Depeche Mode at the BBC

We used to rehearse really a lot.

There was nothing else to do in Essex, in Basildon.

We were playing music for our friends

that we could dance to and move to, that our friends would like too.

And that was really...

That was probably as far as our ambition went at the time.

Croc's was a really ordinary disco.

There was a crocodile, yes.

It was quite a sorry looking animal but it was alive.

They had this night once a week where they would play

things like the Human League and Soft Cell.

# I stand still stepping on the shady streets

# And I watched that man to a stranger

# You think you only know me when you turn on the light

# Now the room is lit, red danger

# Complicating, circulating

# New life, new life

# Operating, generating

# New life, new life

# Transitions to another place

# So the time will pass more slowly

# Features fuse and your shadow's red

# Like a film I've seen now show me

# Complicating, circulating

# New life, new life

# Operating, generating

# New life, new life

# Your face is hidden and we're out of sight

# And the road just leads to nowhere

# The stranger in the door is the same as before

# So the question answers nowhere

# Complicating, circulating

# New life, new life

# Operating, generating

# New life, new life

# I stand still stepping on the shady streets

# And I watched that man to a stranger

# You think you only know me when you turn on the light

# Now the room is lit, red danger

# Complicating, circulating

# New life, new life

# Operating, generating

# New life, new life. #

INSTRUMENTAL

APPLAUSE

I especially like that special effect the BBC have thrown in there.

Exactly. No expense spared!

That was... I mean, that was 1981.

It's true to say you've sold over 100 million records.

Huge shows.

The Hollywood Bowl only the other week or the other month, I believe.

But let's go back to the beginning. Where did it all start?

How did you sort of... How did you first get together?

In school.

Yeah, just after school we started playing at the Bridge House, really.

-The old place in Canning Town.

-Yes.

-Terry Murphy gave us a break.

Thanks, Terry.

In the meantime, Depeche Mode. It's posh, isn't it?

INSTRUMENTAL INTRO

# When I'm with you baby

# I go out of my head

# I just can't get enough

# I just can't get enough

# All the things you do to me and everything you said

# I just can't get enough I just can't get enough

# We slip and slide as we fall in love

# And I just can't seem to get enough of. #

When we were gigging,

we'd all carry our synthesizers and I for some reason

had to buy the heaviest synthesizer out of all of them.

We didn't have cars or anything so we'd be on the train.

And this really is quite heavy, you know.

So I'd have this thing under my arm.

Fletcher would have a Moog.

Martin had a Yamaha, I think, on the train.

# I just can't get enough. #

When we did our first Top Of The Pops

we were on the train with these, with our synthesizers.

-You got the train to

-Top Of The Pops? Yeah.

From Basildon to Fenchurch Street.

On the underground.

# Just can't get enough

# I just can't get enough

# I just can't get enough

# I just can't get enough

# I just can't get enough

# I just can't get enough

# I just can't get enough

# I just can't get enough

# I just can't get enough

# I just can't get enough

# I just can't get enough

# I just can't get enough

# I just can't get enough

# I just can't get enough

# I just can't get enough

# I just can't get enough

# And when it rains

# You're shining down for me

# I just can't get enough

# I just can't get enough

# Just like a rainbow

# You know you set me free

# And I just can't get enough

# And I just can't get enough

# You're like an angel

# And you give me your love

# And I just can't seem to get enough of

# I just can't get enough

# I just can't get enough

# I just can't get enough

# I just can't get enough

# I just can't get enough

# I just can't get enough

# I just can't get enough

# I just can't get enough

# I just can't get enough

# I just can't get enough

# I just can't get enough. #

If we'd been a bit more aware of things at the time

I think we would have done things in a slightly different way.

There are just certain things we wouldn't have done.

There's certain TV programmes we wouldn't have done.

There's certain interviews we wouldn't have done.

We used to do every interview that came along.

We spoke to anyone in a very honest way.

I could never understand, really.

A lot of people really hate us

and I always thought we were basically a good pop band.

