ONTD

THE one thing that was missing at this year’s lacklustre Brit Awards was a real rock’n’roll band – an iconic group with the turbulent history to match.

For years fans and music industry execs have been asked why Depeche Mode haven’t picked up the Outstanding Contribution To Music Award.

Still at the top of their game 32 years since their first single they are adored across the world with total sales in excess of 100million records.

So surely the achievements of the band formed in Basildon, Essex, should be recognised?

“F*** the Brits,” spits singer Dave Gahan.

“Let me tell you a story. I will probably get someone in trouble, but we were told we were getting a new award this year. Most Influential Band In The Last 20 Years or something? Basically the old bastard, Lifetime Achievement Award — and we said, ‘Yes that’s cool.’

“Then we heard through the grapevine ITV wouldn’t broadcast our segment. So we said, ‘If they won’t play us on air, then we’re not going to be their most influential band.’

“How many other bands have had as many hits as us worldwide and been around for as long? F*** them then and b****cks to it.”

This outburst happens in a dressing room backstage at their video shoot with acclaimed director Warren Fu for new single Soothe My Soul. (!!!!!)

SFTW are in a snowy New York with the band, who are about to put out studio album number 13 — Delta Machine.

As they each prepare to go on to the set we meet the band’s three remaining members individually — Gahan, 50; keyboardist, guitarist and songwriter Martin Gore, 51, and co-founder and keyboardist Andy “Fletch” Fletcher, also 51, Delta Machine is the band’s strongest album in years, with rich electronics and strong vocals, Opening track Welcome To My World is huge, with quaking techno beats and brooding vocal duets between Gahan and Gore.

The infectious first single Heaven is also celestial, as is The Child Inside.

The band describe it as a cross between 1990’s Violator and the subsequent Songs Of Faith And Devotion, both huge critical and commercial successes, and all three musicians agree it’s a special record.

“We bands always say this one’s good when we put a record out,” says Gahan in his mixed US-Essex drawl gained through living in New York and, before that, Los Angeles for years.

“But I knew this really was when I was writing and demoing songs in my little studio.”

Gahan, following album The Light The Dead See which he released with Soulsavers last year, exhibits his most confident songwriting yet.

He penned three tracks on Delta Machine and one, Broken, is among the standout songs on the record.

He says: “I’ve been writing with Kurt Uenala, a guy who worked with me on my vocals on Hourglass (Gahan’s 2007 second solo album). He brings out the best in me.

“The lyrics of Broken are probably based on a friend who’s been struggling for a while with his own demons. I see myself in him, and you can’t make somebody change.”

The song’s biggest fan is Gore, the lone songwriter for years until 2005’s Playing The Angel when Gahan told him he’d only make the record if he could co-write.

Gore admits: “It was hard at first — when you’ve been doing it as the sole songwriter for so long, it is difficult to let anyone else in. But I think he feels much more gratified and part of the band because he does contribute.” Gore then takes a sip of his slimy green health drink, and grimaces.

He laughs: “It’s not the greatest taste but it keeps me healthy. When you’re an addict you replace one addiction with another.”

Gore is referring to his alcoholism, which he finally conquered during the tour for Playing The Angel in 2006.

When SFTW met the shy musician in 2009 as the band promoted the Sounds Of The Universe album, he seemed reticent about talking in detail about his drinking.

Today, Gore is more relaxed.

He says: “It was difficult as we were on the road and that’s always difficult to avoid drinking.

“I just got to a point where I knew if I carried on then I wouldn’t be alive for much longer. I was drinking all day — literally getting up and drinking with breakfast.

“I’m just thankful some of the madness missed the age of smartphones. Back in the day when I was drinking and out of control I would have been all over YouTube.”

He laughs: “Just for the fun of it I’d just get naked in hotel bars. Can you imagine doing that now?”

Depeche Mode are a band where excess is part of the history.

Gahan famously “died” for two minutes in 1996 when he overdosed on a speedball (heroin and cocaine combined) in Los Angeles.

He also attempted suicide in 1995 by slashing his wrists, which he later said was a cry for help. Then, in 2009, he had to have a tumour removed from his bladder after he collapsed on stage. Today, dressed in black and looking healthy, he says: “I feel great. I go back and have tests for it next month.

