2008-10-08 105.2 FM Radio SWH, Riga, Latvia

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Notes

Artis Dvarionas attended Depeche Mode's press conference in 2008, and interviewed Martin Gore and Andrew Fletcher afterwards. The interview was uploaded in video form the day after the press conference. The original links to this video are dead, but have since been re-uploaded to a Facebook fan group.

The next day, Radio SWH aired and uploaded a report about the press conference, containing the audio of the interview, uploaded here (file no longer there).

English translation

6th of October, 2008:

The British cult group 'Depeche Mode' gave an impressive press conference at the Berlin Olimpic Stadion, announcing their plans for 2009. It includes the release of a new album in April, and a world tour 'Tour Of The Universe', which will begin in May.

A day later, in one of the most prestigious Berlin hotels, 'Radio SWH Rock Show' creator Artis Dvarionas managed to talk to two of the group members - the lead songwriter Martin Gore, and always-abit-in-the-shadows Andrew Fletcher. Vocalist Dave Gahan had already left for New York that day to continue work for Depeche Mode's new album.

Artis Dvarionas recalls:

At the beginning of the interview, I wasn't afraid to admit, that this meeting was a real dream come true.

I told them that I discovered the group in the late 80s, but the biggest impression was left by their 1993 album 'Songs Of Faith And Devotion', because at that time, the group 'Nirvana' was highly respected, and the success of the grunge era was also reflected in Depeche Mode music.

Andrew Fletcher explains that it was due to the group's vocalist Dave's residence at that time - Los Angeles (California), and especially due to his impression of it, which led the group to get closer to rock music. However, the fact that each band member, so to speak, "pulls the blanket in his own direction" has always been Depeche Mode's trump card, in his opinion.

However, remembering the 1987 album 'Music For The Masses', Fletcher underlines the importance of the album in the group's history, mentioning, that the final concert of the album's promotional tour, in the famous Rose Bowl Stadion, Pasadena (California), is one of the more pleasant moments in the story of Depeche Mode.

When asked, whether there is something in the group's history that is remembered reluctantly, Martin Gore mentions, that, of course, there are, for example, early records that sound a bit weird today, however making mistakes is human. And, if the first record would be something revolutionary, then, more likely, everything would also end with it.

Andrew Fletcher agrees, that the group has been in constant development and that they are still improving.

I say, that one of my biggest inspirations as a stage person has always been Dave Gahan. Martin Gore confirms, that Dave is a great group leader and says that his idols are David Bowie and Iggy Pop. Meanwhile, Fletcher manages to joke around, saying that one of the artists he has always respected is Tony Hadley, vocalist of the British pop group 'Spandau Ballet'.

In the continuation of the conversation, I asked them about the producer of the group's new album - Ben Hiller, who has also worked with Depeche Mode in the creation of 'Playing The Angel'.

Martin says while smiling, that the previous talks about Ben not knowing a lot about Depeche Mode didn't, most likely, reflect the truth, and that he has, actually, always been a big fan of the group. When talking about the sound of the new album, Martin says that with the help of E-Bay, he has gained access to new sound baggage, which is used in the album. Meanwhile, my suspicions that the new vinyl will be similar to the previous one are quickly erased by Andrew Fletcher.

There will be at least two songs composed by the group's vocalist Dave in the new Depeche Mode album without Gore's compositions, maybe even more. My question about how they rate Dave's solo albums is followed by flattering comments and Andrew Fletcher adds, that solo works have given Dave additional self-confidence.

In 1993 and 1994, Depeche Mode went on one of their largest tour in the history of the group's existence - Devotional, providing 160 concerts during its run. This tour is, however, notorious as the group nearly disbanded after it. The members of Depeche Mode tell, that it is too early to discuss the length of the new tour, yet it certainly won't be as long as Devotional. However, they will be everywhere as the concert series' title - Tour Of The Universe - implies.

When asked about the anticipated concert set, both stress that it won't be possible to please everyone. Song choice is always a difficult question. Depeche Mode will concentrate again on new material as well as more familiar hits.

At the end of the interview, I tell them that many of the most impactful stars don't even look in Latvia's direction because there is too small of a music market here. Meanwhile, Depeche Mode is already coming to us for the fourth time. Andrew Fletcher is happy, that there are a lot of fans in post-soviet countries, which is also the main reason for visiting us. Not even the Iron Curtain could sever the link between Depeche Mode Music and the listener. Not even in Latvia.

(You can watch the video version of the interview in the 'video' section, where you can also watch the official Depeche Mode press conference)

Original article in Latvian

2008.gada 6.oktobrī:

Berlīnes Olimpiskajā stadionā vērienīgu preses konferenci sniedza britu kulta grupa "Depeche Mode", paziņojot par 2009.gada plāniem. Tajos ietilpst jauna albuma izdošana aprīlī, un pasaules koncerttūre "Tour Of The Universe", kas sāksies maijā.

Dienu vēlāk, kādā no lepnākajām Berlīnes viesnīcām, "Radio SWH Rokšova" veidotājam Artim Dvarionas izdevās aprunāties ar diviem grupas dalībniekiem - galveno dziesmu autoru Martinu Goru (Martin Gore), un vienmēr mazliet ēnā esošo Endrjū Fletčeru (Andrew Fletcher). Vokālists Deivs Gahāns (Dave Gahan) todien jau bija devies uz Ņujorku, lai turpinātu darbu pie "Depeche Mode" jaunā albuma.