I never can understand why people can hate us.

The press definitely.

I think it's just the way we make music.

Obviously it's alien to what most people think.

A lot of people prefer guitars and drums

and a traditional rock line-up.

And because we're basically an electronic band

a lot of people don't like that for a start.

CHEERING

# All I want to do is see you again

# Is that too much to ask for

# I just want to see your sweet smile

# Smile the way it was before

# Well I'll try not to hold you

# And I'll try not to kiss you

# And I won't even touch you

# All I want to do is see you

# Don't you know that it's true

# I remember the days when we'd walk through the woods

# And sit on a bench for a while

# I treasure the way we used to laugh and play

# And look in each others eyes

# You can keep me at a distance if you don't trust my resistance

# But I swear I won't touch you

# All I want to do is see you

# Don't you know that it's true

# Well, I know five years is a long time

-# And that times change

-Oh that times change

# But I think that you will find

# People are basically the same

# Basically the same. #

INSTRUMENTAL

# If the water's still flowing we can go for a swim

# And do the things we used to do

# And if I'm reluctant you can pull me in

# And we can relive our youth

# Oh but we'll stay friendly like sister and brother

# Though I think I still love you

# All I want to do is see you

# Don't you know that it's true

# All I want to do is see you

# Don't you know that it's true

# All I want to do is see you

# All I want to do is see you

# All I want to do is see you

# All I want to do is see you

# All I want to do is see you

# All I want to do is see you

# All I want to do is see you

# All I want to do is see you. #

# Peter Powell It's Radio 1. #

In just a few moments I'll let you know about a special event.

Depeche Mode did a concert tour of Britain

but they only had the chance to do one date in Birmingham

and they want to go back there again.

It was a sell out last time so if you want to get there

I suggest you do yourselves a favour and get down to the box office.

What do you like about Depeche Mode?

The music, firstly, and secondly, they're really nice young men.

How will you be behaving while they're on stage?

I'm quite a rational, level-headed sort of person

but I expect I'll jump up and down a bit.

INSTRUMENTAL INTRO

# The handshake seals the contract

# From the contract there's no turning back

# The turning point of a career

# In Korea being insincere

# The holiday was fun-packed

# The contract still intact

# The grabbing hands grab all they can

# All for themselves after all

# The grabbing hands grab all they can

# All for themselves after all

# It's a competitive world

# Everything counts in large amounts

# The graph on the wall

# Tells the story of it all

# Picture it now

# See just how

# The lies and deceit gained a little more power

# The graph on the wall

# Confidence taken in

# By a suntan and a grin

# The grabbing hands grab all they can

# All for themselves after all

# The grabbing hands grab all they can

# All for themselves after all

# It's a competitive world

# Everything counts in large amounts

# Everything counts in large amounts

INSTRUMENTAL

# The grabbing hands grab all they can

# Everything counts in large amounts

# The grabbing hands grab all they can

# Everything counts in large amounts

INSTRUMENTAL

# Everything

# Everything

# Everything

# Everything

# The grabbing hands grab all they can

# Everything counts in large amounts

# The grabbing hands grab all they can

# Everything counts in large amounts. #

OK, sing with me!

# The grabbing hands grab all they can

# Everything counts in large amounts

# The grabbing hands grab all they can

# Everything counts in large amounts. #

CHEERING

Thank you!

Good evening, Birmingham!

We usually leave the hotel about 11.00am

and arrive for the sound check about 4.00pm.

So we just take it easy. We don't rush.

-Watch a film.

-Watch a film and play some music.

Have a laugh.

-We don't do that. We never do that.

-Oh, we never have...

# Now I find that most of the time

# Love's not enough in itself. #

It's very important to have a luxury coach like this

because a lot of the journeys are quite long.

And, erm...

You know, it gets pretty tiring when you're on the road.

So if we were travelling in a minibus

we wouldn't feel very much like playing when we got to the gig.

