Depeche Mode always whining, searching for something
DEPECHE Mode are always “moaning through life”. The ‘Enjoy the Silence’ trio — Dave Gahan, Martin Gore and Alan ‘Fletch’ Fletcher — are known for their downbeat lyrics and singer Dave admits he is often unhappy with his “inability to function” as a normal person.
He said: “We have influences coming from the blues. And Depeche Mode is fundamentally us whining, searching for something, moaning our way through life.
“What do I have to moan about? Myself! My inability to function like a normal human being, as I’m constantly reminded. Someone will say, ‘ The way you’re talking to me is really...’ I get over aggressive or overenthusiastic and other people aren’t necessarily on the same page. I get into trouble with my wife. She’s the first one to say, ‘ You can’t talk to me like that. I’m not one of your bandmates or cronies that hang around you.’ “
The group credit their success to the structure they have build around themselves, particularly in how they approach songwriting.
Dave explained to Mojo magazine: “We’re not a ‘ band’ band. We’re not The Rolling Stones, jamming together in the studio. Things are very constructed between Martin and Me. Fletch has ideas and input, he’s the one who’ll say, ‘ What are you doing? You’ve been working on this for three days, it’s rubbish.’
“But he’s not conceptual. He’s the mediator. He’s the luke-warm water between fire and ice. He’ll do his crossword and as long as he gets to lunch by one o’clock, he’s fine.”