1986-08-04 Arènes de Frejus, Fréjus, France
Notes
As stated in the August 27 '86 issue of Smash Hits magazine:
As the concert draws nearer, rumours begin circulating that the support group, Eyeless in Gaza, have got lost in France so there’s a possibility that their place will be taken by the “famous” Blah Brothers – actually two of Depeche Mode’s road crew called Daryl and Nobby who (much to the group’s amusement) fancy their chances at mega-stardom. Eventually it’s decided that this is ver Blahs’ “night” and on they go to bombard the audience with their tinny Casio rock. Unfortunately they sound like a weedy version of Blancmange, with every song having the same drumbeat and squealing saxophone (not to mention a singer who sounds like he’s got a ton of cement lodged at the back of his throat). Eyeless in Gaza, who were only told about the concert yesterday and have driven all the way from Nuneaton (UK), arrive 15 minutes later, looking very fed up.
[...] When the curtains eventually drop to reveal Depeche Mode, they’re dressed properly again (boo!) but the girls still clutch their friends, screw their eyes up, open their mouths and the lads in the audience still start punching the air with their fists. Everyone also chants the words to the songs, although it’s doubtful if they fully understand what is being sung. One confused girl seems to be under the delusion that “Just Can’t Get Enough” is actually “Just Can’t Get It Up”. What?
And as Martin starts to sing “A Question Of Lust” – wearing a (predictably) black, short-legged romper suit complete with studs, buckles, suspender belt and a fetching pair of sheer black stockings as well as a macho pair of handcuffs fixed about his person – the whole arena is immediately lit up with thousands of flickering flames and the dewy-eyed onlookers sway back and forth to the music. Aaaaah...
Set list
- Christmas Island
- Black Celebration
- A Question Of Time
- Fly On The Windscreen
- Shake The Disease
- Leave In Silence
- It's Called A Heart
- Everything Counts
- It Doesn't Matter Two (*)
- A Question Of Lust (*)
- Blasphemous Rumours
- New Dress
- Stripped
- Something To Do
- Master And Servant
- Photographic
- People Are People
- Boys Say Go!
- Just Can't Get Enough
- More Than A Party
Sources
- Source 1 is a very good audience recording supposedly sourced from master cassettes. Christmas Island is mostly missing and there is some slight distortion at times.
- Source 2 is a very good audience recording sourced from second-generation cassettes of the same recording as Source 1. It has a full recording of Christmas Island. It isn't as treble-heavy as Source 1 and has better bass response as well - but let your ears decide which recording you prefer.