“All the different procedures are uncomfortable but I’m used to it. I do worry, but not too much. The good thing about being an ex drug addict is my denial is so strong.

“I can push things away — people, things, anything that might be happening.”

Chatting to Fletch, he marvels at the band’s longevity.

He says: “It has been an amazing career. We’ve had our ups and downs mentally but we’ve kept it going. We’re in a position now where we are as popular as ever so we are very happy.

“Looking back is funny. The most embarrassing things are those early videos — before we’d met (long-time video collaborator) Anton Corbijn. But no one thought we’d be as big as we are and still going this long.”

Gore recently found himself clashing with Simon Cowell after he joked in an interview, “I think somebody should shoot Simon Cowell because of his influence in the music industry.”

Cowell attacked Gore on Twitter calling him a “weirdo” and “stupid”.

Gore says: “It was a harmless, flippant, throwaway quote that I gave to a magazine. The funny thing was, I think the majority of the world agreed with me.” In his interview with SFTW the more outspoken Gahan says: “How dare he call us perverts? We were in New Orleans making a video and it all blew up. It was hysterical. Mr Cowell’s self-importance is incredible.”

Last year Gore teamed up with original Depeche Mode member Vince Clarke to make techno album Ssss as VCMG.
Gore says: “It was an enjoyable project and I think it helped my work on Delta Machine.”

During the making of Delta Machine, Clarke — who left Depeche Mode in 1981 and then formed Yazoo and Erasure — visited his old band in their New York studio.

Gahan says: “I think making Ssss together helped Martin, It certainly cleared up a lot of weird old resentments that they had.
“I don’t think they had really communicated that much for 20 years.

“And it was great to hang out with Vince. Then suddenly Daniel (Miller, Depeche Mode’s manager) was there too.
“We were all in a room together, and Vince was checking out all Mart’s modular synthesizers and I was sitting back and watching them.

“I said, ‘Nothing’s really changed.’ We shared all the same jokes and he came out to dinner with us.
“Vince and I walked and talked. We walked 15 blocks chatting. I hadn’t talked to Vince for 25 years.”

Clarke wasn’t the only visitor to the studio — US singer Frank Ocean stopped by — and he and Gore recorded a song together.

Gore explains: “He just popped by and said hello — he was in another studio with Alicia Keys. I don’t know what’s happening with the track we did, though, yet.”

Long Time Lie, on the deluxe version of Delta Machine, represents a first for Depeche Mode — the first time Gore and Gahan have written a song together.

Gahan says: “It was cool to do that. Martin had this ethereal piece of music and our producer Ben Hillier pushed it.”

He laughs: “It was an enjoyable time making this record, which is odd as we’ve always been a band in turmoil.
“Chris Berg who has played with The Knife and Fever Ray played with us and I think that really made this record different. He was like the Alan Wilder (former Depeche Mode member who left the group in 1995) and very musical. We’ve always missed Alan.

“It’s taken us nearly 20 years to find those sounds again. I think we’ve made some good records.
“I think Playing The Angel was great but Alan always brought something extra to Martin’s songs. We email each other and when he joined us on stage for the Teenage Cancer Trust concert at the Royal Albert Hall in 2010, it was awesome.

“When Alan left we missed him and it became apparent on the next couple of albums for sure.”

I put this to Gore, who strongly disagrees.

He laughs: “That’s a new one, I didn’t feel that really — I enjoyed making those albums.

“I liked Playing The Angel most — but I loved Ultra too and that was made after Alan had left.”

The band are about to embark on a tour, playing London’s O2 in May and it’s something all three are looking forward to.

Fletch jokes: “The only worry about London is getting all the family and friends tickets.
“After the show it’s like a wedding reception.”

Gahan adds: “We are sounding great live — and it will be good to be back in the UK.”

Delta Machine is out on Monday.


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Dave speaks the truth tbh... hope I'm not spamming your inboxes constantly with these posts!

Also, Depeche are confirmed to be appearing on Jonathan Ross tomorrow week!!!!

Happy Depeche day to those who already have the album!!! What do you think of it?