it was their bright and upbeat synthesizer-driven brand of pop fronted by Dave Gahan that was to find global acceptance and enjoy unlikely success in the US. Despite a handful of early plaudits in the music press, the group won only intermittent critical acceptance over the years, its often light musical approach contrasting with lyrics that sometimes plunge into darker topics like S&M, religious fetishism and the scourge of capitalism. But whatever the music press said, the fans finally bought into Depeche Mode in a big way. Their Violator tour at the start of the 90s sold millions of records and turned them into major US concert stars. In true rock style, Depeche Mode's members have suffered their share of internal strife over a long career. Dave Gahan reinvented himself as a lead singer with both a harder musical edge and a near-fatal drug habit, while internal acrimony often marred the later stages of their career. Jonathan Miller has made an e
Customer Reviews:
Very Informative.......2006-08-17
I found this to be a very difficult book to put down. It is packed with tons of info and insights into the personalities within the band. If you are a Depeche Mode fan, this is a must, you won't be dissapointed.
On the other side of the coin, however, there are lots of quotes taken from EPKs and the short film from the 86>98 DVD, which, of course, most fans have already seen.
Also, there was some info about Martin Gore being half black, which lacks credibility. The source who revealed the information was just called a "child hood friend". Then there's also that annoying fact that Martin bares absolutely no African features (nor do his children).
The writing style does get a bit drab from time to time. All and all, however, I give it 5 stars for simply being a fairly accurate chronology of my favorite band.
Lots of interesting facts even for the big Fan........2006-03-23
Been avidly following Depeche Mode since 1985, so when i knew this book did not contain direct interviews with band members themselves, i suspected there would be little information i hadnt already come across from reading many articles on DM in the past 20 years. But i was wrong. Even the avid fan who has followed them closely will find a lot of new and interesting details especially about the early years. Whilst there really is nothing that exciting in the early days it really is quite nostalgic to go back to those years and read up on vince, dave, mart and fletch when they were just young teens trying out their new synths. Lots of fun to read in the end, and quite thorough too. Very up to date as well. Ends around the time Dave and Mart are promoting their solo efforts. So quite contemporary.
Stripped: The True Story of Depeche Mode.......2005-03-17
Stripped: The True Story of Depeche Mode by Johnathan Miller is a very interesting book that for the first time tells the whole story about this groundbreaking rockgroup. The formative years are described much more in detail then the latter part and that is why I am inclined not to give 5 stars. It seems as they become more and more famous, the chapters also become shorter. I was quite interested to read about the different equipment that they had used over the years and I was quite disapointed that the author had not made a comprehensive list of all keyboards used for each recording as this is quite intesting. I also found that it strange that their was so much material on Vince Clarke as he was only with them for one album. Alan Wilder must be a bit disapointed with the book as he is shown to be arrogant, filled with self importance. I find the writing to be clear and concise and this is a very good (not perfect) biography on one very peculiar and intresting synth trio.
BEST BOOK ON THE BAND SO FAR.......2004-09-10
'Stripped' is the most comprehensive book on Depeche Mode to date - covering all eras of the group's innovative career.
A lot of emphasis is placed on the band's formative years, with contributions given by those who knew the members before they became international stars.
There is however, like most other books written about the band, a lot of second-hand information from previous interviews - and many of these interviews are well known to those who have a keen interest in the group.
There's plenty to read though - and some rare pictures too which avid fans are bound to like.
All in all, it's definitely worth having if your a fan of "the best electronic group in the world".
Finally Depeche Mode makes sense to me now.......2004-07-31
Finally a book that really gets into the music and personality of depeche mode and lets you understand them. The previous two books were not good and after reading them twice I was still left totally in the dark about the band.
This book discusses what the others didn't, the music!! It really tells the Depeche Mode story album by album and single by single. He tells about how the albums are made and discusses the working relationships between the group members during those albums. From that perspective he goes into personal bits on the band that really show their personalities. This book doesn't just start talking about their personalities and sorta throw in the albums as time markers. It really shows you how their music develops.
