Ok, it's not exactly Closer by Nine Inch Nails, but you can see why people might have been offended by Blasphemous Rumours when they heard it. Even Fletch, a man who had remember recently consented to something as deviant as being whipped to be used as a sample, was "quite offended" when he first heard it.
To temper the possibility of this being their The Beatles Are Bigger Than Jesus moment, for the first time in their history, Depeche Mode released a double A-side, radically (erm...)remixing Somebody and adding it to the package. They would not release a double A side again until John The Revelator/Lilian. It is claimed that Fragile Tension was a double A side with some other song but there's no evidence to back that up.
How did it get on? What were the videos like. And why are the labels on the 7" and 12" beautiful yet illogical and frankly annoying? Let's find out shall we?
LAUGHING/MAY EVEN BE PERVERTED - BLASPHEMOUS RUMOURS/SOMEBODY
This brave new double A format was released on 29th October 1984. just as the band were wrapping up the UK leg of the Some Great Reward tour. There was a genuine concern that Blasphemous Rumours' God questioning lyrics might see the song banned, but the BBC weren't that bothered in the end.
Initial reviews of the single were enthusiastic enough. Neil Tennant in his pre Erasure* role as a Smash Hits reviewer said that Blasphemous Rumours was "a routine slab of gloom in which God is given a severe ticking off," which is sort of complimentary I think. Number 1 magazine went all pro Depeche Mode, saying "Depeche Mode are becoming a very important band indeed," adding that the single was "thought provoking stuff." Smash Hits meanwhile deemed Somebody "a bug lush ballad with tasteful sound effects."
*I know, I know.
The band appeared on Top Of The Pops on 4th November 1984 with the song having entered the charts at number 29. The public didn't let the sight of Alan hitting a concrete block with a hammer and Martin tirelessly (ho ho) playing a bicycle wheel put them off - the single flew up the charts the next week to number 16. Sadly however, that's where the fun ended as the single then dropped one place the following week before again dropping to 32, 54 and then refusing to be tied to any charts' strings by falling to 64 then disappearing forever.
The two songs on the double A side appear in different forms to their Some Great Reward versions. Obviously, neither track was suitable for a banging club mix - David Guetta's take on Blasphemous Rumours is a horrifying prospect for example - but they felt they had to do something. Blasphemous Rumours is presented in a shorter form than on the album with the odd breathing noise section at the end removed among other things. Listening back to it just now, I'm reminded just how good a song this is. One thing I love is that, despite the gloomy lyrical concept, they just couldn't resist sticking a frankly huge pop chorus in. That's brilliant. It's worth remembering too that if we didn't have Blasphemous Rumours, we wouldn't have had a great moment in Depeche Mode history. I'll let this picture say it all:
Among the 247 times the band played Blasphemous Rumours live between 1984 and 1988, this one was surely the most memorable.
Somebody was also remixed with the band turning the album version into a nine and a half minute long sonic reinvention of the track that reminds you of Throbbing Gristle at their most industrial. Not really. It's got a bit more reverb and a few more noises and is a full 8 seconds shorter than the album mix. It's perfectly lovely of course as Somebody always is. It is of course the first Depeche Mode single not to feature the vocals of Mr Gahan and he's taken a rest to let Martin sing it 354 times between 1984 and 2018. Interestingly, it was only played once on the Black Celebration tour and never on World Violation.
The Videos
That's right - videos, not just video singular. First up, we have the Blasphemous Rumours video which the Depeche Mode Information Service Newsletter of November 1984 told us was filmed at the Birmingham Odeon on the Some Great Reward tour. Depeche Mode Classic Photos & Videos Facebook Group's legendary detective work has also found out that part of the footage was filmed at the gig at King George's Hall in Blackburn too.
The band appear on the Some Great Reward stage set and run their way through the song. Naturally, Martin has his top off and Alan is seen in full leather Mode in the man-in-leather-with-big-hair-playing-keyboards stance he maintained from this point to the end of Everything Counts at the Rosebowl. Dave is of course singing and Fletch is having a lovely time playing a classic Fletch one finger bass part. The band look serious throughout as this song is a serious one and they smash bits of metal and corrugated iron in serious manner. Less serious are the various literal interpretations of the samples, for example, the pan falling down some metal steps, the bicycle wheel and the frankly horrendous scissors that appear and snip the film at various places. Stop that.
There's not a great deal to say about it really. It's nice to see the live set up in slightly better resolution than on The World We Live In And Live In Hamburg (DVD please Mute if you're reading) and seeing Martin and Alan hit things on stage is never bad. It's basically the best video of their career to that point.
As with Blasphemous Rumours, the band went for a performance video for Somebody which was therefore good news for Dave and Andy as they got the day off. You do see them of course with the pair appearing on footage played over Martin singing at certain points. Somewhat inexplicably we also see Dave not really running down a hill at one point towards the end. It's hard to know what he's doing really - it looks like he's lost control of his legs. Anyway, over the heartbeat and gasping noises at the start we see the band outside in various locations meandering around. Martin is wearing a hat and, unusually, clothes on his top half. He and Alan are then revealed, Alan on the piano and Martin in a nifty leather dress accessorised as all dresses of the time were (?) with what looks like handcuffs. Martin had clearly got hot under the hat he was wearing at the start of the video as his hair looks like an explosion in a masrshmallow factory. It is peak mid-80's Martin Mad Hair and it's glorious. The Wilder Hair Scale also has a reading of "Dangerously High."
