+=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=+ | =Bong= The Depeche Mode Mailing List -/- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) | | Version 1.12 Compiled and Revised by: | | January 1st, 1996 blacksun@sky.net | +=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=+ [Ed. note: brian updated DMFC mail/e-mail addresses 2 Oct 1998] !Standard Disclaimer!(tm): This FAQ will perhaps never be complete due to the fact that time does, in fact, march on. What is contained herein comes from what has been placed on record or is the general consensus of the fans on the mailing list. The Usual Thanks can be sent to: [*] Those lovely people at the Depeche Mode Fan Club and Mute Records! [*] Brian L. Heess for being self-sacrificing enough to be our Fearless List Maintainer! *applause* [*] Daniel "THE BRAT" Barassi for giving it the once-over with the red marker and being relentless with his scrutiny. [*] John "Saint John the Pimpf" Simpson for providing divine inspiration through his updated FAQ ;) [*] Daniel Aeschliman for losing all sense of sanity and actually compiling an appendix for this FAQ. [*] Michael J. Salo for help with a few corrections/additions. [*] Wes Slaughter for his assistance in the mad dash to complete this. !Current News!: Depeche Mode are currently in the studio recording new tracks for their next release! The band is recording this album as a trio (Dave, Martin, and Andy) but have had outside musicians perform on a few of the tracks. The new tracks are being produced by Tim Simenon (Bomb the Bass). No release date for this album has been set at this time. Daryl Bamonte, long-time friend to the members of Depeche Mode and part-time keyboardist for the Devotional tour, announced his parting of ways with the band for his own pursuits in December of 1995. !A Bit of Basic Information!: Current Band Members: -------------------- David Gahan Born May 9, 1962 Martin Lee Gore Born July 23, 1961 Andrew John "Fletch" Fletcher Born July 8, 1961 Past Members: ------------ Vincent Clarke Born July 3, 1960 Alan Charles "Slik" Wilder Born June 1, 1959 The Current Depeche Mode Backcatalogue: -------------------------------------- (All dates are taken from the UK releases except where N/A) Studio Releases: Speak and Spell 09/81 A Broken Frame 09/82 Construction Time Again 08/83 Some Great Reward 08/84 Black Celebration 09/86 Music for the Masses 09/87 Violator 03/90 Songs of Faith and Devotion 03/93 Compilations: People Are People 06/84 [US/JP] The Singles 81->85 [*] 09/85 [UK] Catching Up with Depeche Mode [*] 09/85 [US] Singles Boxes 1/2/3 /91 Official Live Albums: 101 [**] 02/89 Songs of Faith and Devotion - Live 12/93 Total Live [**] 05/95 [FR] [*] The albums _The Singles 81->85_ and _Catching Up with Depeche Mode_ are essentially the same album, just released in different countries. Each has its own exclusive track listing with the UK release having a greater inclusion of tracks. [**] These albums _101_ and _Total Live_ are also the same, track listings and all. The following is what Mute Records had to say concerning the title change: "The reason 101 was re-promoted in France as Total Live, was due to the ever-increasing demand there for a "best of". This was re-promoted to fill the gap while we wait to see if there will be a "best of". The title changed because it was part of a TV campaign and it needed to be made clearer that it was a live album." If you find that you cannot locate any of these releases, you can order them directly from the Mute Bank. Check out their FTP site at mutelibtech.com for their catalogues of releases and ordering form, or they can also be reached through the following means: voice: (0181) 964 0029 fax: (0181) 964 3722 mail: 429 Harrow Road London W10 4RE, England !Where To Find Files!: Files concerning Depeche Mode can be found at the Bong FTP site whose current address is: commline.com Under the directory of /pub/Lists/bong is a fairly self-explanitory directory tree, but here are a few pointers: /Archives [Mailing list archives] /Digests [Digest archives] /Discog [Depeche discographies] /Lyrics [Depeche lyrics - revised(?)] /Pictures [Pictures of albums, band, etc.] Another source of Depeche Mode information would be the Mute Liberation Technologies FTP site: mutelibtech.com Information can be found under the /libtechPub/Artists/DepecheM directory. They are also running a BBS that can be accessed via telnet at the same address. If neither of these sources have the info being sought, then the University of Wisconsin at Parkville music archives is another alternative at: ftp.uwp.edu When connected, the /pub/music/artists/d/depeche.mode directory will have all the pointers to the various lyrics, pictures, and individual member's directories. This site is generally swamped with users and rather difficult to access. To access FTP might differ from location to location. It is generally accessed through typing 'ftp' at a shell prompt. If all goes well, an 'ftp>' prompt should appear awaiting the next command. To access an FTP site, at the 'ftp>' prompt type: 'open
' (substitute