He also really brings up alot of new interviews and facts, which I didn't think existed. After reading the other books, which overlapped alot, this book had refreshing new interviews that shed incredible perspective on the group. Alan's story is finally told as well in great detail...giving some of the most candid insights into the group. Daniel Miller, Gareth Jones, and Vince Clark are covered as well.
I have been a HUGE fan for over 17 years now and until I read this book I always thought that they came from outerspace. Its funny but I will kinda miss that naivete. I had my own ideas of them that weren't true that I will miss. But now that I know the whole story, it inspires me.
Book Description
Depeche Mode's dark, synthesizer-driven music struck a chord with displaced, suburban youth all over the world.
Customer Reviews:
Not horrible; not great, either........2003-09-23
A worthwhile, in-depth biography of Depeche Mode was certainly long overdue when this particular volume was published, and Steve Malins obviously tries to give a balanced, behind-the-scenes portrait of the band. Is he successful? Well, yes and no.
The book happily avoids the worst kind of scandal-mongering so common in the rock biography genre, and draws heavily from interviews with the band members and close associates. It's readable, the quotes are often amusing, and Malins does a fairly good job at illuminating the various personality conflicts and interpersonal relationships at play in DM. His take on the music is generally well thought out, though he does veer into arbitrary lyric analysis a bit too often for my taste.
However, the book does have its flaws, not least of which is truly dreadful editing and an uneven, idiosyncratic writing style. The fact that the book is heavily laced with interviews from band members is on its face a good thing, but this becomes less desirable when one realizes that most quotes are merely lifted from magazine and newspaper articles. For those rather trainspottery DM fans (like me) who've already read those articles, there's very little new ground here. The book also relies quite heavily on comments from Alan Wilder (not a problem for me, personally--I found Al's comments insightful and entertaining--but if you've an anti-Alan bias, be forewarned). And again, the lack of an index is irritating. Altogether, we're left with a well-meaning but ultimately patchy history of Depeche Mode's lengthy career. It's better than nothing, I suppose.
Good job!.......2003-09-11
Sometimes I loathe band biography because it's only filled with gossips and personal observations by the author that the reader didn't ask for. When I buy a book about a band, I just don't care too much about the private life of each band members. All I want is to get a better understanding of their art, their initial vision & inspirations. I can't be bothered with scandals and dirt and other insanities. It's cheap journalism to me, and sensationalism doesn't bring anything valuable to the table. Who cares if X sleeps with Y while dating Z? Who gives a damn if Joe Lunchbox likes Pop Tarts for breakfast??? I don't!
Steve Malins did a good job with DM: he traces the band's origin and background, gives a light about who's doing what in the band, where some of the songs got their inspiration from, and gives us an idea how the albums were recorded. That, to me, is a good job.
Of course, the book relates Dave Gahan's heroin problems and suicide attempt, Martin Gore's cross-dressing habits... but at least he doesn't speculates on it and avoid conclusions. For exemple, about Gore's peculiarity, he doesn't tag him as being automatically gay (which some other authors did). Quite the contrary, Malins - with interviews with Gore himself - lead to show us an guy who only likes to provock & shock & try new things out just for the sake of it. And thanks, that is not the matter of the whole book. The facts are given but usually only to show the psyche of each band members and its implication with DM & musical direction.
To me, it's a good biography which concentrate more on the band as a unit than on its individual members. Their private life is exposed only to get a better understanding of their professional life. So don't expect to find 50 full pages of juicy details of Gahan's exile to L.A. & the party animal he became there (as the press fed us up with in the past). That's ok, and I like that.
I would recommend it to DM fans who want to understand more the band works and are not looking for an archive of scandals!
Good reading.
I was an incorrigible pessimist.......2001-09-22
I was an incorrigible pessimist, who never saw the bright side of life. I was always reading books about history. I was convinced I was going to be a teacher. ~ Andrew Fletcher
A statement which shocks me so deeply and, perhaps, sums up why all the fans around the world are so attracted to Depeche Mode in the 80's, a time when industrialization ever expands and consumerism roaring nowhere. The time gave Depeche Mode so much inspiration in writing so many good lyrics like People are People, Everything Counts, Get the Balance Right etc.
