Place it in your memory.

Depeche Mode released ‘Everything Counts | Work Hard’ 35 years ago on 11|7|83.

The song was ground breaking for Depeche Mode’s ‘becoming’’ sound; it was their first song which includes both of the band’s singers prominently (at different times). Dave sings the verses, while Martin sings the chorus.

The original release of B-side “Work Hard” is notable in that it is the first Depeche Mode song (excluding instrumentals) that is credited to both Martin Gore and Alan Wilder.

The music video for “Everything Counts”, was directed by Clive Richardson in (West)Berlin and was at that time their most expensive video.

I don’t think that’s a confession so:

‘Songs of Faith and Devotion’ reached number 1 in several countries, and became the first #DepecheMode album to top the charts in both the UK and the US. 

To support the album, Depeche Mode embarked on the 14 month long Devotional Tour (DVD filmed by Anton Corbijn), the largest tour the band had ever undertaken to that date.

Recording the album and the subsequent tour exacerbated growing tensions and difficulties within the band, prompting Alan Wilder (Recoil) to quit, making this album the final with him as a band member. The ordeal had exhausted their creative output following the enormous success they had enjoyed with Violator, leading to rumours and media speculation that the band would split. Depeche Mode subsequently recovered from the experience, and released Ultra in 1997.Dave Gahan downplayed his role on the album, stating the only thing he felt he contributed was what he considers his greatest vocal performance for Condemnation. Conversely, Wilder praised his role, stating that on previous releases, Gahan’s studio contributions is often only vocal performance and thus did not get in the way much and that he often offered a lot of positive encouragement despite his addiction, and that it was Wilder’s creative differences with Gore was the source of the real tension in the band.Flood (Mixing|Production) recalls Wilder and Gore having a very heated argument over the mix to Judas, and that there were constant disagreements throughout the recording process between the members of the band and Flood himself. Despite the feeling the band were realising one of their greatest works, Flood commented that the “little things” of the recording process never ran smoothly, leading to constant, largely non-constructive, arguing. Conditions improved between the band when the recording sessions moved to Hamburg largely in part as it was a return to normal studio routine, as opposed to living together. Martin Gore later commented: “I don’t think anyone was ever the same after that Devotional Tour”, highlighting the tense nature of the tour, and Q magazine would later refer to the Devotional Tour as “the most debauched rock tour ever”..Alan Wilder, who announced his departure from the band on his 36th birthday in 1995, highlighting a highly uneven workload distribution, lack of acknowledgement from his bandmates, creative differences within the band and overall lack of cohesion. Wilder’s departure and the internal strife within the band, specifically Gahan’s growing heroin addiction led many to speculate that the band was finished.

The Album You Must Hear Before You Die:

Depeche Mode’s ‘Violator’

‘Violator’ was Depeche Mode’s 7th album and became their most succesfull release, it also went in the US for the first time in the top ten on the Billboeard 200 at #7 (total sales in the US, over 3 million - 3x Platinum). The album included 4 singles; Personal Jesus, Enjoy the silence, Policy of truth, World in my Eyes and a song that didn’t became a single but came out as everyone’s favourite: Halo (This song was also played during their recent Delta Machine Tour in the ‘Goldfrapp’ Version)

Regarding the album’s title, Martin said, “We called it Violator as a joke. We wanted to come up with the most extreme, ridiculously Heavy Metal title that we could. I’ll be surprised if people will get the joke. The album is included in the Book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. The album also got a Video release with ‘Strange Too’ by Anton Corbijn. The reissue cd/dvd edition from 2006 includes a documentary about this period;

‘Depeche Mode: 1989-90 - If you wanna use guitars, use guitars…’

link via Youtube: 

https://youtu.be/KeqAkVEOgzU

The Album further included also stunning B-side/Bonustracks; Sibeling,Memphisto, Kaleid, Sea of Sin, Happiest Girl & Dangerous