with either commline.com, mutelibtech.com, or ftp.uwp.edu) If all goes well, a 'login:' prompt should appear. Type in 'anonymous' at this prompt. This will be followed with a 'password:' prompt. Here you should enter in your e-mail address . It should then return with the 'ftp>' prompt. From this prompt, the following basic commands can be used to manuever through the site: 'cd' [Changes through directories] 'get ' [Download file to terminal/home dir] 'ls' [List files in current directory] 'bye' [Close connection to site] !REMEMBER!: UNIX is a case-sensitive operating system which means that everything must be typed as-seen. Also, remember to use the '/' NOT the '\'! !Bong History - A Brief Overview and a How-To!: This mailing list was started in the Spring of 1991 as an electronic magazine based at Cornell. It was soon changed to the current mailing list format you see here by Colin Smiley at Compaq. It was then moved to the University of Florida and was then maintained by Scott Glenn. Now Bong sits in the New Jersey office of the current maintainer, Brian Heess. Discussion is generally all over the place. Occassionally, unrelated threads will pop in, but on the whole it centers around the band, its music, member's private lives, side-projects, and events. The following is an abbreviated how-to on subscribing to Bong if you haven't already. The following was taken straight from commline.com: ============================================================================== SUBSCRIBING =========== To subscribe to bong, send the following in the body (NOT the subject line) of an email message to "majordomo@commline.com": subscribe bong This will subscribe the account from which you send the message to the Bong list. If you wish to subscribe another address instead (such as a local redistribution list), you can use a command of the form: subscribe bong other-address@your_site.your_net UNSUBSCRIBING ============= To unsubscribe from bong, send the following in the body (not the subject line) of an email message to "majordomo@commline.com": unsubscribe bong This will unsubscribe the account from which you send the message. If you are subscribed with some other address, you'll have to send a command of the following form instead: unsubscribe bong other-address@your_site.your_net To find out more about the automated server and the commands it understands, send the following command to "majordomo@commline.com": help If you feel you need to reach a human, send email to bong-owner@commline.com ============================================================================== !Some Simple List Etiquette!: Posts not relating to Depeche Mode are generally frowned upon, however they do occur from time to time. If what you want to post is way off topic, please try to refrain from doing so. Please keep posts informative or legitimate questions and definately take all flames and personal discussions to private mail. If you still feel a desire to post about a non-Depeche Mode topic, please notify other subscribers by placing "(No DM)" in your subject header. Another important thing is to quote only the parts of the message to which you are replying and not the entire message. Signature files (especially the standard list trailer) do not need to be quoted and should be kept to somewhere around four lines. !The Early History of Depeche Mode!: Depeche Mode originally started as a trio of Vince Clarke, Martin Gore, and Andrew "Fletch" Fletcher under the name Composition of Sound. Vince played lead guitar, Martin played keyboards, and Andrew played bass guitar. They managed to book one gig at a nightclub which ended up a complete disaster. Soon afterward, Vince and Fletch got keyboards of their own, and the band then began a search for a lead vocalist. They set their sights on David Gahan after hearing him perform a cover of David Bowie's "Heroes". Once the core of the band had been made, it was decided a name change would benefit the band since the name Composition of Sound wasn't very popular with the band members any more. It was decided (perhaps by Dave) that Depeche Mode would suit their needs. Depeche Mode released their first track, a slightly different sounding version of "Photographic" on the independent Some Bizzare label. However, it was Daniel Miller and his Mute label that would end up best suiting the band's interest. The first Depeche Mode single, "Dreaming of Me" (and its b-side "Ice Machine") was released in early 1981 and peaked at 57 on the UK charts. It was later followed with the release of "New Life", but it wasn't until "Just Can't Get Enough" was released that work would begin on their first album, _Speak & Spell_. It was after the recording of _Speak & Spell_ with it yet to be released that Vince announced that he would leave the band due to his dissatisfaction over the unexpected success of the band. Vince agreed to tour the UK to support _Speak & Spell_, but once that came to an end, so did the Vince-era of Depeche Mode. Of course, Vince once again found the success he had tried to escape from in his new bands Yaz(oo) [with Alison Moyet], The Assembly [with Eric Radcliffe], and his most recent project, Erasure [with Andy Bell]. With their primary songwriter gone, Martin assumed that duty, having had some past experience writing songs in his youth as well as contributing "Tora! Tora! Tora!" and "Big Muff" to _Speak & Spell_. It was also at this time that the band placed an ad in the publication Melody Maker asking for a replacement keyboardist under the age of 21. It was Alan Wilder who answered this ad, even going so far as to lie about his age to get the job. Alan was recruited to help the band with live performances on its "See You" Tour. He took part in the re-recording of the live backing tapes to be used on the tour and supposedly was "delighted in the task." With the end of the tour, Alan