Like so many fans around the world, I was ever hooked by the eternal 'See You'; the pure electronic sound mixing Kraftwerk-like clarity with purposeful, teenage pop tunes and simple love lyrics. The sense of love impacted me so deeply that I never quit following Depeche Mode.
A biography on the band, therefore, is a must read for everyone who loves Depeche Mode. However, so far, still no official biography was published. This edition, written by Steve Malins, who follows Depeche Mode's every album, most of the live shows until 1999, then seems to be the most complete, up-to-date and major work on the band.
The book largely follows a chronological order, from the formation of the band in 1980 to the temporary suspension of recording and performance in 1999. To the surprise of many, the early hits coming from the albums 'Construction Time Again' and 'Some Great Reward', heavily influenced by the 'industrial music', appeal to both the intellectual left-wing and the mechanized attitude extreme right wing group.
Mind you, this book is really 'independently' written by Steve, as the members of the group cautiously distant themselves from endorsing this book. Many 'facts' are figured out by the author through interview with the third parties (e.g. other new-romantics music band like Spanda Ballet, Culture Club, OMD etc., friends close to the band and those who worked for them), newspaper clippings, music commentaries, shows critics, album reviews, etc. The lack of originality and first-hand information poses a real problem. And the lack of an appendix hurts even more.
On the other hand, this kind of amateur-ship did permit a revelation of many behind-the-scene secrets, relationship among the band members, their friends and family members, the record company Mute and its boss Daniel Miller, who is the single most important figure in the history of the band. Characterization of the band's members pulls along the story as every albums, singles, and tours around the world are covered. I can say that this is the most complete 20-years story about DM in one book.
'This is the story of the mutations, perfections and tragedies of Depeche Mode.' (UK edition)
As quoted at the back of the book, the writer does not intend to glorify DM. The dark, gloomy side of DM was revealed as in the city nightlife of Berlin, where the band enjoyed the most successful career before moving to America. Deterministic, existentialist, DM's 'Construction Time Again was even described by left-wing columnist as virtually a rewrite of the Communist Manifesto. The social-caring perspective was brought about by simple and unpretending music and lyrics.
In the book, you can find Martin Gore a gay, son of a black American; Andrew Fletcher a too-sensitive, nervous-breaking who holds a special friendship with Martin, Dave Gahan a drug addict and Alan Wilder a talented but an uneasy man within the band. And please don't be surprised to see the books spread with no less challenging sentences for you to chew on like: Love & sex & drinks against the boredom of life; Man is inherently evil; God is sex personified.etc.
Overall, Steve did successfully gave the readers a full and detailed, albeit sometimes distorted, view on DM. It certainly worths a look and is a good start for recording Depeche Mode.
A Must-Have for Every Depeche Fan.......2001-08-25
This is a highly informative book starting from the very beginning, showing the evolution of the band. Highlights include quotes from band members and friends, giving both positive and negative comments on the progress of Depeche Mode. Malins also shows the tensions between band members and problems they faced, such as drug addiction, breakdowns, and heavy drinking. While this book is extremely informative, Malins tends to devote a little too much attention to David's drug problems.
Unlike the rest of the world, it won't leave you unimpressed.......2001-05-31
Unlike other attempts to unmask the members of this band, this book finally got it right! Amid the controversies, near fatal tragedies, and stories of excess, you will gain an almost intimate perspective of the personalities involved within the band itself. Starting from the group's humble beginnings in Basildon, and ending with the recording of Ultra, the chapters fly by as you read about one of the least understood bands today.
What speaks loudest for the book, is that former Depeche Mode member Alan Wilder says on his website that the book is mostly accurate as opposed to previous attempts by other authors. While the book has been criticized by some as being mostly influenced by Alan's views on the other band members after he left the group, his comments are often balanced by what others had to say about the same people and events. Martin's drinking is addressed, as well as Dave's highly publicized overdose and Fletch's nervous breakdowns. Alan is said to be a loner by others, although he contends that he tried to be part of the group.