And that's really it for the Somebody video too. It's fine, it does what it needs to and is short of comedy/terrifying moments. I guess that spacehoppers and milkmen would have really been a bad idea for this song.
The Formats
Normally I give you a quick run through of what's what with the single releases at this point but today we need to talk about a serious issue. Before I go on, I want you to answer this question:
When you think of the double A side single Blasphemous Rumours/Somebody which song do you think of first?
(Insert answers)
That's right - Blasphemous Rumours. It's obviously the true A side here as the front cover shows an image depicting the song (I think - more on that in a second) and the band played it on Top Of The Pops. Why then, does the label on the 7" (7BONG7 - above) have AA beside the song title?
The B-side label (above) has A beside Somebody which would suggest to me that Somebody was thought of as the true A-side but that can't be right can it? The rear of the 7" is clearly the Somebody side as you can see from the track order in the top right and the imagery. It's the lyrics to the song so it has to be meant to have been the second track of the double A side and thus should have been AA. Right?
Now, these things are NOT important in real life and it may be that having realised I still have 38 of these blogs to go that I am having a nervous breakdown, but I'm sure I'm right here. Alternatively of course, as I have just realised, it could be that AA in music business speak for the lead track on a double A-side single in which case I've just wasted a lot of your time and I'm sorry. I'm not going to check as that will lead to me deleting all this blog and starting again. I'm sure someone will point it out.
Still, intriguing eh? The UK 7" above by the way features two tracks both of which I've mentioned and, misplacement of the letter A aside, the labels are beautiful.
As well as the band's first double A side, we also got the first ever e.p. I was obsessed with hunting this down when I first read about it in 1990 and I love it. It's not that rare of course, it's just a great release. 7BONG7E features the two 7" tracks (the A and AA issue is there again) plus two live tracks from the Liverpool Empire Theatre gig on 29 September 1984
On the Blasphemous Rumours and thus THE ACTUAL A-SIDE there is a riotous version of Told You So and a tremendous Everything Count accompanies Somebody on the flip, other, alternative and very much B-Side.
12BONG7 is on my side. The A-Side features one track and that is the album version of Blasphemous Rumours. As you can see from the picture above, it says A on the label and the front cover is an extended version of the 7" cover. I rest my case.
The B-side features four live tracks from the Liverpool show. As well as the 2 from 7BONG7E, it features a live version of Somebody and a huge sounding and quite magnificent Ice Machine.
The 1991 CD features the same 4 songs as 7BONG7E.
It's a Depeche Mode single from the 1980's so that can only mean German coloured vinyl. We of course have a red 7" which is great but reignites all the AA/A arguments that I am the only person on earth having just now.
That's the Somebody side above.
There are two colour vinyl versions to collect. Firstly, the rather ominous looking grey one.
It features the same tracks as 12BONG7.
There's a yellow vinyl version too which brings some sunshine to proceedings.
Again, it has the same songs on it as 12BONG7 and it's grumpy grey brother.
The blue stripe CD comes in a jewel box this time rather than the thin style of CD box and features the 12" tracks.
There are a number of French formats. My favourite is the thin card numbered sleeve version which features the 12" tracks. When I say favourite, I really mean "the only French format I actually own."
Finally in the European section, here is the Belgian CD release. It's lovely beacuse it's yellow.
To end, we venture to America and ask exactly what the fuck is that? A promo 12" for Blasphemous Rumours was released by Sire and it's baffling on many levels. Firstly, the tracklist. It features the single version of Blasphemous Rumours, the album mix of Something To Do and the single version of (Set Me Free) Remotivate Me. That's an odd bunch. Secondly, we have the cover. In these Covid ridden times, seeing someone breathe into someone else's face is enough to worry you. Presumably however, the person on the right is whispering rumours which may or may not be blasphemous into the ear of the person on the left who has an extremely long head. It's very, very odd and makes Anton's sleeve for Spirit look positively Michelangelo like by comparison.
With this single, phase 1 of Depeche Mode was over. The next album would be a phase 1 summing up compilation and it would feature two new tracks both of which would be released as singles. One is a poppy, fairly lightweight one which sounds like the last track phase 1 DM recorded.
The other is a dark, masterful love song so epic and glorious that it was surely bound to capture the heart of everyone who heard it on its unstoppable run to the top of the charts. All it needed was a title that wouldn't put people off. Yes, write a darker, brooding love song, but don't give it a name that makes you sound like you are ill.
The release of Depeche Mode's first two 12" single boxsets (review here) was greeted with a mixture of delight and complaints as with every Depeche release these days it seems. Many people felt that they were too expensive especially when they would be paying for things they already had, which is a perfectly understandable view to take. There's no getting away from the fact that they are expensive and as the series continues the prices will only go up. When we get to the Violator boxset for example, we're looking at at least nine 12" singles. If you've been a collector since the early days then, you'll have all these records already. However, if you're new to Depeche Mode collecting, these boxes are a great way of starting things off.
