Pimpf

Pimpf
Song Artist Depeche Mode Album Music For The Masses Songwriter Martin L. Gore Produced by Depeche Mode • David Bascombe • Daniel Miller Recorded at Guillaume Tell (Paris) Konk (London) Label Mute Length (mm:ss) 5:00 Including Interlude #1 (Mission Impossible) starting at 4:18 Tempo 114 BPM Time signature 3/4 Key E Minor Recorded February - July, 1987 Originally released September 28, 1987 Played live 101 times * Total live plays 101 times *

Notes

Dave and Martin said in the commentary track on the DVD of '101':

Dave Gahan: "'Pimpf' was something to do with the Hitler Youth, or something like that, wasn't it?"

Martin Gore: "Yes, it was an instrumental that we originally started recording for - I think - the B-side of 'Never Let Me Down Again', and we liked it so much that we ended up putting it on the 'Music For The Masses' album."

Dave Bascombe told Super Deluxe Edition in July 2019:

"I'm so pleased with that [song]. I know that, that was the B-side to 'Strangelove' and then we were at Puk [studios] and they had gone off to do a video probably, they were away and I didn't have anything to do so, I just remixed it for my own sake because I thought that I could get it better and it was a much better mix, and they all came back and agreed. It wasn't planned to go on the album originally. I think maybe because I'd done a better mix or whatever, and it's such a strong track on the album [that they changed their mind]. But I do remember the tour and I saw them in Paris in some stadium and it is an incredible thing to open with. It was pretty scary actually, it was like a rally! You can imagine all sorts of dark things, you could use that for all sorts of various purposes but it was really powerful. That's a great track. I do love the kind of... more experimental stuff. That's Martin really, in his element, doing the vocals on that."

When Depeche Mode was interviewed about the songs on the '101' CD for the April 1989 issue of French magazine 'Best', Alan Wilder said (translated from French):

"All of our concerts on the tour started with 'Pimpf', so now whenever I hear this melody, it evokes a very precise memory: it was a signal that we were about to enter the stage, a moment when I started to have cold sweats. 'Pimpf' was originally only a B-side, but it ended up being put on 'Music For The Masses'. I think that's what the young members of the Hitler Youth were called. This music reflects the political climate that was occurring at the time of the rise of Nazism. It's because of its orchestral, quite distressing aspect."

Dates with available recordings of Pimpf

There are currently 74 recordings of Pimpf available.