The only thing that really irritated me was that the author makes the same mistake as most critics when he tries to dissect the meaning behind Martin's lyrics. The lyrics, which Martin doesn't like to explain, can't be explained away as easily as most critics think, and it does tend to annoy me when I read an entire song explained by a phrase or sentence- especially when I don't agree with the sentiment!
Overall, a highly enjoyable read with many quotes from Martin, Dave, Alan, and Fletch, I would recommend this book to hugh DM fans and also those who have little more than a curiousity about the band.
Average customer rating:
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Depeche Mode: Songs of Faith and Devotion
Manufacturer: International Music Publications
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Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0863599974 |
Book Description
Throughout their history, Depeche Mode has combined success with innovation, producing records that have mixed moving melodic lines and pop-star preening with completely synthesizer-driven noises, forever altering the sound of New Wave/modern music. From "Just Can't Get Enough" to "I Feel You" and beyond, Dave Thompson breaks through the enigma to reveal the group that can fully claim to be the most popular electronic act in the world.
Customer Reviews:
Some Lesser Read.......2004-12-10
Dave Thompson's writing is a bit thin. The book lacks depth and it just a quick magazine style tell. It gives you the basics but lacks any real insight.
Thin Investigative Journalism - Fair Abstract.......2001-10-16
I've seen Thompson's name on several rock bios (RHCP, Perry Ferrel of Janes Addiction) so perhaps this is the man's calling. He writes in servicable prose but he has no aspiration to be anything like a Griel Marcus or Johnny Rogan (author of the great Morrissey and Marr Smith's bio). The details are often thin and surface-skiming. The lack of insight bespeaks an overall ambivalence towards the band. Is there any real passion here? The author seems content to regurgitate print interviews and excerpts from the '80s era DM bio put out by his namesake (a must have for those looking to complete their collection of bad hair style archives - Flock of Seagulls had nothing on Martin and company back in the day).
To this extent the book is a fairly good abstract of already published materials. There have been questions raised about accuracy on some fan websites but overall I think Thompson does a good job of digesting the limited material that's out there. It is clear that DM has always attempted to fly below the radar and while there is no dearth of embarssing photos out there of the lads it seems clear that they have wanted to remain textually anonymous. Fine. And its the challenge that befalls any journalist, especially when setting off to write a comprehensive band bio, to uncover information in unconventional means. A few more phone calls, a airplane trip or two, would have filled in this text and provided for a more interesting read.
There is also an utter lack of muscial and lyrical exploration. The band makes music. Martin Gore writes lyrics for a reason. There is a surface to be breached.
Inaccurate, shallow and quite boring.......2001-08-17
I am, since 1984, a big fan of Depeche Mode, and have through the years gained a certain level of knowledge on the subject. After just finishing the book, I cannot see any other reason to buy this book other than the sheer lack of other publications covering their carreer.
This book is full of factual errors, but that could be overlooked if Mr Thompson was'nt so extremely shallow in dealing with the drama that always is omnipresent in a bands career. The author, who has done well on other occasions, often swerves out in the forests of fiction to make things more interesting than they really are, or at least according to information he's granted access to... .
This, and the sometimes hillarious defending of the bands crown as a World-leading act, is too much. I actually was cringing from time to time; I mean: Dave Gahan (singer of the band, former drug addict now gone clean) is in the book to "never had a drug problem". No, I guess he just had some kind of metbolistic disorder.
depeche mode is definately the best band!.......2000-01-26
depeche mode has had to go through so much torment and has struggled so much to get where they are today. this book tells you so much about them and gives you a closer view into their lives and you get a better understanding of why they have touched so many people with their music. you get the stories from the band members themselves and you can laugh along at how cute they are! they are truely a hugh inspiration to me.
very entertaining.......1999-11-03
i thought this book gave some of the best info on my fav band. you find out so much about dm and laugh at how funny and down to earth this little english band really is! especially martin and skirts-that's all i have to say about that-don't get me wrong i love the man and all!