Again using Violator as an example, a look at Discogs this morning shows me that the cost of buying the full set of 12" singles released in 1990 in mint condition (as the 12" singles in the boxset are) is £273 plus postage. I presume, indeed I desperately hope, that the Violator boxset will cost less than that - I'm sure you'll remind me if it doesn't.
Anyway, my point is that, while costly, these boxsets are a great way to get a hold of mint condition Depeche Mode 12" singles for less than you'd pay on Discogs etc. They're a good thing as far as I'm concerned. There are of course people like me who already have the 12" singles AND buy the boxsets but we're beyond help.
Right - enough rambling. What about the boxsets themselves?
Construction Time Again The 12" Singles Boxset
Look at those beauties. The Construction Time Again era contains some of the band's most iconic cover art with the album and Love In Itself covers superbly photographed by Brian Griffin. The attention to detail throughout that era's releases is superb. From the worker icons on both Get The Balance Right singles (which may have slightly influenced this blog's logo) which fit the theme of the at that point unreleased album perfectly, to the matching designs of the three limited edition 12" singles, everything the band released in 1983 had a marvellous symmetry to it, each released tied to the themes of the album itself.
The 12" singles in the boxset are of course faithful reproductions of the originals. For people who get excited about that sort of thing, and I of course am one of those, the covers of the limited edition 12" singles have the same texture as the original releases. The labels on the records are also identical to those on the original releases and again, that is a very good thing. That sort of attention to detail is what makes these boxsets worthwhile. As ever, thanks to Daniel Barassi for all his work here.
The contents of each 12" are well known to everyone by now so I won't go through them all. If for some reason you have never heard Get The Balance Right (Combination Mix) or Everything Counts (In Larger Amounts) then you really need to remedy that. They are two of the band's great self produced remixes. The limited edition 12" singles are all worth hearing too as each one contains four live tracks from the band's show at London's Hammersmith Odeon on 25 October 1982. The A Broken Frame era was an interesting one for the band given that they had to deal with Vince's departure. These live tracks show that they were trying to strike a balance or even trying to get the balance right (sorry) between pop (A Photograph Of You, The Meaning Of Love) and the more experimental side of things that the album had already hinted at (see My Secret Garden and its Oberkorn intro). These three records are the only officially released A Broken Frame era live recordings and that makes them worth having.
The peerless DM Live Wiki has more tracks from that show available for streaming by the way. To further prove my point about the band's more experimental side coming to the fore, check out The Sun And The Rainfall from that show with its pre Construction Time Again metal bashing noises. You can listen to it here.
This release also contains Alan Wilder's first Depeche Mode songwriting credits. He and Martin co-wrote the frankly awful The Great Outdoors and the "ok lads we get it - it's all about work and metal and all that" decent b-side Work Hard and Alan penned the rather good Fools all by himself. The Great Outdoors is probably the band's most terrifying track, sounding like the music you would hear as you are murdered by an enraged gnome with the hammer shown on the album's cover.
Finally, the boxset comes with a reproduction Love In Itself promo poster and the box itself shows the oil derrick from the Love In Itself limited edition 12", recreated for this release. There's a download card to allow you to enjoy all these digitally too. One thing that Sony want to change for future releases is the tagging of these songs on all boxsets when downloaded and put into ITunes. When downloaded, the individual track names are all garbled and therefore almost entirely useless e.g. "ConstructionTimeAgain12"boxset_EverythingCountsA1InLargerAmounts" etc. It's not the biggest problem in the world, but entering the names individually is a pain in the arse.
By the way, if you bought all these 12" singles in mint condition on Discogs today, you'd pay £117 plus postage. That's more expensive than the boxset,
As with the previous boxsets, there was an unboxing video and here it is:
Some Great Reward The 12" Singles Boxset
The Some Great Reward boxset unsurprisingly contains all the 12" singles from the era plus a new 12" in the shape of L12BONG7 which is the 12" version of the original 7" ep featuring Somebody (Remix), Everything Counts (Live), Blasphemous Rumours (Single Version) and Told You So (Live). I'm really pleased with that as it means the release is a complete record of the era. It'll be interesting to see what happens with GBONG17 when the Violator boxset comes around.
The artwork for this era isn't as impressive as Construction Time Again, the album cover art aside. It's a lot starker and, while the Master And Servant 12" cover is marvellous, the rest are a little bland. I'm not sure how well known this is or not, but on the People Are People cover, the arm on the right hand side belongs to Hugh Grant the entirely one dimensional English actor. There's a fact to entertain your loved ones with.
One of the best things about this boxset for me is the digital download element, track name nonsense notwithstanding. Unless I'm very much mistaken (awaits "OMG YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT DEPECHE MODE MAN" attack from the Black Swarm), this release sees the first official digital versions of People Are People (On U-Sound Remix by Adrian Sherwood), Are People People? and Master And Servant (An On-U Sound Science Fiction Dance Hall Classic Re-Remixed by Adrian Sherwood) and that is very much a good thing. I love these remixes and the fact I can now sing along to Are People People's Zing Zing Zings and Boom Bop Bops on the train is great for me and terrifying for my fellow passengers.