INSTRUMENTAL INTRO

# People are people so why should it be

# You and I should get along so awfully

# People are people so why should it be

# You and I should get along so awfully

# So we're different colours

# And we're different creeds

# And different people have different needs

# It's obvious you hate me

# Though I've done nothing wrong

# I've never even met you so what could I have done

# I can't understand

# What makes a man

# Hate another man

# Help me understand

# People are people so why should it be

# You and I should get along so awfully

# People are people so why should it be

# You and I should get along so awfully

# Help me understand

# Help me understand

# Help me understand

# Now you're punching and you're kicking

# And you're shouting at me

# I'm relying on your common decency

# So far it hasn't surfaced

# But I'm sure it exists

# It just takes a while to travel

# From your head to your fist

# I can't understand

# What makes a man

# Hate another man

# Help me understand

# People are people so why should it be

# You and I should get along so awfully

# People are people so why should it be

# You and I should get along so awfully

# I can't understand

# What makes a man

# Hate another man

# Help me understand

# I can't understand

# What makes a man

# Hate another man

# Help me understand

# I can't understand

# What makes a man

# Hate another man

# Help me understand

# I can't understand

# What makes a man

# Hate another man

# Help me understand

# I can't understand

# What makes a man

# Hate another man

# Help me understand

# I can't understand

# What makes a man. #

Some bands like to be very cold

and just play their songs and then go off.

I like to get the whole audience involved as well.

Then it becomes a really special thing.

If you can do that with 65,000 people, you know,

it's almost like bringing you to tears, just the sort of feeling.

It's not only the feeling of power, it's...

I don't know. It's not just the power. It's just very emotional.

INSTRUMENTAL INTRO

# There's a new game we like to play you see

# A game with added reality

# You treat me like a dog

# Get me down on my knees

# We call it master and servant

# We call it master and servant

# It's a lot like life

# This play between the sheets

# With you on top and me underneath

# Forget all about equality

# Let's play master and servant

# Let's play master and servant

# It's a lot like life

# And that's what's appealing

# If you despise that throwaway feeling

# From disposable fun

# Then this is the one

# Domination's the name of the game

# In bed or life

# They're both just the same

# Except in one you're fulfilled

# At the end of the day

# Let's play master and servant

# Let's play master and servant

# Master and servant

-# It's a lot

-It's a lot

-# It's a lot

-It's a lot

-# It's a lot

-It's a lot

-# Like life

-It's a lot

-# It's a lot

-It's a lot

-# It's a lot

-It's a lot

-# It's a lot

-It's a lot

-# Master and servant

-It's a lot

-# It's a lot

-It's a lot

-# It's a lot

-It's a lot

-# It's a lot

-It's a lot

# It's a lot like life

# And that's what's appealing

# If you despise that throwaway feeling

# From disposable fun

# Then this is the one

# Let's play master and servant

# Come on

# Master and servant

# Let's play master and servant

# Come on

# Master and servant

# Let's play master and servant. #

APPLAUSE

They all sound the same to me.

-All of them?

-Yeah, they've all got computers.

Why don't they come out with their batteries?

What do you think about what Jimmy Page is saying there

about modern musicians as if

there's something wrong with using computers?

I don't know, you know.

I mean, they sort of done their thing at their time

and I think it seems a bit silly to put down what's happening now.

With technology now you can do so much more

and it's enabling musicians to do so much more with music.

He does talk some sense in that

there is a lot of rubbish around these days.

But the thing about computers is

you're only limited by your imagination and your ideas.

Often I think people who knock computer or modern music

are a bit scared that maybe they haven't got the ideas, you know.

