Your previous tour has been the most successful sales-wise after the album Delta Machine which was well received from both the press and the public. Was it a surprise for you? 

We can not be surprised any longer as our entire career has been so succesful. We see younger fans coming along. We are lucky because we are normal people, not stars. In London, where I live, I can walk in streets, pubs and restaurants without being recognized. It’s always enjoyable.

40 years ago, when as a teenager, you started a band to become Dépêche Mode along with Vince (Clarke), have you ever imagined being there today?

Of course not. Back then, it was a hobby. In these days, everyone wanted to start a band. We’ve been lucky punk came at this particular time. It changed music. It wasn’t necessary to be a good guitar player to be in a band. Everyone could do it. It was like a dream. We’ve made the dumbest or the best mistake in our lives by singing a  record deal with Mute, refusing the money major comparing were offering.

Today, there are not so many major bands from the 80’s to be around without having splitter before reforming. We have U2, The Cure and you… 

We’ve had our hard times. All of us, not only Dave. Myself, I went through a breakdown in 1993 while Dave was fighting his addiction problems. We’ve been partying too much. Stardom had made our lives more difficult but we have passed through.

Does this mean than Depeche Mode is more important, stronger than you?

I don’t really know. We come from a labour city. We started something with the idea of never going back there. Being from Basildon makes us a little special I think. 

At the end of last (long) tour, you all took some well deserved holiday. Who has decided it was time to come back into business?

Martin starts writing songs at home. Then he calls us. He’s always the one to start things. As soon as he has 6 or 7 songs, he plans the studio booking and all. 

Most people know Dave because he’s the singer and Martin because he’s the main songwriter in the band. We know less about your role despite you being one founding member of the band.

We’ve always been our own managers and I’ve always been interested in that. We are not a conventionnel band. In U2, everyone has his own role: Adam plays the bass, The Edge plays guitar, Larry plays drums and Bono is the singer. In Depeche Mode, from the very start,  there’s always been some confusion in people’s minds because we were an electronic band. Back in 1981, no had noticed I was playing the bass keyboard, Vionce was in charge of the rhythm synths and Martin was playing the lead synth. And we had a drum machine. We were no conventional band.

Talking about Spirit, Martin brings his spirit at the start and you and Dave bring yours in the studio…

Yes. Martin is the best in mailing demos. Not only good songs. He can create great melodies with his guitar. Then, with all of this, we go to the studio where the producer’s role is very important. Here, James Ford has made a huge job with the sound of the record.

Dave and Martin have both recorded solo albums.. Not you. You prefer to tour as a DJ like in Liège last year.

I’ve made a « famous » solo record, Flash, on my Toast Hawaii label. No, I don’t see myself doing this way. I prefer to play other people’s music by DJing. I’m not creative by writing songs. It’s important in band to have someone doing something else. In the Beatles, Ringo was very important as is Charlie Watts in the Rolling Stones. In fact, Charlie is the boss of the band. And it’s the same in Depeche Mode.

So, you are the real boss in Depeche Mode…

Ah, ah, no. We are all equals in a real 3-piece democracy.

Long tours are very tiring. Aren’t you afraid of touring again for so long?

We are not necessary going on until 2018, maybe. These past 25 years, we’ve been working on a 4 years basis. We always know DM is recording when there are elections in the USA. We are real clocks.

Let’s talk about the US election…

It’s hard to see a disaster like Trump. I would have voted Hillary of course, but it’s string to have to chose between candidates no one really loves.

Brexit ?

I was chocked. A majority of London voted to stay in European Union. But everything went around migration which have become the worst Devil in the world. Some cities without a single migrant have voted for Brexit. It was mainly a progestative vote, without knowing axactly what was going on. And now, we are une a terrible situation. The Right wants a hard Brexit, not a soft one. This is terrible…

You’re still living in London …

Yes. The other 2 mare married to American wives so they leave overseas. I love to stay in London to work. I’m married to an Irish woman  from Basildon.

Isn’t it a problem to have an ocean between you and Dave and Martin?

Not these days. In the 80’s and the 90’s, when we were recording an album and touring every year, this wouldn’t have been possible. Now, with the Internet, we can see each other everyday on Skype..

Are you still interested in music these days?

I do it for my DJ sets. I listen to all of this and I’m disappointed. You have to listen to a thousand of tracks to find a good one. There’s a lot of shit. I’m more worried about young bands. It’s hard for them to tour, this is exhasperating. It’s easier for DJ’s.

You know wall the Belgian electro scene history?

Yes and we don’t know why, there’s always been intestins electro things in Belgium, a good scene along with good labels like PIAS.

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