For completeness' sake, I should point out that Alan (no he's not coming back) has another song here, the superb In Your Memory, the b-side to People Are People. It's far better than Martin's (Set Me Free) Remotivate Me which lets the Master And Servant release down rather dramatically. The 12" versions of People Are People and Master And Servant - Different Mix and Slavery Whip Mix - are both towering gorgeous beasts of remixes and should be on everyone's playlists. The live tracks on the Blasphemous Rumours releases are from the band's show at the Empire Theatre in Liverpool on 29 September 1984.
As an aside, the huge pulsating Depeche Mode brain that is Michael Rose pointed out on depmod's Facebook page a thing that will annoy people like him (and me) for the rest of time. It takes a certain type of person to get annoyed by this sort of thing, but as I mentioned earlier, we are beyond help. Look at the alignment of the spines in the boxset:
Photo courtesy of Michael Rose
WHAT IS L12BONG5 DOING THERE? GET BACK IN LINE.
Sorry.
Finally, there was another unboxing video and this time it features, among others, the silky sounds of Sean Salo. Here it is:
And what would this cost you if you bought the records all in mint condition on Discogs? £148 plus postage is the answer which seems high to me but there you go. If anyone is remotely interested by this point, I included the 7" ep in that.
And Then...
So there we have it - two more excellently curated releases and two great additions to my collection. If you want them, go and get them. If you don't want them, don't go and get them. Let's not argue about their worth or otherwise. Let's not get along so awfully. Boxsets Are Boxsets.
On 18 June 2018, it will be 30 years since Depeche Mode played the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
30 years! As we approach the 30th anniversary of the Rose Bowl gig then, it seemed logical to write something about it, so here are 101 fascinating facts about 101. Why couldn't they have recorded the 20th gig instead...
1. Everything Counts (Live)
The first hint of what was to come came on 13 February 1989 with the release of Everything Counts live from the Rose Bowl gig. The vinyl version of the forthcoming 101 wasn't, I don't know, wide enough or something to accommodate A Question Of Lust, Sacred and Nothing, so live versions of them appeared on the 7" (Nothing) and the 12" and cd single (all three). There were also a few remixes scattered here and there on the limited 12", 10" which came in a numbered envelope with a window sticker and two postcards inside (a lovely thing).
My Everything Counts collection (minus promo 12" singles - pics of them below)
Two promo 12" singles came out namely P12BONG16
which featured two remixes of Everything Counts: the Bomb The Bass remix (later known as Tim Simenon/Mark Saunders Remix) and the Alan Moulder Remix (later known as the Absolut Mix).
PPBONG16 also featured two tracks - Strangelove (Hijack Mix) and Nothing (Remix Edit).
There was also one other format...
2. Everything Counts (Live) LCD BONG16 a.k.a The Filofax pack
I've covered this before - have a read of this if the notion of a Filofax pack baffles you. It's still Depeche Mode's oddest officially released item. Well, apart from Hole To Feed as a single that is.
3. Everything Counts (Live) - the video
From the infamous "We're going to make loads of money" all the way to Dave conducting the crowd, it's glorious:
4 -17. Promoting the film and album
To coincide with the release of Everything Counts (Live), the band started promoting 101. Am I already running out of material? Probably, however, I need 101 of these so here we go:
4. Dave appears on TV AM
TV AM was a British morning show that balanced lots of inane nonsense with the excellence of Roland Rat and some rather good music pieces, one of which was Dave's appearance on 13 February 1989. Look how fresh faced he looks:
Picture courtesy of Depeche Mode Classic Photos & Videos Facebook Group
Not too shabby for 7.18 in the morning bearing in mind that Dave was still enjoying a rock and roll lifestyle at the time. Dave confirms that Fletch is skiing, Martin is in Japan and Alan "hopefully watching at home." He's the interviewed again around 7.48 and talks about the gig. We even see a snippet of Behind The Wheel from 101.
5. The 101 premiere
This took place at the Dominion Theatre in London on 22 February 1989
Picture courtesy of Depeche Mode Classic Photos & Videos Facebook Group
All the band were there along with D A Pennebaker, Daniel Miller and more.
Picture courtesy of Depeche Mode Classic Photos & Videos Facebook Group
6. A film premiere in Paris and a Music For The Masses platinum disc presentation
The film was shown at Club De L'etoile before the band headed for La Locomotive and their disc presentation. Here's Fletch at the latter having a grand old time
Picture (and info) courtesy of Depeche Mode Classic Photos & Videos Facebook Group
7. Miming to the live version of Everything Counts, San Remo, Italy 25 February 1989
Very odd this. The band played at the Sanremo festvial in San Remo on 25 February and, in doing so, played one song. That involved them miming to a live version of a song they'd just released. I've no idea why either.