was no longer required by the band, and Dave, Martin, and Fletch set out to record _A Broken Frame_ on their own. It wasn't long after _A Broken Frame_ was released that Mute Records issued a statement announcing that Alan was joining the band now as a full member. The first studio recording he made with Depeche Mode was the song "Get The Balance Right". With that he also co-wrote the instrumental b-side "The Great Outdoors" with Martin. It would be this line-up that would carry Depeche Mode into its prime years. And the rest, as they say, is history... !What Certain Members of Depeche Mode do in Their Spare Time!: Martin Gore released a solo album in 1989 entitled _Counterfeit_. This EP is a selection of covers that sound alot like his work with Depeche Mode. The original performers of the songs are as follows: "Compulsion" - John Crow "In A Manner of Speaking" - Tuxedomoon "Smile In A Crowd" - Durutti Column "Gone" - Comsat Angels "Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth" - Sparks "Motherless Child" - [a traditional song] Besides _Counterfeit_, another solo effort by Martin was planned to be released back in the Fall of 1994, however no recent word has been made concering it. Martin also contributed the song "Coming Back to You" for the _Tower of Song - A Tribute to Leonard Cohen_ album in 1995. It is available from A&M Records. Alan Wilder also has his own solo project titled Recoil. He has released one EP, titled _1+2_, and two full-length albums, titled _Hydrology_ and _Bloodline_, under this name. The album _Hydrology_ and the EP _1+2_ are primarily instrumental with _1+2_ making use of the large collection of sounds available from Depeche Mode's sampling library. With _Bloodline_, Alan had Douglas McCarthy of Nitzer Ebb, Moby, and Toni Halliday of the now-defunct Curve record vocals for a few of the tracks. Only one single, "Faith Healer", was released from this album. "Edge to Life" had been planned to be the second, but no remixes of the song were ever made and the single was scrapped. Alan also did some outside production work with Nitzer Ebb on the song "Come Alive" (found on the _As Is_ EP), and he shared co-production credit with Flood on their album _Ebbhead_. !Questions About Depeche Mode!: [Q.] Why did Alan Wilder leave the band? [A.] The only word that has been made public concerning his departure is the following statement Alan issued upon his decision to part ways with the rest of the band: ============================================================================== "Due to increasing dissatisfaction with the internal relations and working practices of the group, it is with some sadness that I have decided to part company from Depeche Mode. My decision to leave the group was not an easy one particularly as our last few albums were an indication of the full potential that Depeche Mode was realising. Since joining in 1982, I have continually striven to give total energy, enthusiasm and commitment to the furthering of the group's success and in spite of a consistent imbalance in the distribution of the workload, willingly offered this. Unfortunately, within the group, this level of input never received the respect and acknowledgement that it warrants. Whilst I believe that the calibre of our musical output has improved, the quality of our association has deteriorated to the point where I no longer feel that the end justifies the means. I have no wish to cast aspersions on any individual; suffice to say that relations have become seriously strained, increasingly frustrating and, ultimately, in certain situations, intolerable. Given these circumstances, I have no option but to leave the group. It seems preferable therefore, to leave on a relative high, and as I still retain a great enthusiasm and passion for music, I am excited by the prospect of pursuing new projects. The remaining band members have my support and best wishes for anything they may pursue in the future, be it collectively or individually." 1st June, 1995. ============================================================================== [Q.] Did Dave Gahan try to kill himself in August of 1995? [A.] On August 17th, 1995, Dave Gahan was admitted to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for treatment of "lacerations" according to Los Angeles radio station KROQ-FM. Official statments were issued reporting that Dave was "resting comfortably" but gave no word as to the cause of his admittance. Rumors have flown about and even the media has reported that it was a suicide attempt, however these have yet to be proven. Dave was released after a brief stay in the hospital. When word of this reached the list, a collection of names and e-mail addresses was begun which resulted in a list of 243 names that was 24 pages long. The list of names was sent to Dave along with a get well message. It has recently been reported that Dave expressed his gratitude over the letters he received and that they meant a lot to him. [Q.] I heard somewhere that Andy "Fletch" Fletcher had left the band? Is it true? [A.] No. Fletch has _never_ left the band, he has, however, left much of the music making to the other members while concentrating on the band's finances. He did return home before the 1994 US tour had begun to witness the birth of his son. He was replaced on stage by Daryl Bamonte, a long-time friend of the band. [Q.] Where might I find the track "I Sometimes Wish I Was Dead"? [A.] The track can be found on all formats