Average customer rating:
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"Depeche Mode" (Popular Matching Folios)
Manufacturer: International Music Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 1859096344 |
Average customer rating:
- Depeche Mode are as they appear... Human and more individual
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Depeche Mode
Dave Thomas
Manufacturer: Music Sales Corporation
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Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0711908044 |
Customer Reviews:
Depeche Mode are as they appear... Human and more individual.......1997-10-03
Learn how Depeche Mode almost didn't even happen and follow their career through amazement to their sometimes hard and difficult adjustments. Takes you from "Speak and Spell" to "Violator"
Average customer rating:
- A Great Book of photos of a great band
- "I really like depeche mode. I guess!"
- A personal look at the shaded world of Depeche Mode
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Depeche Mode: Strangers (Op46309)
Anton Corbijn
Manufacturer: Omnibus Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0711924937 |
Customer Reviews:
A Great Book of photos of a great band.......1998-07-17
A Great Book of photos of a great band I am a devoted fan of the band Depeche Mode and I can tell you that Anton Corbjin and Depeche mode are now almost one in the same. This collection of photos spans the world with depeche mode. From photos taken in the dry earth of western USA to the now liberated east europe. This book is a must For anyfan or love of photgaphy in the Black & White Form. - Roger "pimpf Boy" Erickson
"I really like depeche mode. I guess!".......1997-11-11
so says anton on the first page. even if you're not a big fan of depeche mode, this is an essential for any corbijn fan. it was the only publication readily available in 1990 and i've treasured it ever since! i suppose some of the images of dave gahan hamming it up can become a bit trite for some, but it looks like they had some good fun. it includes both b/w and color images, which were taken from the american west coast to eastern europe as well as shots from promos, video shoots and concerts.
A personal look at the shaded world of Depeche Mode.......1997-04-09
There were rumors that Depeche Mode photographer Anton Corbijnwas working on a book of rare photos fro the Violator era, but it wasthree years before I finally found it. And it was worth the wait. The paper-backed book contains behind-the-scenes photos from several videos and photo sessions, never-before seen concert photographs, as well as a rare and very personal look at Depeche Mode not as Rock Stars, but as four friends. This book is an absuloute must for anyone interested in the band.
Average customer rating:
- Nice little compilation of early Depeche Mode music!!
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Depeche Mode Anthology
Frank Metis , and
Martin L. Gore
Manufacturer: Amsco Music
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Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0825612187 |
Customer Reviews:
Nice little compilation of early Depeche Mode music!!.......2005-11-14
"Depeche Mode: Anthology" is a great book for piano players looking to play pieces by Depeche Mode. This book came out in 1991, after "Violator" and before "Songs of Faith and Devotion", so the music in it is, primarily, from the band's earlier days. The sheet music is written for piano and includes guitar tabs. This is a great book to give to a piano playing, Depeche Mode fan.
The book covers most of their singles from their beginning to 1991, but has a strong emphasis on the music from "Black Celebration", "Music For the Masses", and "Violator". Here is a list of songs the book has the sheet music for:
Behind the Wheel
Black Celebration
Blasphemous Rumours
Blue Dress
But Not Tonight
Dreaming of Me
Enjoy the Silence
Everything Counts
Flexible
Fly on the Windscreen
Get the Balance Right
I Want You Now
It Doesn't Matter
It's Called a Heart
Just Can't Get Enough
Leave In Silence
Lie to Me
Little 15
Love, In Itself
Master and Servant
The Meaning of Love
Never Let Me Down Again
New Life
Nothing
Now This is Fun
People Are People
Personal Jesus
Pipeline
Pleasure Little Treasure
A Question of Lust
A Question of Time
Sacred
See You
Shake the Disease
Shame
Somebody
Something to Do
Stories of Old
Strangelove
Stripped
Sweetest Perfection
World Full of Nothing
It is a great compilation and the only downfall to this book is some of the songs left out of it. It's well worth the investment for any piano player who enjoys Martin Gore and Vince Clarke's writing.
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Depeche Mode: Black Celebration: The Biography
Subhuman Deluxe
Storm Chaser
Stripped: The True Story of Depeche Mode
Light at the End of the World