Picture courtesy of Depeche Mode Classic Photos & Videos Facebook Group
The band also gave a press conference at Hotel Royal in San Remo. Here's a picture of Dave and Martin enjoying themselves at that
Picture courtesy of Depeche Mode Classic Photos & Videos Facebook Group
And here's the performance of Everything Counts:
8. A 101 premiere in Birmingham
This took place on 2 March 1989 at the Cannon Cinema. The band didn't turn up however. And they wonder why they get a rough reaction from Birmingham crowds....*
*Martin's words, not mine
Picture courtesy of Depeche Mode Classic Photos & Videos Facebook Group
9. Martin and Andy head to Europe...
In early March, Martin and Andy went around Europe giving interviews. At one point they ended up in Denmark recording a show called Fluen. Here and Martin and Andy laughing it up in the taxi home
Picture courtesy of Depeche Mode Classic Photos & Videos Facebook Group
10....as do Dave and Alan
Dave and Alan headed to Munich where they appeared on a show called Action. They appear to have been interviewed by the label on the b-side of the 12" of A Question Of Time
Picture courtesy of Depeche Mode Classic Photos & Videos Facebook Group
11. A signing session at HMV, Birmingham, 20 March 1989
The album was already out by this point and much to your inevitable relief, we'll come to that shortly. The whole band appeared in Birmingham to sign the record, meet fans and seemingly have a few beers. For a brief moment, as you can see below, Fletch was sacked and replaced by Terence Trent D'Arby, but that decision was thankfully overturned on the same day
Picture courtesy of Depeche Mode Classic Photos & Videos Facebook Group
12. Filming for The Story of 101, Hilton, London, 27 March
The band plus D A Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus were at the Hilton to film this show telling the story of the film
13. A signing session at Virgin Megastore, Paris, 12 April 1989
As you might have guessed from the title, there was a signing session on 12 April 1989.
At the Virgin Megastore.
In Paris.
Picture courtesy of Depeche Mode Classic Photos & Videos Facebook Group
14. A 101 premiere in Toronto
The band then turned up in Toronto to see their film again. I wonder if they were bored by this point?
Picture courtesy of Depeche Mode Classic Photos & Videos Facebook Group
15. A premiere in Los Angeles
On 25 April 1989, 101 premiered in LA at AMC Century 14. Here's the band at the premiere
Picture courtesy of Depeche Mode Classic Photos & Videos Facebook Group
And here's a thing that was on TV about it:
16. A premiere of, unbelievably, 101 in New York
This was on 27th April at Radio City Music Hall which is a cool venue to have your film shown at. Dave and Alan were there only as a diary cock up meant Fletch and Martin had to be in Houston. I presume that was on 101 related business. Here are Dave and Alan - was this where the Violator cover concept was dreampt up? No, I imagine.
Picture courtesy of Depehce Mode Classic Photos & Videos Facebook Group
And look, here are some other people. We'll find out a bit more about them shortly
Picture courtesy of Depeche Mode Classic Photos & Videos Facebook Group
17. So that's why Martin and Andy were in Houston
It was for a 101 premiere at AMC 14 in Houston. In case you are on the lookout for obscure Depeche Mode related buildings, here it is:
Picture courtesy of Depeche Mode Classic Photos & Videos Facebook Group
18. An odd and expensive promo single
At some point in 1989, the band's French and Spanish record companies released a promo by way of a vinyl version of Pleasure Little Treasure. In both countries, a 7" was released, featuring the live version of the track from 101 on both sides.
The French then went one step further, releasing a 12" featuring three tracks: the live version and the Join Mix and Glitter Mix of Pleasure Little Treasure.
These are quite cool if unnecessary items, neither of which I own sadly.
19. The album itself
Here's a fact to love about 101 - it's the finest live album your ears will ever hear. The music aside, which we'll come to in good time, it's also incredible because of...
20 - 25. The Artwork
Ok, Anton Corbijn may have slacked off a tad on recent DM releases, but there is no argument to be had when it comes to the 101 artwork. Black and white, majestic and above all else, just fucking gorgeous, Anton did wonders here. The cover above alone is a work of art: Dave in his leather gear, wee Martin and his hat, Fletch slicked back and ready for business, Alan doing his best Morrissey (pre Brexit and racism) impression, the iconic t-shirt and so much more. Everywhere you look on 101, you see stunning pictures. Just look at:
20. Dave
21. Martin
22. Andy
23. Alan
Each one of those pictures is glorious as are the others in the...
24. Booklet
Available either as a 12" 16 page book with the album or a..erm..cd box sized book with the cd, the booklet accompanying the album is full of ever more wonderful pictures. Here's just one of them:
Dave pictured having a premonition about Hole To Feed
25. The Catalogue Number
What? Shut up David. No you shut up. The catalogue number for this release is STUMM101. That's genius. Record companies don't do that sort of thing anymore. Well played Mute, well played.
26. The formats - the envelope sleeve LP
Some of my 101's
This blog isn't just for fans of nifty black and white pictures. Oh no. It's also for people who like to know what the vinyl smells like and what weight the cassette is. It's time to have a brief look at the formats. Other than one section, I'm just referring to the UK formats. Thanks to depmod.com for approximately 90% of the info here.
