From the makers of Uncut, comes a rather brilliant collectors magazine celebrating The Mighty Depeche Mode. Having just quickly flicked through my copy, this special is full of rare photos and a look at each album and respective chapters in Mode history and it all begins with an introduction written by Sir Martin Gore in June. Also filling much of the publication's 140 pages are various archive interviews taken from a variety of UK publications over the years including Melody Maker, No.1 and NME.

Some of Uncut's personal reviews of various singles and album tracks may raise a few eyebrows with new found praise for 2001's Exciter' but at first glance, this is a wonderfully researched publication even at the rather steep asking price of £6.99.

Priceless quotes include this one from Dave Gahan back in 1993; 'Fletch has never hit me...lately I think he's potentially been thinking about it'.

And this from Mute Supremo Daniel Miller; 'First time I saw them, I thought they looked like dodgy New Romantics'

Dave Gahan on 1981 debut album;  'Speak & Spell' is a solid album, whether you like it or not. I still think of it as Vince's album - and all the records he's made since sound exactly the same. Ha ha!'


Today also marks the 20th anniversary of Mode's legendary open air gig at Crystal Palace that was part of the now equally legendary  Devotional Tour. A far cry from today when you have to print off your own concert  tickets, Mode tickets for this gig were an elaborate affair much like a British five pound note when it was actually worth something - and this ticket was all yours for a modest fee of £18.50 (including VAT). 

Gates opened at 3pm according to the Willy Wonkerish ticket, it seemed like we were there much earlier than that in one of the stands right at the back (the venue was packed). Perhaps the memory is cheating or the endless run of support bands really were that dire. I do remember struggling to get through a lot of them, I was never being a proper Goth (though people *always* assumed I was one - that or a Gary Numan fan). I would always get my Mission mixed up Sisters of Mercy and the only song I recognised (and quite liked) was 'Tower of Strength'. Like the group of people I was with, we all were impatient for Mode to appear. The sky was grey and I was briefly perked up when Human League's 'The Dignity of Labour' was played parts 1-4 over the PA during acts.

By 8 or 9pm, the sun broke through the greyness and Mode finally 'appeared' on stage to one of my faves 'Higher Love', singing the song behind a huge curtain that appeared to be stuck or so we thought. Huge cheers all round when the curtain did give way (little did we know that this was all meticulously planned by Anton as was part of the show). There was some initial shock at first at the sight of a painfully skinny Dave Gahan who wasn't looking at his best and a far cry from the last time I saw Mode live at Wembley in 1986. All that was quickly forgotten as we were watching the finest showman on the planet and he really didn't keep still - darting back and forth to make sure every section of the audience was joining in. I don't recall too much of the setlist but do remember admiring the sheer power of the Songs of Faith tracks when performed live and the sound was very impressive. Due to the hopeless transport system in old Blighty, we had to leave as did many others to catch the final train out of London as Depeche returned to the stage to blast out 'Everything Counts'...

20 years on and I'm still hopelessly addicted to this band...