• 1987-10-22 Pabellon De Real Madrid, Madrid, Spain/Source 1
• 1987-10-23 Blaugrana Sports Palas, Barcelona, Spain/Source 1
• 1987-10-25 Olympiahalle, Munich, Germany/Source 1
• 1987-10-26 Palasport, Bologna, Italy/Source 1
• 1987-10-27 Paleur, Rome, Italy/Source 1
• 1987-10-29 Palasport, Turin, Italy/Source 1
• 1987-10-29 Palasport, Turin, Italy/Source 2
• 1987-10-30 Palatrussardi, Milan, Italy/Source 1
• 1987-11-02 Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle, Stuttgart, Germany/Source 1
• 1987-11-03 Festhalle, Frankfurt, Germany/Source 1
• 1987-11-04 Grugahalle, Essen, Germany/Source 1
• 1987-11-04 Grugahalle, Essen, Germany/Source 2
• 1987-11-06 Sporthalle, Cologne, Germany/Source 1
• 1987-11-06 Sporthalle, Cologne, Germany/Source 2
• 1987-11-06 Sporthalle, Cologne, Germany/Source 3
• 1987-11-07 Messehalle, Hannover, Germany/Source 1
• 1987-11-09 Deutschlandhalle, Berlin, Germany/Source 1
• 1987-11-11 Friedrich-Ebert-Halle, Ludwigshafen, Germany/Source 1
• 1987-11-12 Hallenstadion, Zurich, Switzerland/Source 1
• 1987-11-12 Hallenstadion, Zurich, Switzerland/Source 2
• 1987-11-13 Halle des Fêtes, Lausanne, Switzerland/Source 1
• 1987-11-16 Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy, Paris, France/Source 1
• 1987-11-17 Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy, Paris, France/Source 1
• 1987-11-18 Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy, Paris, France/Source 1
• 1987-12-12 UIC Pavilion, Chicago, IL, USA/Source 1
• 1987-12-15 The Forum, Montreal, QC, Canada/Source 1
• 1987-12-18 Madison Square Garden, New York, NY, USA/Source 1
• 1987-12-18 Madison Square Garden, New York, NY, USA/Source 2
• 1988-01-09 Newport Centre, Newport, Wales, UK/Source 1
• 1988-01-11 Wembley Arena, London, England, UK/Source 1
• 1988-01-12 Wembley Arena, London, England, UK/Source 1
• 1988-01-15 N.E.C., Birmingham, England, UK/Source 1
• 1988-01-16 Icerink, Whitley Bay, England, UK/Source 1
• 1988-01-17 Playhouse Theatre, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK/Source 1
• 1988-01-20 Sheffield City Hall, Sheffield, England, UK/Source 1
• 1988-01-21 St. George's Hall, Bradford, England, UK/Source 1
• 1988-01-23 B.I.C., Bournemouth, England, UK/Source 1
• 1988-01-24 Centre, Brighton, England, UK/Source 1
• 1988-02-06 Alsterdorfer Sporthalle, Hamburg, Germany/Source 1
• 1988-02-07 Alsterdorfer Sporthalle, Hamburg, Germany/Source 1
• 1988-02-09 Westfalenhalle, Dortmund, Germany/Source 1
• 1988-02-10 Weser-Ems-Halle, Oldenburg, Germany/Source 1
• 1988-02-12 Johanneshov Isstadion, Stockholm, Sweden/Source 1
• 1988-02-12 Johanneshov Isstadion, Stockholm, Sweden/Source 3
• 1988-02-12 Johanneshov Isstadion, Stockholm, Sweden/Source 4
• 1988-02-13 Scandinavium, Gothenburg, Sweden/Source 1
• 1988-02-13 Scandinavium, Gothenburg, Sweden/Source 2
• 1988-02-15 Drammenshallen, Drammen, Norway/Source 1
• 1988-02-17 Valbyhallen, Copenhagen, Denmark/Source 1
• 1988-02-18 Valbyhallen, Copenhagen, Denmark/Source 1
• 1988-02-19 Ostseehalle, Kiel, Germany/Source 1
• 1988-02-21 Forest National, Brussels, Belgium/Source 1
• 1988-02-23 Espace Foire, Lille, France/Source 1
• 1988-02-27 Patinoire, Bordeaux, France/Source 1
• 1988-02-29 Palais des Sports, Toulouse, France/Source 1
• 1988-03-01 Le Zenith, Montpellier, France/Source 1
• 1988-03-02 Palais des Sports, Lyon, France/Source 1
• 1988-03-05 Hall Rhenus, Strasbourg, France/Source 1
• 1988-03-07 Werner-Seelenbinder-Halle, East-Berlin, East-Germany/Source 1
• 1988-03-09 Sportcsarnok, Budapest, Hungary/Source 1
• 1988-03-10 Sportcsarnok, Budapest, Hungary/Source 1
• 1988-03-13 Stadthalle, Vienna, Austria/Source 1
• 1988-04-18 Festival Hall, Osaka, Japan/Source 1
• 1988-04-19 Koseinenkin Hall, Nagoya, Japan/Source 1
• 1988-04-21 NHK Hall, Tokyo, Japan/Source 1
• 1988-04-22 NHK Hall, Tokyo, Japan/Source 1
• 1988-04-29 Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountainview, CA, USA/Source 1
• 1988-05-04 P.N.E. Coliseum, Vancouver, BC, Canada/Source 1
• 1988-05-08 Salt Palace, Salt Lake City, UT, USA/Source 1
• 1988-05-09 McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, CO, USA/Source 1
• 1988-05-18 Northrop Auditorium, Minneapolis, MN, USA/Source 1
• 1988-05-20 Poplar Creek Music Fest, Chicago, IL, USA/Source 1
• 1988-06-01 Meadowlands Arena, East Rutherford, NJ, USA/Source 1
• 1998-10-13 Kempinski Four Seasons Hotel, Munich, Germany/Source 1

Dates where Pimpf was played

1987-1988 Music For The Masses Tour

Pimpf was played 101 times during this tour.