As this came out in 1989, LP's were still very much the in thing, unlike now where they are...no...wait - forget that. 101 was released on two vinyl versions here in Britain, the first of which was in an envelope sleeve, so called because the sleeve was envelope like in that both records and the booklet could fit inside it. As if they were in an envelope albeit one with Anton's photographic genius all over it.
27. The Gatefold sleeve LP
It's the Envelope Sleeve albeit without any hint of envelopeness. The gatefold fits one record in either side and the booklet in whichever sleeve you wish to squash it into. Also, on both versions of the lp, the stickers on the vinyl are majestic. That sort of thing pleases me and, admit it, many of you reading this.
28. The Cassette
This was my first ever version of 101. As with the CD, the full concert fits here with Black Celebration rounding off side 1. There are five different versions of the cassette (catalogue number CSTUMM101) ranging from one with a white paper label on each side to one with a black printed label. Collect them all and amuse and impress your loved ones. Also, if I don't actually get to 101 things to love (how is this only number 28 for God's sake?), expect 5 paragraphs on each version of the cassette sooner than you fear.
29. The Soft slipcase cover cd
The first variation of cd format (CDSTUMM101) came in a tri-fold digipack thing inside a cardboard sleeve. The cds were tucked inside the far too tight sleeves along with the booklet meaning you either sacrificed your fingers or the sleeve getting the bastard things out. Many Depeche fans of that era are accordingly fingerless.
30. The Big Chunky Double cd
That's more like it. A no nonsense, reassuringly heavy thick jewel case that you could open up and effortlessly remove the cds and book, free of digit destroying Depechery.
31. Other notable formats
If this is your sort of thing, then please do have a look at depmod.com where a staggering amount of work has gone into making sure Depeche fans all over the place can find out on how many different variations of 7" Get The Balance Right was released in the Cook Islands and so on. 101 was released in many different formats worldwide and, thanks to depmod.com, I've deemed the oddest three formats as follows:
(a) The Turkish cassette release on Jaws Records
Picture courtesy of depmod.com
(b) The Saudi cassette on Stallions Records
Picture courtesy of depmod.com
(c) The Taiwanese CD on Pony Records
Picture courtesy of depmod,com
All because I find the Record Company names amusing.
32. The Super Audio CD (SACD) release
You all know SACD's don't you? Unplayable in most cd players and certainly in no cars, they also can't be ripped to your iPod, making them virtually useless. Despite that, 101 was released on SACD on 2nd February 2004. Is it worth buying? Not really unless you're some sort of oddball completist - yes it does feature in my 101 formats picture above. There is one other reason to buy the SACD though. An unreleased until 2004 track. A NEW DEPECHE MODE THING. Sit down before I tell you that the name of that track was
33. Pimpf (Full version)
Yeah that gave us the full Pimpf. And not at the start instead of the old Pimpf either. It's at the end. As in after Everything Counts. As in after everyone has left. Baffling.
34. Reissues
This is more for the sake of completion than anything else, however the album has been reissued on CD 6 times and on LP once in Britain. You can tell them apart by minute details and again, can have fun collecting the set.
35. The Music
Yes, it's taken me 35 items to actually get to the music itself. Only 66 to go. 101 is an act of genius from the start to the end and, were this just a post called "Is 101 Any Good?" that description would suffice. It isn't however, so settle down, pop on the album and enjoy the best bits of each track with this startling commentary:
36. Pimpf
Genuinely works better as the fade in version we get here. It just does.
37. Behind The Wheel
That's how you kick off a concert. Depeche at their pre guitar dominance most minimalist and slinky.
38. Strangelove
GLORIOUS! When Martin starts singing "Strangelove" from 3 minutes 54 seconds in you are transported to a heavenly plane.
39. Sacred
They were touring the album this was on. Fair enough.
40. Something To Do
Leather boots, oily dresses and noises only Depeche put on albums - a celebration of one of Some Great Reward's gems
41. Blasphemous Rumours
A towering version of their "We want to be like The Cure but can't help stick an oddly poppy chorus in a gloom track" classic. Look out for the woman in tears singing along in the film without any notion of what the tune is or ever was.
42. Stripped
A live track as erotic experience. That metal bashing is a staggering beast and the last 1 minute 30 seconds is probably the most exciting passage of music of all time. Fun fact - I spent far too long a time when I was 16 using deodorant cans to replicate the metal bashing. I even made sure I used enough deodorant from each so that each can sounded just like the metal pad things. I grew up in a very small town. Leave me alone.
43. Somebody
Sigh. Magical
44. The Things You Said
No YOU'RE crying
45. Black Celebration
The definitive live version of one of Depeche Mode's defining tracks. Yes even better than the Exciter tour version....shudder.....
46. Shake The Disease
If you don't like this either seek medical attention or get some new ears. And a new soul.
47. Nothing
In my still excellent and available to read blog about Music For The Masses, I suggested that Nothing was perhaps not that good and indeed a bit overrated. I stick by that. This version is either here nor there. On the plus side, its features more metal bashing. On the negative side, it's...well...sod it. I don't like it. There you go - I said it again. The band MUST agree as they missed this off the LP version. Right?