INSTRUMENTAL INTRO

# Girl of 16

# Whole life ahead of her

# Slashed her wrists

# Bored with life

# Didn't succeed

# Thank the Lord

# For small mercies

# Fighting back the tears

# Mother reads the note again

# 16 candles burn in her mind

# She takes the blame

# It's always the same

# She goes down on her knees and prays

# I don't want to start

# Any blasphemous rumours

# But I think that God's

# Got a sick sense of humour

# And when I die

# I expect to find Him laughing

# I don't know want to start

# Any blasphemous rumours

# But I think that God's

# Got a sick sense of humour

# And when I die

# I expect to find Him laughing

# Girl of 18

# Fell in love with everything

# Found new life in Jesus Christ

# Hit by a car

# Ended up

# On a life support machine

# Summer's day

# As she passed away

# Birds were singing in the summer sky

# Then came the rain and once again

# A tear fell from her mother's eye

# I don't want to start

# Any blasphemous rumours

# But I think that God's

# Got a sick sense of humour

# And when I die

# I expect to find Him laughing

# I don't want to start

# Any blasphemous rumours

# But I think that God's

# Got a sick sense of humour

# And when I die

# I expect to find Him laughing

# I don't want to start

# Any blasphemous rumours

# But I think that God's

# Got a sick sense of humour

# And when I die

# I expect to find Him laughing

# I don't want to start any... #

APPLAUSE

That's Depeche Mode, who've been suffering

from food poisoning for the last week.

Top Of The Pops has been snooping and we've discovered that Martin,

when he sang Somebody, which is the B side of that,

sang it in the nude to get in the mood.

What brought about this change of image to the black leather and all that kind of gear then?

We used to wear leather in the early days, I don't know if you remember.

Like Just Can't Get Enough and things like that.

Then we went a bit, you know, funny. I mean...

It's like Martin wearing dresses and things like that.

People think, obviously he's a bit pervy or something, but...

I don't think it's pervy wearing dresses necessarily.

I mean, I wouldn't wear one.

So why...

I think he just likes wearing them.

That was heavily focused on in the press.

Too over-focused really.

Some people might think you're doing that purely to attract attention

and the wrong kind of attention.

I did that for a while and it did attract the wrong sort of attention

so I'm really playing it down at the moment.

I'm going for this new masculine look.

-Can't you see?

-Look, jeans.

# Come with me

# Into the trees

# We'll lay on the grass

# And let the hours pass

# Take my hand

# Come back to the land

# Let's get away

# Just for one day

# Let me see you

# Stripped down to the bone

# Let me see you

# Stripped down to the bone

# Metropolis

# Has nothing on this

# You're breathing in fumes

# I taste when I kiss

# Take my hand

# Come back to the land

# Where everything's ours

# For a few hours

# Let me see you

# Stripped down to the bone

# Let me see you

# Stripped down to the bone

# Let me hear you

# Make decisions

# Without your television

# Let me hear you speaking

# Just for me

# Let me see you

# Stripped down to the bone

# (Let me hear you speaking just for me)

# Let me see you

# Stripped down to the bone

# (Let me hear you crying just for me)

# Let me see you

# Stripped down to the bone

# (Let me hear you speaking just for me)

# Let me see you

# Stripped down to the bone

# (Let me hear you crying just for me)

# Let me see you

# Stripped down to the bone

# (Let me hear you speaking just for me). #

People think we're totally doomy and pessimistic,

which is just not true.

A few people have said it in interviews,

a few people have said it on the radio and television,

and everybody just seems to believe it, but you know,

we're happy people.

Here to start us off with A Question Of Time, it's Depeche Mode.

# I've got to get to you first

# Before they do

# It's just a question of time

# Before they lay their hands on you

# And make you just like the rest

# I've got to get to you first

# It's just a question of time

# Well, now you're only 15

# And you look good

# I'll take you under my wing

# Somebody should

# They've persuasive ways

# And you'll believe what they say

# It's just a question of time

# And it's running out for you

# It won't be long until you do

# Exactly what they want you to

# It won't be long until you do

# Exactly what they want you to

# Sometimes I don't blame them

# For wanting you

# You look good

# And they need something to do

# Until I looked at you

# Then I condemn them

# I know my kind

# What goes on in our minds

# It's just a question of time

# It's just a question of time

# It's just a question of time

# (It should be better with you)

# It's just a question of time

# (It should be better with you)

# It's just a question of time

# (It should be better with you)

# It's just a question of time

# (It should be better with you)

# It's just a matter of time

-# (It should be better).