• 1987-10-22 Pabellon De Real Madrid, Madrid, Spain
• 1987-10-23 Blaugrana Sports Palas, Barcelona, Spain
• 1987-10-25 Olympiahalle, Munich, Germany
• 1987-10-26 Palasport, Bologna, Italy
• 1987-10-27 Paleur, Rome, Italy
• 1987-10-29 Palasport, Turin, Italy
• 1987-10-30 Palatrussardi, Milan, Italy
• 1987-11-02 Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle, Stuttgart, Germany
• 1987-11-03 Festhalle, Frankfurt, Germany
• 1987-11-04 Grugahalle, Essen, Germany
• 1987-11-06 Sporthalle, Cologne, Germany
• 1987-11-07 Messehalle, Hannover, Germany
• 1987-11-09 Deutschlandhalle, Berlin, Germany
• 1987-11-11 Friedrich-Ebert-Halle, Ludwigshafen, Germany
• 1987-11-12 Hallenstadion, Zurich, Switzerland
• 1987-11-13 Halle des Fêtes, Lausanne, Switzerland
• 1987-11-16 Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy, Paris, France
• 1987-11-17 Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy, Paris, France
• 1987-11-18 Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy, Paris, France
• 1987-12-01 Cow Palace, San Francisco, CA, USA
• 1987-12-04 The Forum, Inglewood, CA, USA
• 1987-12-05 The Forum, Inglewood, CA, USA
• 1987-12-07 Sports Arena, San Diego, CA, USA
• 1987-12-08 Compton Terrace, Phoenix, AZ, USA
• 1987-12-10 Reunion Arena, Dallas, TX, USA
• 1987-12-12 UIC Pavilion, Chicago, IL, USA
• 1987-12-14 Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, ON, Canada
• 1987-12-15 The Forum, Montreal, QC, Canada
• 1987-12-17 Patriot Center, Fairfax, VA, USA
• 1987-12-18 Madison Square Garden, New York, NY, USA
• 1988-01-09 Newport Centre, Newport, Wales, UK
• 1988-01-11 Wembley Arena, London, England, UK
• 1988-01-12 Wembley Arena, London, England, UK
• 1988-01-15 N.E.C., Birmingham, England, UK
• 1988-01-16 Icerink, Whitley Bay, England, UK
• 1988-01-17 Playhouse Theatre, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
• 1988-01-19 G-MEX Centre, Manchester, England, UK
• 1988-01-20 Sheffield City Hall, Sheffield, England, UK
• 1988-01-21 St. George's Hall, Bradford, England, UK
• 1988-01-23 B.I.C., Bournemouth, England, UK
• 1988-01-24 Centre, Brighton, England, UK
• 1988-02-06 Alsterdorfer Sporthalle, Hamburg, Germany
• 1988-02-07 Alsterdorfer Sporthalle, Hamburg, Germany
• 1988-02-09 Westfalenhalle, Dortmund, Germany
• 1988-02-10 Weser-Ems-Halle, Oldenburg, Germany
• 1988-02-12 Johanneshov Isstadion, Stockholm, Sweden
• 1988-02-13 Scandinavium, Gothenburg, Sweden
• 1988-02-15 Drammenshallen, Drammen, Norway
• 1988-02-17 Valbyhallen, Copenhagen, Denmark
• 1988-02-18 Valbyhallen, Copenhagen, Denmark
• 1988-02-19 Ostseehalle, Kiel, Germany
• 1988-02-21 Forest National, Brussels, Belgium
• 1988-02-23 Espace Foire, Lille, France
• 1988-02-25 Parc De Penfeld, Brest, France
• 1988-02-26 La Beaujoire, Nantes, France
• 1988-02-27 Patinoire, Bordeaux, France
• 1988-02-29 Palais des Sports, Toulouse, France
• 1988-03-01 Le Zenith, Montpellier, France
• 1988-03-02 Palais des Sports, Lyon, France
• 1988-03-04 Palais Des Sports, Besancon, France
• 1988-03-05 Hall Rhenus, Strasbourg, France
• 1988-03-07 Werner-Seelenbinder-Halle, East-Berlin, East-Germany
