Depeche Mode: "Do the best you can - you don't know if you're going to be doing it again"

[marmar]

Depeche Mode: “Do the best you can – you don’t know if you’re going to be doing it again”
Ahead of their majestic new album ‘Memento Mori’, NME meets the icons in Berlin and London to talk about rediscovering their love of life, music and each other following the loss of bandmate Andy Fletcher

By
Andrew Trendell
10th March 2023




(NME) “And then there were two,” came the text message to Depeche Mode frontman Dave Gahan from former bandmate Alan Wilder after he heard news of the sad passing of synth player and founding member Andy Fletcher back in May 2022. Aged just 60, Fletch was the unshakable foundation of the new wave pioneers; a constant presence and a peacemaker in a group that’s had its fare share of turmoil to navigate.

When they first emerged from Basildon in Essex 43 years ago, they were a brightly refined but squeaky clean boyband-esque affair. With the chart-bothering synthpop gems of ‘Just Can’t Get Enough’ and ‘New Life’ from frisky 1981 debut ‘Speak & Spell’, Depeche Mode embarked on a journey that few could have predicted.

Vince Clarke, then chief songwriter, exited the band the year their debut dropped (going on to form Yazoo and Erasure) and was replaced by Wilder before his exit in ‘95; synth player, guitarist and singer Martin Gore would then the lead on songwriting. Through that period and beyond, the band hit stadium-filling superstardom all while battling drama, hard drugs and hedonism.

They’ve broken ground in pop, rock, electro, blues and industrial metal, inspiring any band with a drum machine and a synth, or just a kink and a dark side. That’s everyone from Lady Gaga, The Killers and Chvrches to Deftones and Nine Inch Nails. What is it about Depeche that has that renewed appeal?

....(snip)....

When the time came to get the Depeche wheels a’rollin’ again, Gahan – enjoying his cosy post-COVID homelife – took a little convincing. He was weary of not knowing what was on the table, what he could bring to it, and cautious of pushing the wrong buttons. On the understanding that the writing process would be much more collaborative and transparent, they got to work. Another reconfiguration would be forced upon them when they had to learn how to co-exist without Fletch.

“Martin suddenly doesn’t have his absolute all-time supporter,” says Gahan, brazenly honest in admitting: “No matter what, Fletch would lay down for Martin – not so much me!” ...................(more)

https://www.nme.com/features/music-interviews/depeche-mode-interview-memento-mori-dave-gahan-martin-gore-3410900

[IcyPeas]

1. Nice article

It's interesting how they talk about their "new" relationship with each other now without Fletch.

And Richard Butler has co-written some songs with Gore.

Thanks for posting this

And Depeche Mode are on Jimmy Kimmel on Tuesday Night. They recorded their set last week.

[IbogaProject]

2. Cool

I like their sound.