of the UK release of _Speak & Spell_. Besides ISWIWD, the UK CD includes the following bonus tracks as well: "Dreaming of Me" [Not included on the UK _S&S_ originally] "Ice Machine" [B-side found on the "Dreaming of Me" single] "Shout" [B-side found on the "New Life" single] "Any Second Now" [Instrumental version. B-side to JCGE] "Just Cant Get Enough" [Schizo Mix. Available on US _S&S_] Not only do extra tracks appear on _Speak & Spell_, but a few extra tracks are available on the UK version of _Black Celebration_ as well. The extra track on it are as follows: "Breathing in Fumes" [Remix of "Stripped"] "Black Day" [Original piece using lyrics from BC] "But Not Tonight" [Extended Remix] As a side note, on their 1994 US tour, Martin expressed displeasure to one of our backstage boys at the fact that after all these years, people will still come up to him and ask him where "I Sometimes Wish I Was Dead" could be found. So, please - if ever you get backstage do not taunt the poor man with questions concerning ISWIWD. [Q.] Are there any Depeche Mode tribute albums out there? [A.] There are a couple available out there. One album is titled _I Sometimes Wish I Was Famous_. Fans of Swedish EBM/industrial bands will probably enjoy this album which covers quite a range of Depeche Mode material. The track listing is as follows: "Dreaming of Me" - Page "Something to Do" - Cat Rapes Dog "My Secret Garden" - Elegant Machinery "Photographic" - Pouppee Fabrikk "Puppets" - Signal "Fly on the Windscreen" - Dead Eyes Open "Blasphemous Rumours" - Inside Treatment "New Life" - Cultivate Bimbo "Stripped" - Scene of Ritual "Ice Machine" - S.P.O.C.K. "New Dress" - Sol Niger "The Things You Said" - One Hit Wonder "The Sun and the Rainfall" - Ater Koma "Never Let Me Down Again" - Big Fish "Shouldn't Have Done That" - Systema the Affliction Another tribute was made by the band Diesel Christ titled _Diesel Mode_. This album concerns itself with tracks from _Songs of Faith and Devotion_. The track listing is as follows: "Walking in My Shoes" "Rush" "In Your Room" "I Feel You" "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" [A Diesel Christ] [original track.] "Higher Love" A single of Diesel Christ's "Walking in My Shoes" cover was also released containing alternate mixes of the song. The band also did a version of "Mercy in You", but it wasn't included on the album. Still another "tribute" was made by the band Smashing Pumpkins. They recorded a cover version of "Never Let Me Down Again" to be placed as the b-side to their import "Rocket" CD and 7" singles (Note: On the singles, the song is titled "Never Let Me Down"). A shorter, live performance of this cover can be found on the Smashing Pumpkins _Astoria '94_ bootleg. The band also does a rendition of "I Feel You" in concert. A video bootleg recording of this is said to exist. Another band, BiGod 20, covered "Photographic" as the b-side to their "America" single available on ZYX Records. [Q.] What is this MODEified I & II that I keep hearing so much about? [A.] MODEified was a project started on Bong that would accept covers of Depeche Mode songs to be compiled on tape - a fan's tribute album. Lots of hard work was put into this by the contributors and the compilers and it has turned out pretty successful. Any specific queries should be directed to NCRobino@aol.com, the creator of the project. [Q.] Does Depeche Mode have a contract with Mute Records at all? [A.] It wasn't until _Black Celebration_ that Depeche Mode signed a legal contract with Mute Records. Prior to this, all deals with Daniel Miller were made with nothing more than a handshake and a gentleman's agreement. Now they have consecutive one-album contracts with Mute Records to cover mainly what would happen in the event of Daniel Miller's death. Along with this, they also hold contracts with the other record companies that distribute their albums. [Q.] Does the mailing list have anything to do with the Bong - The Depeche Mode Fan Club? [A.] No. In fact, there is some concern over the similarity in names from the Fan Club, but we all hope that we might co-exist peacefully. [Q.] What ever happened to US BONG? [A.] In North America, there was a slight problem with a "Fan Club" that was based out of Denver which was nothing more than a fraud and a scam. The following is what the London office of the Fan Club had to say concering the matter: "On the subject of the United States, we would like to apologise to any fans who were disappointed with the service they received from US BONG, and we want to assure everyone that all aspects of the Fan Club are now under our control..." [Q.] How does one go about becoming a member of Bong - The Depeche Mode Fan Club? [A.] [Ed. note: mail/e-mail addresses updated 2 Oct 1998] The following form is available from the Mute FTP site and can be sent with your subscription to Bong. If you have any questions, the fan club can be reached via e-mail at bong_magazine@compuserve.com. ============================================================================== BONG - THE DEPECHE MODE FAN CLUB Membership application form Thank you for your interest in The Depeche Mode Fan Club. Annual subscription fees are as follows: UK: UKP 10.00 EUROPE: UKP 12.00 (US $24.00) OVERSEAS: UKP 18.00 (US $32.00) This entitles you to one year's membership, four issues of BONG Magazine, and the occasional surprise. If you would like to join, please complete the details below, and send with payment to one of the following addresses. Please note that we can only accept UK Pounds Sterling or US Dollars. Cheques from non-UK residents must have a UK or USA clearing address. Eurocheques can only be accepted in UK Pounds Sterling. All payments should be made out to THE DEPECHE MODE FAN CLUB. Please write your name and address on the back of your cheque. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD YOU SEND CASH. -------------------------------------------------------------- (PLEASE USE BLOCK CAPITALS) NAME: ADDRESS: POSTAL/ZIP CODE: COUNTRY: TELEPHONE: DATE OF BIRTH: AMOUNT ENCLOSED: UKP/US$ SIGNED: DATE: (NEW MEMBER - MLT) -------------------------------------------------------------- ============================================================================== BONG Magazine BONG Magazine The Fan Club's US mailing address is: BONG Magzine The Depeche Mode Fan Club P.O. Box 4596 Grand Central Station New York NY 10163 USA In Europe, you should send mail to: BONG Magzine The Depeche Mode Fan Club P.O. BOX 2581 LONDON W1A 3JY England [Q.] Why isn't there a newsgroup dedicated to Depeche Mode so that we don't have to bother with a mailing list? [A.] Well, there is. It exists as 'alt.music.depeche-mode', but it was created "illegally" and isn't recognized by many news servers. The alternative to this is 'alt.music.synthpop' where more than just Depeche Mode is talked about. The problem with newsgroups is that the occassional " sucks!" thread pops up along with the "You too can make loads of money!" spam. More often than not, misinformation is accepted as fact in the newsgroups, so in the long run the mailing list is a better source. [Q.] Does Alan sing vocals on "The Landscape is Changing" or "Fools"? [A.] No, in fact an interview with Alan quoted him as saying that he stated he does not sing "The Landscape is Changing". If Alan isn't singing TLiC, then it has been agreed that he is also not singing "Fools". If you really want to hear Alan's voice, you'll have to listen carefully to "People Are People" on _101_ where he sings backup. [Q.] What songs has Alan written for Depeche Mode? [A.] Alan has sole writing credits on the tracks "Two Minute Warning" and "The Landscape is Changing" on the _Construction Time Again_ album, the b-side on the "Love, In Itself" single - "Fools", the song "If You Want" on the _Some Great Reward_ album, and finally the b-side on the "People Are People" single - "In Your Memory". Alan shares co-writing credits on the tracks "The Great Outdoors" and "Work Hard" from the _Construction Time Again_ era, "Christmas Island" and "Black Day" from the _Black Celebration_ era, and "Stjarna" from the _Music for the Masses_ era. It is also Alan who performs Beethoven's "Sonata No. 14 in C#m (Moonlight Sonata)" - a b-side on the "Little 15" single. [Q.] While on the subject of Alan, what did he do before joining Depeche Mode? [A.] Here's a short list of appearances he made on other people's recordings before becoming a member of Depeche Mode: Daphne & The Tenderspots [single "Disco Hell" 1979] Real To Real [LP _Tightrope Walkers_ ?/79] The Hitmen [single "Bates Motel" ?/80] He also played on The Korgis single "If I Had You" [Q.] Who is it that sings "Route 66", and where can I find it? [A.] Martin sings the studio version, and Dave generally performs it live. It is available as the b-side to the "Behind the Wheel" single, and can also be found on the _Earth Girls are Easy_ soundtrack. [Q.] What other studio songs does Martin sing? [A.] Besides "Route 66", Martin lends his voice to "Any Second Now (Voices)", "Pipeline", "It Doesn't Matter", "Somebody", "A Question of Lust", "It Doesn't Matter Two", "Sometimes", "World Full of Nothing", "Black Day", "The Things You Said", "I Want You Now", "Sweetest Perfection", "Waiting for the Night", "Enjoy the Silence (Harmonium)", "Blue Dress", "Judas", and "One Caress". [Q.] Since both Dave and Martin share singing duties, have they ever recorded a duet? [A.] The only true duet that Depeche Mode have recorded is "Waiting for the Night" on _Violator_. The proper title for this song is "Waiting for the Night to Fall" but a printing error on all the inserts clipped the last two words from the title. [Q.] What is that sample at the beginning of "Black Celebration"? [A.] It is a sample of Daniel Miller doing his best impression of Winston Churchill saying, "A brief period of rejoicing." [Q.] What is being said in Russian at the beginning of "To Have and to Hold"? [A.] Below is the Russian followed by the English translation provided by Sergey Ukladov : "V dokladah rassmatrivayutsya evolyutsiya yadernyh arsenalov i sotsial'no-psihologicheskiye aspekty [problemy?] gonki vooruzheniy" "Evolution of nuclear arsenals and socially-psychological aspects [problems?] of arms race is considered in these reports.." [Q.] Also, what is it that is being said in the interlude that follows "Enjoy the Silence"? [A.] The distorted and slowed vocal sample is saying "Crucified" which also happens to be the "common" title of that particular interlude. [Q.] What is a "Pimpf"? [A.] "Pimpf" was one of several youth organizations created by the Nazis in Germany. The Pimpf organization was for 6 to 10 year olds who were making their way into the Hitler Youth. The "lyrics" to this song were the subject of constant debate on the mailing list. It isn't any sort of message, just "Ohh"s and "Hee"s. Certainly _NOT_ "Cold beer"! A rumor circulating at the time was that the song was originally going to be