1981-01-11 Hope 'N' Anchor, London, England, UK
From DM Live - the Depeche Mode live encyclopedia for the masses
Jump to navigationJump to search
Notes
Depeche Mode supported Blancmange.
Daniel Miller recollected in 2015:
"I remember, typical of the British press, that there was an article [on the next wave of supposed New Romantics]. Depeche did a gig at The Hope & Anchor in Islington: Roger Ames[1] came down, so did Chris Briggs – all these major label A&Rs were there, all trying to sign the band. At the end of the gig, I went backstage and all these people were already in the dressing room saying: ‘Mute’s a nice little label, but they’ll never get you any success. There’s only two people working for it.’"
References
- ↑ Roger Ames then wanted to have a meeting with the band. There are some quotes on this meeting, but the details vary. Andy Fletcher in DM's 'Stripped' biography: "He came down to have a pint with us in a pub in Basildon, to try and sign us with Chris Briggs and a guy called Martin Dean. Martin Dean later signed Wham! to the worst deal of all time, and WE could have been signing that worst deal of all time!" Neil Ferris in the documentary on the 2006 Speak & Spell remaster DVD: "[...] Roger Ames, who was an A&R man at Phonogram in those days, approached the band and wanted to sign them. And I sat with the band, I remember Dan sitting quietly in the corner, and I was saying, 'Guys, stay with Daniel. Daniel is really gonna look after you and all.' And it was quite incredible because they were... And I'll always remember Vince Clarke in those days, because Vince was still in Depeche at that point, and Vince said, 'Yeah, it's alright, but if we get famous and we do Top Of The Pops, do you think we can do that in the afternoon so I can get back on the cheap day return of Basildon?'" Neil Ferris again in Simon Spence's 2011 DM biography: "I will never forget the meeting with Roger Ames in my office. He was then working for Polygram and wanted to sign the band. Daniel didn't have a contract with the band, their deal was only signed with a handshake. Daniel asked if we could have the meeting in my office. So the band came to my office, my wife was also present, and so were of course Daniel and Roger Ames. So Roger Ames was standing there and said that the band should switch from Daniel to Polygram and work for him, he could do this and that for them, and Fletch responded, "Well, I'm not sure about it, let me think about it." And then Dave said, "If we get on Top Of The Pops, will we then get a return ticket for the trip to London?"