-#

APPLAUSE

The thing is, we're not really after mega success anyway.

It's very nice in Britain. We do all right.

Our singles never get top five or...

You know, we've had top five,

but generally they don't go to number one and things like that.

It's just good. We can walk the streets,

we can lead a perfectly normal life

and just concentrate on making good music.

# Strangelove

# Strange highs and strange lows

# Strangelove

# That's how my love goes

# Strangelove

# Will you give it to me

# Will you take the pain

# I will give to you

# Again and again

# And will you return it

# There'll be times

# When my crimes

# Will seem almost unforgivable

# I give in to sin

# Because you have to make this life liveable

# But when you think I've had enough

# From your sea of love

# I'll take more than another river full

# And I'll make it all worthwhile

# I'll make your heart smile

# Strangelove

# Strange highs and strange lows

# Strangelove

# That's how my love goes

# Strangelove

# Will you give it to me

# Will you take the pain

# I will give to you

# Again and again

# And will you return it

# There'll be days

# When I stray

# I may appear to be

# Constantly out of reach

# I give in to sin

# Because I like to practise what I preach

# I'm not trying to say

# I'll have it all my way

# I'm always willing to learn

# When you've got something to teach

# And I'll make it all worthwhile

# I'll make your heart smile

# Pain will you return it

# I'll say it again

# Pain

# Pain will you return it

# I'll say it again

# Pain

# Pain will you return it

# I'll say it again

# Pain

# Pain will you return it

# I won't say it again

# Strangelove

# Strange highs and strange lows

# Strangelove

# That's how my love goes

# Strangelove

# Will you give it to me

# Strangelove

# Strange highs and strange lows

# Strangelove

# That's how my love goes

# Strangelove

# Will you give it to me

# Strangelove

# Strange highs and strange lows

# Strangelove

# That's how my love goes. #

You might have thought that after four years' absence

Depeche Mode were on their way down.

You'd be wrong.

Depeche Mode are on their way up.

Sometimes when I'd just be on a natural high

I would still do terrible things to myself, you know.

I felt like I had no balance.

I couldn't control the way I felt.

When we got the phone calls that he'd done this and done this,

if I'd have got a phone call saying he's dead,

I wouldn't have been surprised.

It wouldn't have been a major surprise to me.

It wouldn't have been a surprise to me either.

You know.

Before I went into hospital last time,

I was actually dead for two minutes.

They haven't appeared live on Top Of The Pops since 1987.

Live and exclusive tonight,

with special guests Tim Simenon and Anton Corbijn,

this is Depeche Mo-o-o-o-ode!

# Do you mean this horny creep

# Set upon weary feet

# Who looks in need of sleep

# That doesn't come

# This twisted, tortured mess

# This bed of sinfulness

# Who's longing for some rest

# And feeling numb

# What do you expect of me

# What is it you want

# Whatever you've planned for me

# I'm not the one

# A vicious appetite

# Visits me each night

# And won't be satisfied

# Won't be denied

# An unbearable pain

# A beating in my brain

# That leaves the mark of Cain

# Right here inside

# What am I supposed to do

# When everything that I've done

# Is leading me to conclude

# I'm not the one

# Whatever I've done

# I've been staring down the barrel of a gun

# Whatever I've done

# I've been staring down the barrel of a gun

# Whatever I've done

# (Whatever, whatever)

# Is there something you need from me

# Are you having your fun

# I never agreed to be

# Your holy one

# Whatever I've done

# I've been staring down the barrel of a gun

# Whatever I've done... #

Next up, we've got a band that you used to know when they had a different name.

That's right. Our band was called The Invaders and next door was a band called The Smarties.

It's hard to believe that's what they used to be called,

because now they're called Depeche Mode.

Here's their brand-new track, Precious.