titled "Pimp", however, at the insistence of Mute, an 'f' was added to make it less offensive. This rumor hasn't been proven. [Q.] Does the band KMFDM _really_ hate Depeche Mode, and isn't KMFDM an acronym for the phrase "Kill Mother F---ing Depeche Mode"? [A.] Granted that KMFDM have the lyric ".. we hate Depeche Mode.." in their song "Sucks", but there really isn't any rivalry between the two bands. As for the acronym, people have come up with several alternative meanings, but the official definition is "Kein Mitleid Fur Die Mehrheit" (No pity for the majority). [Q.] What religion does St. Jarna belong to? [A.] St. Jarna is the result of a printing error on behalf of the record company. The track is correctly titled "Stjarna" which is the Swedish word for "star". As a side-note, Martin said backstage to a list member that he doesn't know how it is pronounced. For the record, the most accurate pronunciation is "Share-Nah". [Q.] Has any of the band member's solo material ever been performed live? [A.] "Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth" was played at a few select shows during the Music For The Masses Tour and is available on many of the bootlegs out there, but in rather poor quality. To date, no Recoil material has been performed live by Depeche Mode themselves, however the band Curve often played the song "Edge to Life" at their concerts. [Q.] Okay, also about live material. What were the songs that Depeche Mode performed on their live act back in the early '80s but never officially recorded? [A.] Depeche Mode performed the following songs only in their early live sets: "Reason Man" "Television Set" "The Price of Love" "I Like It" "Tomorrow's Dance" "Ghost of Modern Time" ("Addiction") [Q.] A CD shop I go to has these two boxes of DM singles imported from Japan and at an outrageous price. What are they? [A.] These boxes are known as X1 and X2 and are the Japanese collection of Depeche Mode singles. What makes these special and high-dollar was that they were issued then deleted by the company on the same day. They contain a version of the Combination Mix of "Get the Balance Right" that ends cold rather than fades out like on the US and UK versions of the mix. They also make officially available for the first (and only) time on CD the US Black and Blue Mix of "Master and Servant" and the "Are People People?" remix of "People Are People". [Q.] Okay, well there is also this wooden box that is a European import that contains 18 singles. What is it? [A.] That is a bootleg collection of the singles from the Sire/Mute box set. The singles this box contains are usually a combination of the German and Dutch re-issues, OR contains a full set of the Dutch re-issues. These discs differ from the US and UK in disc design only. [Q.] Okay, so "Strangelove" is number 19, "Never Let Me Down Again" is number 20, "Behind the Wheel" is number 21, and "Everything Counts (live) is number 22. Is there a 4th box set that these belong to? [A.] No. What happened was that the European countries re-released these singles separately from the three box sets. It was Sire in the US who decided to place numbers upon them, and at the time there just weren't enough singles to warrant the release of a 4th complete box. [Q.] I have a 12" single for "But Not Tonight" with "Stripped" as the b-side. What is the deal? [A.] Sire decided at the last moment to flip the roles of the songs and made "But Not Tonight" the a-side and "Stripped" the b-side, due to the inclusion of the "But Not Tonight" track in the film "Modern Girls". Needless to say, Depeche Mode themselves weren't happy, but alot of fans seem to like the song despite that. [Q.] Okay, so then why aren't there any lyrics to "But Not Tonight" on the _Black Celebration_ album booklet? [A.] The song was not originally intended to be released on _Black Celebration_, shown by Mute Records not including the track in their original 1986 release of the album. It was Sire who made a last moment addition of the song to the US pressing, and all that ended up making it to the US booklet was the title and the authoring credit. [Q.] While on the subject of album additions/changes and rarities, a local shop has a promo CD that includes the single tracks from _Black Celebration_ to _Songs of Faith and Devotion_. What is this, exactly? [A.] This is a promo-only CD that was included with the promotional boxed set for _Songs of Faith and Devotion - Live_. The CD is a representation of _The Singles 86->94_. There have been no plans (as of yet) to make this an official release. It was rumored that there would be a commercial release of this CD in the US with the title, _Caught Up with Depeche Mode_, but it hasn't seen release either. [Q.] While on the subject of singles, what is written in the run-out groove of several Depeche Mode singles? [A.] What is written in the run-out groove is called an 'etching'. They are usually placed there by the company and/or person that presses the vinyl. There are currently a few lists floating around that list all the etchings on the various singles, one of which also includes a few comments from Martin. [Q.] How many different titles are there for _101_? [A.] The _101_ live album had the working titles of _Mass_ and _A Brief Period of Rejoicing_ before the one we all know was decided upon. It was re-issued in France with the title _Total Live_, and did rather well in the charts! [Q.] On the cover of "I Feel You" there are those symbols with numbers in