48. Pleasure Little Treasure
A B-side which is a cool thing and my Mum's favourite Depeche Mode song. Stop the air guitar though Dave. Just stop it. Stop it now.
49. People Are People
Brilliant and powerful and all the better for the "And go....." bit on the film which is not in fact from this concert. Depeche Mode Classic Photos & Videos Facebook Group's Linda Meijer recently did some detective work and it turns out that the shot of the lighting person actually came from the Philadelphia show on 27 May. So there you go.
50. A Question Of Time
No guitars, no rockiness, just this song played quite wonderfully
51. Never Let Me Down Again
Another definitive version and the one that started off the arm waving craze I ensure I bore DM newcomers about at concerts
52. A Question Of Lust
More marvellousness from Mr Martin.
(It was also left off the album but that does NOT negate my Nothing argument)
53. Master & Servant
A booming, hugely satisfying version of this booming, highly satisfying song
54. Just Can't Get Enough
Vince Clarke wrote this you know. He used to be in Depeche Mode. Can no longer be played in Glasgow due to our marvellous football "culture."
55. Everything Counts
Perfection.
What an album.
56. Additional Fact 1
(Thanks to Niggels for these)
This was not the first time Depeche had played in Pasadena. They also played there on 15 February 1982 at Perkins Palace. It was nice of Perkin to let them play there. The wonderous DM Live Wiki has a note of what was played that night here . Only one song was played at both this show and the Rose Bowl one. Any ideas?
57. Additional Fact 2
The Rose Bowl gig was the last time (to date) that Depeche played Sacred, Blasphemous Rumours, Nothing, Pleasure Little Treasure and People Are People live. And Pimpf too if that counts.
58 - 60 The Support Acts 58. Wire
Wire opened the show and that's about all we know as there is no setlist information available. They also played a set that night at a venue called The Scream
59. Thomas Dolby
Setlist FM says he played two songs - My Brain Is Like A Sieve and She Blinded Me With Science. I would guess there were maybe more but who knows?
60. OMD
OMD's 12 song setlist can be found here and DM Live Wiki has a recording of it here
DM and DA Pennebaker (centre)
61. 101 - The Film
Having picked D A Pennebaker as Director, the band and he decided to make the band's live performance focus of the film both in terms of actual footage and in terms of what Depeche live means to the fans. The fans are represented by the kids on the bus more of whom in a moment. I'm not going to retell the story of the film as you're all familiar with it and will have watched it hundreds of times. One thing 101 amply demonstrates is the sheer numbers of people willing to see Depeche Mode live in 1988, especially of course in America. 101 was hugely important beast for the band as it showed the world that they were a big, big thing and it paved the way for huge success of the next two tours.
Interestingly, and perhaps obviously if, like me, you've seen Martin wear a hat, then not wear a hat then wear a hat again on 101, not all the live footage came from the Rose Bowl. As Depeche Mode Classic Photos & Videos Facebook Group have discovered, in addition to the Rose Bowl footage, the shows that feature in the film seem to be those in Arlington (13 May 1988), Houston (14 May 1988), Philadelphia (27 May 1988) and Mansfield (7 June 1988). There may be more though so if you know, get in touch with Depeche's own forensic detectives at that superb Facebook group.
62. The Video
Kids today might not be familiar with video cassettes. You used to watch a film on one then, rather than simply watch it again, you had to rewind it. Life was tough then. The video was the format of choice in 1989 however and that's how 101 was released. Many people of my age or younger (slightly) will be nodding their heads nostalgically as they read this.
A video cassette. Ask your parents. Or grandparents
63. The DVD
On 9 October 2003 (in the UK anyway), Depeche leapt into the future we were already in by releasing the film on DVD. This was huge really as none of us had video players anymore. The dvd was a double release featuring the film on 1 disc with additional commentary from the band, D A Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus. Disc 2 features the Story of 101 documentary in full (see 12 above) and live tracks (Master & Servant, Pimpf, Behind The Wheel, Strangelove, Blasphemous Rumours, Stripped, Somebody, Black Celebration, Pleasure Little Treasure, Just Can't Get Enough, Everything Counts, Never Let Me Down Again) and interviews with Dave, Martin, Andy, Daniel Miller and Jonathon Kessler along with three of the bus kids - Christopher Hardwick, Oliver Chessler and Jay Serken.
There was a DVD screening in London on 9 October 2003 at the Prince Charles Theatre. D A Pennebaker, Chris Hegedus and Fletch.
Picture courtesy of Depeche Mode Classic Photos & Videos Facebook Group
64-71: The Kids On The Bus
64. Oliver Chester
Oliver, he of the blue hair, is now a successful recording artist known as The Horrorist. His best moment in 101 was surely having his hair poked and prodded by the bewildered diners in the diner.
65. Sandra Fergus
At the time to 101 Sandra and Oliver were an item. Sandra's was no fan of Elvis as you may recall.
