Stripped: The True Story of Depeche Mode [Paperback]

Jonathan Miller (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 23, 2004

An electrifying new biography about the four Essex lads who became award-winning stadium superstars and champions of synth pop! Jonathan Miller's groundbreaking book features in-depth interviews with founder member Vince Clarke and producers Gareth Jones and Mark Bell, and contains never-before seen interviews with the band members themselves. With additional input from Gary Human, Howard Jones and Thomas Dolby this is a unique portrait of a band that almost lost control when their lives went off the rails and lead singer Dave Gahan's heroin addiction nearly killed him. In the end Depeche Mode not only survived, they triumphed, racking up a staggering 40 million-plus album sales on the way. This is their amazing story, told in full for the first time. Born out of the post-punk backlash in the early 80's, Depeche Mode took their name from a phrase in a French style magazine and became the definitive international synth-pop group. Vince Clarke, Andy Fletcher and Martin Gore had started out as an Essex guitar band but it was their bright and upbeat synthesizer-driven brand of pop fronted by Dave Gahan that was to find global acceptance and enjoy unlikely success in the US. Despite a handful of early plaudits in the music press, the group won only intermittent critical acceptance over the years, its often light musical approach contrasting with lyrics that sometimes plunge into darker topics like S&M, religious fetishism and the scourge of capitalism. But whatever the music press said, the fans finally bought into Depeche Mode in a big way. Their Violator tour at the start of the 90s sold millions of records and turned them into major US concert stars. In true rock style, Depeche Mode's members have suffered their share of internal strife over a long career. Dave Gahan reinvented himself as a lead singer with both a harder musical edge and a near-fatal drug habit, while internal acrimony often marred the later stages of their career. Jonathan Miller has made an e

Editorial Reviews

Review

One hell of a storym meticulously researched and told. MOJO --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Jonathan Miller is a British freelance writer with over 100 features and articles in print.

Product Details

• Paperback: 596 pages
• Publisher: Omnibus Press (September 23, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1844494152
• ISBN-13: 978-1844494156
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,620,953 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The definitive Depeche Mode story, March 10, 2004

By 

Joey Saylor (Louisville, KY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stripped: Depeche Mode (Hardcover)

Having just finished reading this entire book, I have to say this is about as thorough as it gets. The book traces the history of the band from the time when they were grade school age to the Exciter era. Nearly 23 years of history. One of the best aspects of the book is the interview with Vince Clarke, and he covers everything, including the age old question of why he left the band. Finally, you get the story from the source. Each of the band members are pretty candid about why they think Vince left, as well as on other topics. Most important Alan Wilder's departure. We get Alan's take on that also. Again, no speculation and rumor, just facts. Alan's story on his years with the band could be a book on it's own.

The book also covers what went into making each DM album and how the sound progressed over the years. Dave, Martin, Fletch, Vince and Alan give us a rare view inside their personal lives and how the excesses of being on the road almost ruined the band. Dave covers his drug abuse and how he climbed out of the lowest depths in his life. What I consider to be somewhat sad but uplifting at the same time seeing how Dave is doing now. There's some really interesting stories about backstage life during concert tours that will be new to a lot of fans.

As a bonus there's several great pictures in the book, many never seen before. A visual history divided into 3 sections, each relevant to the time frame in the book. Childhood pictures and personal photos round out the collection.

As a fan of the band for over 15 years, I would recommend this to anyone. Some fans will find $30 to be a little steep, but it's well worth it. This is Jonathan Miller's first effort and it's better than some books by authors who have written 10. All the questions people have had over the years are all addressed right here. The only flaw is that the discography has the singles released in '84 as being released in '83, a minor mistake. It certainly doesn't detract from the quality of this excellent biography.

Depeche Mode, a band that made growing up in a boring country town tolerable!

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally Depeche Mode makes sense to me now, July 30, 2004

By 

B. Drummonds "Depeche Mode fan" (Austin,TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Stripped: Depeche Mode (Hardcover)

Finally a book that really gets into the music and personality of depeche mode and lets you understand them. The previous two books were not good and after reading them twice I was still left totally in the dark about the band.

This book discusses what the others didn't, the music!! It really tells the Depeche Mode story album by album and single by single. He tells about how the albums are made and discusses the working relationships between the group members during those albums. From that perspective he goes into personal bits on the band that really show their personalities. This book doesn't just start talking about their personalities and sorta throw in the albums as time markers. It really shows you how their music develops.

He also really brings up alot of new interviews and facts, which I didn't think existed. After reading the other books, which overlapped alot, this book had refreshing new interviews that shed incredible perspective on the group. Alan's story is finally told as well in great detail...giving some of the most candid insights into the group. Daniel Miller, Gareth Jones, and Vince Clark are covered as well.

I have been a HUGE fan for over 17 years now and until I read this book I always thought that they came from outerspace. Its funny but I will kinda miss that naivete. I had my own ideas of them that weren't true that I will miss. But now that I know the whole story, it inspires me.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars BEST BOOK ON THE BAND SO FAR, September 9, 2004

By 

ms_mode - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stripped: Depeche Mode (Hardcover)

'Stripped' is the most comprehensive book on Depeche Mode to date - covering all eras of the group's innovative career.
A lot of emphasis is placed on the band's formative years, with contributions given by those who knew the members before they became international stars.
There is however, like most other books written about the band, a lot of second-hand information from previous interviews - and many of these interviews are well known to those who have a keen interest in the group.
There's plenty to read though - and some rare pictures too which avid fans are bound to like.
All in all, it's definitely worth having if your a fan of "the best electronic group in the world".