Customer Reviews

Depeche Mode 101 [VHS]

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

i agree with everything positive that the other reviewers have wrote about this DVD. it's definitely a keeper... the only thing you may want to know and that i will point out is that the second disc is obviously not the whole 101 concert. it's more like highlights of the Music for the Masses tour. first of all, not all the concert footage was from the Pasadena show. you can tell that some songs were performed in a venue that's smaller and even is indoors. for those of you who have the 101 cd, you will notice not all of the songs on the cd are on DVD disc 2. furthermore, the songs that appear on DVD disc 2 have been edited, so you don't hear or see the full versions. i'm not bashing this DVD in any way, but you should keep this in mind when purchasing.

I won my copy of this on VHS back in 1989. (I wasn't even old enough to legally own it, I was 14, and 101 was granted a 15 certificate in my native England)... It's one of my most treasured items as it's fully autographed by all four DM members.

But it's worn out from repeated viewing. So a DVD release is most welcome!

I don't mind the fact that the show is incomplete, the press release from it's makers even claims that they don't even know where the missing songs are. I think the inclusion of an uninterrupted version of what concert footage they have on the second disc should be regarded as a bonus, and not a given.

101 is not, and was never meant to be a concert movie. It's a documentary. It captures the band in a moment. It captures their audience (albeit a concentrated snapshop) in a moment.

And it's great.

My 101'st review is for 101. It was great seeing the boys again, transported back in time to perhaps the pinnacle of their bourgeoning careers. Only recently coming to DVD, 101 follows a group of 8 Depeche Mode fans across the country on bus after they won a promotional contest to participate. Ostensibly the first reality show, pre-dating MTV's insipid Real World series, we got to know a bit about the busmates against the backdrop of various shots of the band's performances as they made their way to their 101'st show at the Rose Bowl, CA in the summer of 1988. I graduated HS that year and Depeche Mode had been [and is] my favorite band since their Some Great Reward Album. It was fun nostalgia to be transported back to those days of halcyon youth. <grin>. The audio commentary from the band was entertaining, more so than the individual interviews on the second disc. I had a lot of favorites working in this movie, MftM is my favorite DM album, and we are once again reminded of the talent of Alan Wilder. It's interesting the little snippets that slip in about Alan [who declined to participate in the interviews or commentary], and about how Dave, who laughing states 'Look at Al, he's too cool for school' misses him. What would the output have been like beyond SoFAD if Alan had stayed. Ah well, at least out of the departure Recoil matured and bore fruit. Anyhow this was a feel good viewing, with lizard-like slicked back Fletch once more egging the fans on with his clapping technique. It gets added to the other DM DVDs in my collection, and I can highly recommend it for fans and newbies.

The content of this DVD has been subject of heated discussions since it was pre-announced. First of all, there is of course the old 101 film by DA Pennebaker. I can't really recommend it to anyone interested in the music of DM, as it's a kind of MTV style documentary with some song clippings thrown in. The film is rather unpopular with many DM fans as well, since Pennebaker (who said that he had not known the band in the first place) choose to create a freakshow of intoxicated fan imposers and embarrassing band statements. Don't expect to watch this twice. With most of the VHS backcatalogue still unavailable on DVD, one wonders why the record company did choose this film instead of Devotional Live or Live in Hamburg.

The second DVD contains a lot of bonus tracks that look good on the cover but disappoint bitterly. Many fans had hoped for a complete live concert, instead we got an old TV production created from some considerably shortened songs. Mute says that the concert was not filmed in its entirety, and looking at 101 I half believe that Pennebaker messed that up as well, but I suspect they just wanted a cheap cash cow and recycled the already released material. The only new material are interviews with some of the 'fans' from the film (I don't know how I survived without this) and the band, that is the three present members of the band, but not Alan Wilder, who gave the band the unique sound that made them superstars until he left in the 90s. (Edit: I have learned that he was asked but didn't want to participate.)

All in all this is for only for those who buy anything with DM written on it to complete their collection. For the rest there is still the 101 2CD with the great music to enjoy.

(Edit: And yes, I am a Depeche Mode fan, even though some other reviewers accuse me of spreading "Blasphemous Rumours". That's why I'm so sad that this DVD is rather neglecting and even mistreating the fine music of DM in favour of trivialities.
And I don't think that this reviews are meant as Who's the biggest fan-competitions, but to give some subjective but fact-based opinions for interested customers, helping them to make their own choice. )

[...]
Here is the list of songs included in the "uninterupted" concert (Only 12 of 20 songs on the CDs) in order of appearance: Master and Servant, Pimpf, Behind the Wheel, Strangelove (missing the middle verse - ouch), Blaspemous Rumours, Stripped, Somebody, Black Celebration (end faded out), Pleasure Little Treasure (beginning faded in), Just Can't get Enough (end faded out), Everything Counts (beginning faded in), and Never Let Me Down Again (beginning quickly faded in). The total play time not including credits is 51:36.

My expectations were set artificially high and unfortunately not met. The rest of the reviews cover everything else you need to know.

okay first off, i didnt buy this for the concert, i bought it for the commentary, it is someof the best commentary i have ever heard, its basically depeche mode reminicing about the old days, and you get to take a ride with them...and hope the never let you down again, which in fact they dont, super job!

First of all, this movie is live footage of the biggest depeche mode event of all time. Second of all, it's like a independent film, there is no candy coating or big time editing like most of the thing's you'd see on bands, this is the real thing. The best part I think is the fact that it showed real life back in the cool times, the 80's!! It totally brought back memories as I watched it seeing the cool dm fans as they follow dm to the RoseBowl. Its a one of a kind thing, that anyone who loves dm should own.

This documentary-style video shows how Depeche Mode, a band with shockingly little radio airplay, could sell out the Rose Bowl (a feat only a few other artists could do). Their incredibly loyal fans (of which I am one) were able to make this happen for them. You will feel as if you are one of the "roadies" along for this great ride down Route 66. I thoroughly enjoyed the misadventures of the fans chosen to follow the band through all their 101 concerts, as well as the concert performances themselves (DUH!). This video is an absolute, no-brainer, must-have for any respectable Depeche Mode fan!!!

I consider Depeche Mode's 101 to be one of the greatest concert films of all time, up there with "The Last Waltz" and "Stop Making Sense". I owned the original VHS release (as well as the CD), and had been waiting patiently for this to be released on DVD. I was not dissapointed. In addition to relieving the experience with a better sound and quality, you also get some great interviews. This DVD brought back some great memories of lost high school days.
Maybe the nostalgia clouts my review, but I do feel that those reviewers giving this DVD a low rating were not around when the film was first release. I actually get the feeling some feel it is a brand new release. The reason why this DVD could not be done in a "One Night in Paris" style is that it was released well over a dozen years before that concert!!! Plus, I find 101 so much more interesting. You get to see not just the concert (regardless of what the young'ems say, Depeche Mode were at the top of their game during the Music for the Masses tour) but also a glimpse into the lives of devoted DM fans, and just your normal everyday backstage stuff that goes on.
Normally, one would not expect "electronic" music to be particularly captivating live. Play the tape, dance around. However, Depeche Mode inject a vigor into their live performances that differentiates their live performances from their recorded output. This film is a great testament to that.

This is the greatest musical documentary of all time. Being a fan for two decades now, no other performance can top 101. Though the concert was not shown to it's whole entirety, let's face it, if digital recording is available at those times, we will not crave for more. For me, this movie has shown Depeche Mode at their best and how cool the 80's era is. A must have to all music collectors of different music genres.