66. Christopher Hardwick
My favourite bus kid. The Vivian moment (see below), his heroic booze intake, dropping booze in the truckstop and so on all make him the star of the bus.
Oliver, Sandra and Christopher (c) Christopher Hardwick
67. Mia Decaro
Mia is picture above with Martin and Fletch.
68. Jay Serken
Jay seemed like one of the quieter, saner bus kids. "Guns N Posers...."
Jay (right)
69. Liz Lazo
Here's Liz and some guy who I recognise but can't quite place
70. Chris Parziale
Chris was very quiet, seemingly the most sensible one of the group.
71. Maggie Mouzakitis
101was just the start of Maggie's music career - she ended up being Oasis' tour manager for 13 years. That seems more of a sentence than a job but it must have been interesting. Here she is with one of her clients
72 - 74 But there were other people involved too
As well as the kids and occasional band members, who else was on or near the bus?
72. Dave Charest
The true hero of 101, Dave was given a job many other people wouldn't have taken yet did it without complaint. We salute you Dave. He was also responsible for some of the film's best one liners as we shall see later
73. Tamsin Lee
Listed on IMDB as Cruise Director (odd), Tamsin makes a couple of appearances. She's in the middle below beside Liz at the concert
74. Marcello Romero
Marcello was the Tour Guide apparently. That's all I have. Here's a picture of Martino Gorero instead.
75 - 101: The Best Bits of 101
As a general rule, Depeche Mode fans love 101 and everyone has favourite moments from the film. I certainly do, but in an attempt to (a) make this more of a democratic process and (b) help my 101 addled brain keep going, I opened this part to the Black Swarm to see what they liked about 101. Many of the highlights mentioned were ones I considered highlights too. Here then, in no order at all, are the best bits of 101.
75. Announcing a Concert For The Masses
Riding in in a Cadillac, throwing a football, saying ni hao to China and announcing a concert in the Rose Bowl. Wait. Depeche Mode in a stadium? In America? That'll never work...
76. Alan explains everything
Admit it - you love this bit. A bit of Black Celebration, some metal bashing and Alan in full on technical mode. Lovely stuff, to quote Alan Partridge. And no, Alan isn't coming back to Depeche Mode. Ever. Accept that and move on.
77. I said "Smile..
...motherfucker, smile." Charmed - clearly not a fan.
78. Chris can't hold his drink
Literally. "I fucked up."
79. We play butt naked
80. We're keyboard players, we don't move
81. I will sing for tickets
"Well...you got three of the words right"
Three in one here in this glorious piece of radio show buffoonery:
82. Dave Gahan vs Taxi Driver
Dave pre mid Atlantic accent, Dave hitting the taxi drive, the taxi driver's trousers falling down...what more do you want?
83. Dave and Martin suddenly realise what's going on
The moment they look at each other and smile is just superb.
84. Vivian "Oh Vivian/look what you've done/You shagged Chris' friend/in his own bed/on 101/Oh Vivian"
Did Chris ever return the videos I wonder?
85. The alternative dance party from hell 86. Fletch just bums around 87. Fletch forgetting that Martin is a better guitar player than him
Another three in one here. Ah... the Country and Western shop. Fletch has a go on an acoustic and then Martin says "Stand aside my friend...this is how you play guitar." And then he buys every cassette in the shop.
88. Don't Dance Too Much
Wise words Mrs Dacaro, wise words.
89. Chris gets a little drunk
Tequila, worms, loads of beer - you just know a night out with Chris would be fun.
90. Oliver and Chris attempt Route 66.
It fools no-one.
91. Who do you think I am...
Fucking Wordsworth?
92. Let's go back to the hotel
Sorry Dave. Too late. Although Alan does appear to have his bag with him so maybe he was up for it
93. "This means nothing.."
"No, no....this means something." And from that day forth, Depeche Mode collectors around the globe would pay fortunes for those stickers. Years after the tour ended. When the stickers simply wouldn't work.
94. Blasphemous Rumours gets a little too much for someone
So much so that she forgets the tune. And the words.
95. Start The Tape
Tape starts, Pimpf starts, goosebumps. Every single time.
96. Dave introduces us (well me anyway) to Roxy Music
While playing pinball. Dave not me.
97. The band The Beatles could have been
Dave on harmonica (not to be seen again until his Reading Festival "performance" with Primal Scream), Martin on guitar and Daryl Bamonte on vocals tackling I Saw Her Standing There
98. Parked your car on the corner last night
God bless you Dave Charest.
99. The Things You Said soundcheck
Martin soundchecks in front of the kids before the live track takes over. A gorgeous moment.
100. Dave in his black pants
This received a large number of nominations on Facebook. A large number.
101. Never Let Me Down Again
A towering version of the song culminates in Dave standing on top of a large platform waving his arms. Again - goosebumps every single time. A phenomenon begins...
Thank you very much. We'll see you next time
I hope you've enjoyed this and not taken it too seriously. Any Depeche fan will tell you how important 101 is as a film and album and it's certainly something worth celebrating. Feel free to tell me how many of the Top 25 moments are wrong by the way. All I've got to do now is think of 101 more things for the 40th anniversary.