# Precious and fragile things

# Need special handling

# My God what have we done to you

# We always tried to share

# The tenderest of care

# Now look what we have put you through

# Things get damaged

# Things get broken

# I thought we'd manage

# But words left unspoken

# Left us so brittle

# There was so little left to give

# Angels with silver wings

# Shouldn't know suffering

# I wish I could take the pain for you

# If God has a master plan

# That only He understands

# I hope it's your eyes He's seeing through

# Things get damaged

# Things get broken

# I thought we'd manage

# But words left unspoken

# Left us so brittle

# There was so little left to give

INSTRUMENTAL

# I pray you learn to trust

# Have faith in both of us

# And keep room in your hearts for two

# Things get damaged

# Things get broken

# I thought we'd manage

# But words left unspoken

# Left us so brittle

# There was so little left to give. #

It's Friday night. Welcome to Later and welcome to Depeche Mode.

APPLAUSE

# Wrong

# Wrong

# Wrong

# Wrong

# I was born with the wrong sign

# In the wrong house

# With the wrong ascendancy

# I took the wrong road

# That led to

# The wrong tendencies

# I was in the wrong place

# At the wrong time

# For the wrong reason and the wrong rhyme

# On the wrong day of the wrong week

# Used the wrong method

# With the wrong technique

# Wrong

# Wrong

# There's something wrong with me chemically

# Something wrong with me inherently

# The wrong mix

# In the wrong genes

# I reached the wrong ends by the wrong means

# It was the wrong plan in the wrong hands

# The wrong theory for the wrong man

# The wrong eyes on the wrong prize

# The wrong questions with the wrong replies

# Wrong

# Wrong

# I was marching to the wrong drum with the wrong scum

# Pissing out the wrong energy

# Using all the wrong lines

# And the wrong signs

# With the wrong intensity

# I was on the wrong page of the wrong book

# With the wrong rendition of the wrong look

# With the wrong moon

# Every wrong night

# With the wrong tune playing until it sounded right, yeah

# Wrong

# Wrong

# (Too long)

# Wrong

# (Too long)

# Wrong

# (Too long)

# Wrong

# (Too long)

# Wrong

# (Too long)

# I was born with the wrong sign in the wrong house

# With the wrong ascendancy

# I took the wrong road

# That led to

# The wrong tendencies

# I was in the wrong place at the wrong time

# For the wrong reason and the wrong rhyme

# On the wrong day of the wrong week

# Used the wrong method with the wrong technique

# Wrong. #

APPLAUSE

What's the trick to staying successful for so long, do you think?

Oh, man.

Good songs.

You know, Martin's written some great songs over the years.

And you know, playing live.

We built a following for ourselves really early on

and went everywhere around the world and built a following everywhere.

A lot of that has stayed with us.

What country do they love you best in, do you think?

-Still now?

-Mmm.

-A lot of places in Europe.

Germany, France, Italy.

Eastern Europe.

Actually, we went there really early on when it was still the east.

-Much more west now, isn't it?

-Yeah, kind of.

You can eat now!

INSTRUMENTAL INTRO

# Your own

# Personal

# Jesus

# Someone to hear your prayers

# Someone who cares

# Your own

# Personal

# Jesus

# Someone to hear your prayers

# Someone who's there

# Reach out and touch faith

# Feeling unknown and you're all alone

# Flesh and bone by the telephone

# Lift up the receiver I'll make you a believer

# Take second best Put me to the test

# Things on your chest you need to confess

# I will deliver

# You know I'm a forgiver

# Reach out and touch faith

# Reach out and touch faith

# Your own

# Personal

# Jesus

# Someone to hear your prayers

# Someone who cares

# Your own

# Personal

# Jesus

# Someone to hear your prayers

# Someone who's there

# Oh, yeah

INSTRUMENTAL

# Feeling unknown and you're all alone

# Flesh and bone by the telephone

# Lift up the receiver I'll make you a believer

# I will deliver

# You know I'm a forgiver

# Reach out and touch your own

# Personal

# Jesus

# Reach out and touch faith

# Reach out and touch faith

# Reach out and touch faith. #

APPLAUSE

Thank you!