Depeche Mode Interviews

1983-04-06 CR2, China

Angel Leung: Interviewer

Vince and Yazoo, Again

Angel Leung: Martin, I would like to ask you, what is the French word of the magazine called Depeché Mode"? And you called yourselves "Depeché Mode", does it mean the songs and music on stage are fashionable?

Martin: Eh, not really no. But, we used to have a really bad name when we first started, it got embarrassing after a while so we had to change it. At the time, when we were looking for a name, Dave was at college, and he often used to use the magazine, used to use it, because it was art college, so we just thought we just might as well steal the name.

Angel Leung: What was it, that name, that you were using when you first started?

Martin: We never told anybody, it's too bad (laughs).

Angel Leung: David, how did you boys get sculpted together?

Dave: We got together as a three-piece and I came along, one guitar, bass guitar and drum machine, and Martin playing synthesiser. Gradually, I joined them.

Angel Leung: Is there something you could tell about the leaving of Vince? Under what circumstances did he quit the group?

Martin: We're not really sure of the reason why he left, but we suppose it was mainly because he wanted to do something on his own, and partly because he didn't like being the centre of attention all the time, being famous, and doing interviews all the time, and he didn't get enough free time to write songs and things, and so he left so that he could concentrate on his songwriting. Then he formed Yazoo and now he's basically the same position again, really, because he's even more successful.

Angel Leung: Do you have any comment on Yazoo's music?

Martin: I think it's really good.

...

Romantic Music *lenny*

Angel Leung: Well how do you categorise your music?

Dave: Ehm, I don't think it's very romantic, really. Some of the songs are love songs, like "See You", that type of love songs. But I wouldn't say that on the whole we're New Romantics music, like the whole name that is made up in England. A lot of groups are just sort of put down in that category. And that was a name that came up, and Futurists, things like that, but I don't really name anything, you know, those sorts of names are forgotten now in England. You're just sort of all out on your own, as bands which can pull through that thing, can now establish something on their own, like us.

...

Opinions About Other Bands

Angel Leung: Some British bands like Duran Duran, Kajagoogoo and Thompson Twins are really doing well in the American top 100. Any plans of breaking into the American charts?

Dave: Well all those bands that you've mentioned have spent a lot of time in America, touring, but we haven't really spent a lot of time. I think if we probably went over there to the States and just toured for four months, we'd probably be in the top 100, but we haven't got any... We've got ambitions of being big in other countries, but America is not one of our biggest ambitions at the moment, we don't mind being just getting bigger in Europe and other countries.

...

About Songs

Angel Leung: Dave, so people think that electronic dance music and diso sound are similar, are they or not?

Dave: Well only the the way that people dance to them. I think disco music, okay, the beat in electronic, electro music is very disco but I don't think it's the same as disco. Disco is very bland, it's not very exciting, you can listen to ten songs from ten different acts and the all sound the same. Whereas electronic music, all songs are different.

Angel Leung: And what are, or what is the band's favourite?

Martin: Our personal favourite?

Angel Leung: Yeah.

Martin: My personal favourite is 'Ice Machine'.

Angel Leung: How about you Dave?

Dave: Probably 'See You', I like the tune, it's a really good single, and 'Leave in Silence'. Quite a lot of the tracks, they're probably my favourite songs.

Angel Leung: How about your views on 'Get The Balance Right'?

Dave: Yeah, well it's not one of my favourites, so... I don't like it as much as I would like to...