the corners of each. What do they mean? [A.] Each symbol corresponds to a band member, and the numbers in the corner refer to their birthdates in the DD/MM/YY format. You can refer to the _Songs of Faith and Devotion_ album cover, the birthdates in the FAQ above, or you can use this handy rememberance chart: The "thin" symbol - Andrew Fletcher The "unevenly topped" symbol - Martin Gore The "long topped" symbol - Dave Gahan The "squared" symbol - Alan Wilder [Q.] Where can I get some printed info about DM? [A.] A book covering the early years to _SGR_ era Depeche Mode is titled _Depeche Mode_ and is by Dave Thomas. It contains pictures that DM would rather see burn than be published. A more recent book covering the band is _Depeche Mode: Some Great Reward_ by Dave Thompson and published by St. Martin's Press. This book is a gathering of several articles written about Depeche Mode, and there are some inaccuracies, but for a crash course in the early '80s synthpop music scene and Mute it is pretty good. It too has its share of embarassing photos. [Q.] What soundtracks can Depeche Mode be found on? [A.] "Just Cant Get Enough" - Summer Lovers "But Not Tonight" - Modern Girls "Pleasure, Little Treasure" - Bright Lights, Big City "Route 66 (Nile Rodgers Mix)" - Earth Girls Are Easy [exclusive mix] "Stripped (live)" - Say Anything "Death's Door" - Until The End Of The World [Q.] I just watched "The World We Live In And Live In Hamburg" and I noticed that "Photographic" is included, but not listed on the box. Is this rare? [A.] No, it isn't rare. It was somehow overlooked and left off the listing on the box. [Q.] Also, with "The World We Live In And Live In Hamburg" and more recently with "Devotional" what exactly are the differences between the US VHS and the UK VHS and LD versions? [A.] The UK VHS/LD version of "The World We Live In..." includes: "Two Minute Warning", "Leave In Silence", "New Life", "Shame", "See You" and "Shout" along with the tracks that can be found on the US VHS/LD versions of the video. The UK VHS/LD and the US LD versions of "Devotional" includes: "Behind the Wheel", "Mercy in You", "Fly on the Windscreen", and "Everything Counts" along with the tracks that are also available on the US VHS version of the video. MuchMusic, the music video channel in Canada, has been known to air the version of "Devotional" with the added tracks, so those of you who recieve this channel might want to keep an eye out for its broadcast. [Q.] While on the subject of videos, what songs have had videos made for them? [A.] Videos so far include: "Just Can't Get Enough" "Strangelove" "See You" "Never Let Me Down Again" "The Meaning of Love" "Pimpf" "Leave In Silence" "Behind the Wheel" "Get the Balance Right" "Little 15" "Love, In Itself" "Strangelove '88" (US Only) "Everything Counts" "Everything Counts" (Live) "People Are People" "Personal Jesus" "People Are People" (12" Mix) "Policy of Truth" "Somebody" "Enjoy the Silence" "Blasphemous Rumours" "Clean" "Master and Servant" "Halo" "Photographic (live)" "World in My Eyes" "Shake the Disease" "I Feel You" "It's Called a Heart" "Walking in My Shoes" "A Question of Lust" "Condemnation" "A Question of Time" "One Caress" (US Only) "But Not Tonight" (US Only) "In Your Room" "Stripped" [Q.] I heard the Trancentral Mix of "Policy of Truth" on my friend's 12" but it sounds nothing like the version on my CD single. What is wrong? [A.] Track 5 on the "Policy of Truth" CD single _should_ be titled Pavlov's Dub, however a printing error lists it as the Trancentral Mix on the CD inserts. [Q.] Which is it, _Violator_ or _Violater_? [A.] On the single re-issues, another printing error caused the correct title _Violator_ to be spelled _Violater_. The album title came out of a want for a "heavy metal" sounding name for the new album. [Q.] What are the titles of the instrumental tracks that follow "Pimpf" on _Music for the Masses_, "Enjoy the Silence" and "Blue Dress" on _Violator_, and "Get Right With Me" on _Songs of Faith and Devotion_? [A.] The titles and common names of the interludes are as follows: "Interlude #1" ("Mission Impossible") - after "Pimpf" on _Music for the Masses_ "Interlude #2" ("Crucified") - after "Enjoy the Silence" on _Violator_ "Interlude #3" - between "Blue Dress" and "Clean" on _Violator_ "Interlude #4" - after "Get Right With Me" on _Songs of Faith and Devotion_ [Q.] What is the relationship status of the band members? [A.] Dave - currently married(?) to Theresa Conroy. - has one son, Jack, by first wife, Jo. Martin - was married just last year to his long-time girlfriend, Suzanne. - has two daughters, Viva Lee and Eva Lee, by his current wife. Alan - married, but ends up being seen with alot of women. Fletch - married to Grianne. - has one son, Joseph, and one daughter, Megan, by his wife. [Q.] I've been wandering around London all day and I'm famished. Do you have any suggestions of where I can get a bite to eat? [A.] You could have a meal at Gascognes, the restaurant owned by Andy Fletcher! It is located at 12 Blenheim Terrace, London NW8. [Q.] What were the chart positions of each of the Depeche Mode singles? [A.] Single High Single High Dreaming Of Me 57 New Life 11 Just Can't Get Enough 8 See You 6 The Meaning Of Love 12 Leave In Silence 18 Get The Balance Right! 