Artis Dvarionas atstāsta:

Sarunas sākumā es nekautrējos atzīties, ka tikšanās mirklis man ir īsts sapņa piepildījums.

Stāstu, ka grupu iepazinu 80.-to gadu beigās, taču vislielāko iespaidu atstājis 93. gada albums “Songs Of Faith And Devotion”, jo tolaik cieņā bija grupa Nirvana un grunge ēras uzvaras gājiens atspoguļojās arī DM mūzikā.

Endrjū Fletčers to skaidro ar grupas vokālista Deiva toreizējo dzīvesvietu – Losandželosu (Kalifornijā), un tieši viņa iespaidā grupa pietuvojās rokmūzikai. Tomēr tas, ka katrs grupas dalībnieks, ja tā var teikt “velk deķi uz savu pusi”, viņaprāt, vienmēr bijis Depeche Mode trumpis.

Savukārt, atceroties 87.-tā gada albumu “Music For The Masses”, Fletčers pasvītro tā nozīmību grupas vēsturē, minēdams, ka albuma popularizēšanas tūres noslēdzošais koncerts slavenajā Rose Bowl stadionā, Pasadenā (Kalifornijā), ir viens no patīkamākajiem mirkļiem Depeche Mode stāstā.

Jautāti, vai ir kas tāds, ko no grupas vēstures viņi atceras nelabprāt, Martins Gors min, ka, protams, ir, piemēram, agrīnie ieraksti, kas šodien izklausās mazliet dīvaini, tomēr kļūdīties ir cilvēcīgi. Un, ja pirmais ieraksts būtu kaut kas revolucionārs, tad, visticamāk, ar to viss arī būtu beidzies.

Endrjū Fletčers piekrīt, ka grupa ir bijusi nemitīgā attīstībā un pilnveido sevi joprojām.

Saku, ka viens no maniem lielākajiem iedvesmotājiem kā skatuves cilvēks vienmēr bijis Deivs Gahāns. Martins Gors apstiprina, ka Deivs ir lielisks grupas līderis un saka, ka viņa elki ir Deivids Bovijs un Igijs Pops. Kamēr Fletčers paspēj pajokot, ka viņam vienmēr cieņā bijis britu popgrupas Spandau Ballet vokālists Tonijs Hedlijs.

Sarunas turpinājumā vaicāju par grupas jaunā albuma producentu – Benu Hilleru, kurš strādāja ar Depeche Mode arī pie “Playing The Angel” radīšanas.

Martins smaidot saka, ka kādreizējās runas par to, ka Bens neko daudz nezina par Depeche Mode, visticamāk, neatbilst patiesībai, un viņš patiesībā vienmēr esot bijis liels grupas fans. Runājot par jaunā albuma skanējumu, Martins uzsver, ka ar E-bay starpniecību esot ticis pie jaunu skaņu bagāžas, kas nu tiekot liktas lietā. Tikmēr manas aizdomas, ka jaunā plate varētu būt līdzīga iepriekšējai, steidz apdzēst Endrjū Flečers.

Jaunajā Depeche Mode albumā bez Gora skaņdarbiem būšot arī vismaz divas grupas vokālista Deiva komponētas dziesmas, iespējams, pat vairāk. Uz manu jautājumu par to, kā viņi vērtē Deiva solo albumus, seko vokālistam glaimojoši izteicieni un Endrjū Fletčers piemin, ka solo darbi Deivam devuši papildus pārliecību par sevi.

93.-ajā un 94.-tajā gadā Depeche Mode devās savā apjomīgākajā koncerttūrē grupas pastāvēšanas vēsturē – Devotional, sniedzot turpat 160 koncertus. Šī koncerttūre gan ir bēdīgi slavena, jo pēc tās grupa gandrīz izjuka. Depeche Mode dalībnieki stāsta, ka par jaunās tūres garumu vēl pāragri spriest, taču tā pavisam noteikti nebūs tikpat gara. Tomēr viņi būs visur, jo koncertsērijas nosaukums – Tour Of The Universe izsaka visu.

Taujāti par gaidāmo koncertu saturu, abi uzsver, ka pilnībā visiem izpatikt, visticamāk, neizdosies. Dziesmu izvēle vienmēr ir ļoti smags jautājums. DM arī šoreiz koncentrēsies gan uz jauno materiālu, gan pazīstamākajiem hītiem.

Sarunas noslēgumā stāstu, ka daudzas pirmā lieluma zvaigznes pat neskatās Latvijas virzienā, jo šeit ir pārāk mazs mūzikas tirgus. Tikmēr Depeche Mode pie mums brauks jau ceturto reizi. Endrjū Fletčers priecājas, ka daudzās postpadomju valstīs viņiem ir ļoti daudz fanu, kas arī ir galvenais iemesls. Pat dzelzs priekškars savulaik nav spējis saraut saikni starp DM mūziku un klausītāju. Arī Latvijā ne.

(Intervijas video versiju skati video sadaļā, kur arī oficiālā Depeche Mode preses konference.)

• Duration: 16:32