• 1988-03-09 Sportcsarnok, Budapest, Hungary
• 1988-03-10 Sportcsarnok, Budapest, Hungary
• 1988-03-11 Sportovni Hala, Prague, Czech Republic
• 1988-03-13 Stadthalle, Vienna, Austria
• 1988-04-18 Festival Hall, Osaka, Japan
• 1988-04-19 Koseinenkin Hall, Nagoya, Japan
• 1988-04-21 NHK Hall, Tokyo, Japan
• 1988-04-22 NHK Hall, Tokyo, Japan
• 1988-04-29 Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountainview, CA, USA
• 1988-04-30 Cal Expo Amphitheatre, Sacramento, CA, USA
• 1988-05-02 Coliseum, Seattle, WA, USA
• 1988-05-04 P.N.E. Coliseum, Vancouver, BC, Canada
• 1988-05-05 Civic Auditorium, Portland, OR, USA
• 1988-05-06 Civic Auditorium, Portland, OR, USA
• 1988-05-08 Salt Palace, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
• 1988-05-09 McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, CO, USA
• 1988-05-11 Frank Erwin Center, Austin, TX, USA
• 1988-05-13 Six Flags Over Texas, Arlington, TX, USA
• 1988-05-14 Southern Star Amphitheater, Houston, TX, USA
• 1988-05-15 Lakefront Arena, New Orleans, LA, USA
• 1988-05-17 Five Seasons Center, Cedar Rapids, IA, USA
• 1988-05-18 Northrop Auditorium, Minneapolis, MN, USA
• 1988-05-20 Poplar Creek Music Fest, Chicago, IL, USA
• 1988-05-21 Pine Knob Music Theatre, Clarkston, MI, USA
• 1988-05-22 Riverbend Music Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
• 1988-05-24 Starwood Amphitheatre, Nashville, TN, USA
• 1988-05-25 Southern Star Amphitheatre, Atlanta, GA, USA
• 1988-05-27 The Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA, USA
• 1988-05-28 Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, MD, USA
• 1988-05-30 Blossom Music Festival, Cleveland, OH, USA
• 1988-06-01 Meadowlands Arena, East Rutherford, NJ, USA
• 1988-06-03 Jones Beach Theater, Wantagh, NY, USA
• 1988-06-04 Jones Beach Theater, Wantagh, NY, USA
• 1988-06-07 Great Woods Amphitheater, Mansfield, MA, USA
• 1988-06-08 The Forum, Montreal, QC, Canada
• 1988-06-09 CNE Grandstand, Toronto, ON, Canada
• 1988-06-11 AJ Palumbo Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
• 1988-06-15 Compton Terrace, Phoenix, AZ, USA
• 1988-06-18 Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA, USA

1990 World Violation Tour

• Pimpf was not played during this tour.

1993 Devotional Tour

• Pimpf was not played during this tour.

1994 Exotic Tour

• Pimpf was not played during this tour.

1997 Ultra Parties

• Pimpf was not played during this tour.

1998 The Singles Tour

• Pimpf was not played during this tour.

2001 Exciter Tour

• Pimpf was not played during this tour.

2003 Paper Monsters Tour (Dave Gahan solo)

• Pimpf was not played during this tour.

2003 "A Night With Martin L. Gore" (Martin L. Gore solo)

• Pimpf was not played during this tour.

2005-2006 Touring The Angel

• Pimpf was not played during this tour.

2009-2010 Tour Of The Universe

• Pimpf was not played during this tour.

2013-2014 Delta Machine Tour

• Pimpf was not played during this tour.

2017-2018 Global Spirit Tour

• Pimpf was not played during this tour.

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10. Pimpf List of Music for the Masses songs