13 Everything Counts 6 Love, In Itself 21 People Are People 4 Master And Servant 9 Blasp. Rumours/Somebody 16 Shake The Disease 18 It's Called A Heart 18 Stripped 15 A Question Of Lust 28 A Question Of Time 17 Strangelove 16 Never Let Me Down Again 22 Behind The Wheel 21 Little 15 (Import) 60 Everything Counts (Live) 22 Personal Jesus 13 Enjoy The Silence 6 Policy Of Truth 16 World In My Eyes 17 I Feel You 8 Walking In My Shoes 14 Condemnation 16 In Your Room 23 [ Note: Numbers are UK chart rankings in the Top 75 ] [Q.] How many videos are there for the song "Strangelove"? [A.] There are two different videos for the song "Strangelove". One was a black and white version that can be found on the out-of-print _Strange_ video while the other one was in color an made for the re-release of the "Strangelove" single. There are also two separate videos for "Everything Counts". One contains various shots of marketplaces and band members while the other one is made from footage of the _101_ video and coincides with the release of the "Everything Counts (live)" single. There are also two versions of this live version of the video. "Walking in My Shoes" also has two different videos - censored and uncensored. These two differ only by the inclusion of one shot in the uncensored version. [Q.] Why is it that I haven't seen any videos from _Songs of Faith and Devotion_ with the exception of "I Feel You" and "Walking in My Shoes" on MTV? [A.] MTV plays the videos it feels its viewers would want to see. Both "I Feel You" and "Walking in My Shoes" did fairly well in the US charts, and this placed the videos in heavy rotation on MTV. When "Condemnation" and "One Caress" (not a "true" single in its own right) were released, they suffered on the US charts which led MTV to believe that its viewers could do without, and aired the videos infrequently. The release of the "In Your Room" video caused a stir because MTV decided that it would ban the video due to scenes of (relatively mild) bondage and one shot of a bare breast. While these could have been easily edited, the song did horribly on the US charts, and that fact alone would make any editing not worth the effort since the video wouldn't be aired that often. [ Note: It is the United States MTV that is being discussed in ] [ the above statement. ] [Q.] Why is it that on my Ultra Rare Tracks series of discs, I end up with similar mixes on not only my other remix boots, but official CDs as well? [A.] Those bootleggers are out there to make a buck, so if they can make you think that they have a track you don't already own, they're going to do it by giving the same mix several different names. It really is unfair to the fans, but if it isn't official, you're always going to have to take chances. Available from the mailing list FTP site at commline.com is a cross-referencing of all the mix names and where they appear all done for the sake of the fans by that trainspotter Daniel "THE BRAT" Barassi. It can also be obtained from his web page at: http://commline.com/~bratmix/ !A Brief Comment About Other Bands!: Cause & Effect: Their self-titled first release available on Nastymix Records (or the Zoo Entertainment release titled _Another Minute_) spawned the hit "You Think You Know Her". With the untimely death of their keyboardist, the band continued on to release _Trip_ which contained the hit "It's Over Now (It's Alright)". It has been remarked that they sound like early Depeche Mode, however it would be better placed at more mid-period sounding. Anything Box: Orignally from New Jersey, this band released their first CD titled _Peace_ on the Epic label containing several great songs. They were hard at work on their follow-up _Worth_ when Epic suggested that they pick up guitars. Their dissatisfaction with the label kept this album from being mass-distributed. After founding their own label, Orangewerks, they released _Hope_. A collection of remixes and b-sides titled _Mixology_ was recently released. They cite Depeche Mode as an influence (among several other bands) yet have managed to create a sound all their own. Red Flag: This is the band that has been causing alot of concern from Depeche Mode fans as of late. It seems their songs end up on Depeche Mode boots because the singer sounds alot like Martin. They have released _Naive Art_, _Naive Dance_, the "Machines" single, and recently _The Lighthouse_. This band does have a twinge of Depeche Mode sound to them, moreso than the others, so if you're looking for something with a dance edge, this is probably it. They hope to release a new album this year on their Plan B Records label. !Other Mailing Lists of Interest!: For a more Vince Clarke related discussion, wonderland@tcp.com is recommended. You can subscribe by mailing majordomo@tcp.com and typing 'subscribe wonderland' in the message body. DO NOT attempt to subscribe by mailing wonderland@tcp.com! And also, this is NOT Vince Clarke's personal e-mail address! For you Alan Wilder groupies, faith@commline.com has been created to fill your needs. Send mail to majordomo@commline.com with 'subscribe faith' in the message body. Again, DO NOT make an attempt to subscribe by mailing faith@commline.com! !Final Word!: I hope that everything you have read has clarified any questions you might have about Depeche Mode. Not all questions, just the more.. trivial ones. We need active discussions on Bong, and questions are usually what brings them. If you see anything amiss or outdated in this FAQ, please mail blacksun@sky.net and I'll probably get around to it. And to future maintainers of the FAQ, PLEASE DON'T LET IT EVER GET SEVERAL YEARS OUT OF DATE!!! Thank you for your time. *END*