1980-06-21 Top Alex, Southend-On-Sea, Essex, England, UK

Notes

"Composition Of Sound" played at this venue; see poster below.

Dave Gahan said in Pop Tops magazine in 1981: "Our debut together was at the Top Alex, a Southend venue that's an R & B stronghold. We went down really well - they were banging their heads to our pop." However, in the press release for 'New Life', Martin Gore wrote that this performance at Top Alex had a "horrendous reception!"

Robert Marlow remembers in Jonathan Miller's 'Stripped' biography:

"The Top Alex was in a Southend Pub called The Alexandra. They had a room there at the top - Top Alex, see? I did the lights for that one - on or off! 'What do you want for this song? On or off?'"

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  Poster designed by Vince Clarke's brother, Rodney.