It is difficult to introduce a man from one of the biggest bands in the world. A band that have sold 100 million records, produced 13 studio albums and released 50 singles. It is difficult because you want to make him sound big, but it can’t sound too big, because he is a man who modestly describes himself as “the tall bloke at the back”.
It has to be overstated in an understated manner or understated in an overstated manner. I settle for a combination approach, describing him as the tall bloke at the back responsible for more record sales than there are people in western Europe.
“That’s quite some intro, but it just shows that we have been around a long time, which is a good thing and a bad thing,” says Andy Fletcher, one third of British band Depeche Mode, who perform on Sunday at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix’s closing night concert, an event open to F1 ticket holders only.
“The good is to be friends from school who started out together and became known all round the world. The bad is that its not as easy as it used to be, but we have started keeping ourselves in shape, so it’s not too bad.”
Fletcher and his schoolmate Vince Clarke were the original members of the band (Clarke left in 1981) with Martin Gore joining in the late 1970s and finally, frontman Dave Gahan joining in 1980; it’s now just Gahan, Gore, and Fletcher. tabloid! got Fletcher and Radio 2’s Mark “Sparky” Pendergast together over the phone recently to talk music, tours and Shakira.
Q: Is it all still as enjoyable?
A: There’s two things we do — we make records and we tour. The best thing about our job is being on stage.
Q: Come on, then give us the worst thing.
A: Hanging around and not seeing the world. I have been around the world three times and it’s just a series of hotel rooms, dressing rooms and various arenas or stadiums. It’s a shame but I wouldn’t change the last 35 years; it’s been a dream come true. So I’m not going to complain too much.
Q: Thirteen albums — can you pick a favourite?
A: Well I think there are two. Violator is the ultimate and perfect album, but I have a soft spot for Black Celebration, which didn’t do as well as Violator but the songs and the sound were so special.
Q: I am going to have to push you. I have the last-ever copies of Violator and Black Celebration and I am going to throw one in the sea. Which one will you save?
A: Violator, has to be Violator.
Q: Even more intense now. You have released 50 singles: pick one, and one only.
A: Am I only allowed one?!
Q: Well you did pick only one on UK TV back in the mid 2000’s — so we need the same now.
A: Well, my favourite track is World in our Eyes, because it represents what we have achieved from our “humble” beginnings; but I have to mention Dreaming of Me, which was our first-ever single, which set us on this path.
(I decide at this point to let a man who has released 50 singles to have two tracks as his favourites.)
Q: Speak and Spell was your first album; it was the name of an educational toy popular at the time. It was, for those who don’t remember, like a very primitive iPad. Does that bring it home to you how long your career has lasted?
A: That’s true, we started off almost as a boy band but we have been allowed to evolve into a different type of band, so we have been lucky in that respect.
Q: Your latest album, Delta Machine, has been a huge success. Do you ever worry that one day you will not reach the same level?
A: You always want it to do well, you want the critics to like it. This album for us was very smooth in the making and very enjoyable. We managed to define a sound early on that was a mixture of blues and electronics. The album before was a lot tougher, so it just depends on the album.
Q: Delta Machine has done really well when it came to sales. Do you look at an albums sales as a mark of its success?
A: It’s not entirely true, but you have to be pleased with the album itself. We do make music for ourselves, particularly this album, we are very, very happy with it.
Q: You have influenced lots of musicians. Gary Newman said the album Songs of Faith and Devotion saved his career. Are you tempted to ask for some royalties?
A: We know Gary reasonably well and I’m not too sure if he has many royalties.
Q: German hard rock band Ramstein cite you as an inspiration — surprising?
A: Not really. For some bizarre reason we have bands from all genres saying our music has inspired them. It can be a case of us inspiring them to be musicians and the music they then make is completely different to ours.
Q: Shakira said Enjoy the Silence not only inspired her musically but it was the feeling that song gave her inside her body.
A: [Laughs] What can I say? We are honoured. I mean when Johnny Cash covered Personal Jesus it was an honour because we had listened to him in school. All these things are incredible and the fact we are still enjoying it is most important.
Q: And if you are giving people like Shakira a special feeling in her body then that’s a high point of your career.
A: Yep and if I meet her, I will ask her.
Q: Is it still rock n roll on tour?
A: No, not at all, can’t afford to be at our age. We are a lot more professional now, which does at times make it more boring, but it means we give a 9 or 10 out of 10 performance each night.
Q: How does that differ from the early days?
A: A lot!
Q: Describe a gig day for us.
A: It’s the same every day, pretty much, up for breakfast, gym, have a wander round host city, bit of shopping, soundcheck and gig.
Q: Is it like the film Groundhog Day?
A: Pretty much.
Q: Have you ever done things where one of you has shouted out, “We love you Milan” and your actually in Barcelona?
A: Well Dave is pretty good on that score and it’s only happened a couple of times.
Q: Your gig combines F1 and music. Obviously you’re a music fan but how about F1?
A: I’m not as big a fan as I used to be, but it should be good fun. We are excited to get across to Abu Dhabi and play to what should be a great crowd.
