BIOGRAPHY
2003 and 2004
Overview: Released these years were Martin's single
Stardust / Life Is Strange, the album
Counterfeit 2 and another single release Loverman.
Dave published the single Dirty Sticky Floors / Stand Up / Maybe,
the album Paper Monsters, the further single releases
I Need You / Closer / Breathe, Bottle Living / Hold On and A Little Piece
as well as the concert video Live Monsters.
On October 18th, 2004 the single Enjoy The Silence 04 was released
and on October 25th the remix-album Remixes 81-04 followed.
With the "solo things" started some kind of partly
quite amusing "bitch alarm". Who read this had to fear there
would never be a DM album ...
Martin started and released on April 14th the single
Stardust / Life Is Strange followed by the album Counterfeit 2
on April 28th and by the single Loverman on
November 17th.
From April 24th till May 07th he made a little solo tour
with 7 concerts.
Contrary to the years before he showed
himself much more diplomatic but nevertheless he made some
statements which would lead to some trouble with Dave later.
Like his answer to the question whether he had listened
to Dave's solo album: "I was just this minute speaking to our manager about it.
I've tried to pick up a package Dave has sent me three times but it seems to
have got lost in the post. I don't really know what Dave's expectations are.
I've no big commercial ideas about Counterfeit2. I'd be surprised if
it's a huge success."[1]
And there were really some journalists who asked for stale
news as how his family reacted to his clothing style in the
1980s and whether he really isn't gay (okay, it was asked by a magazine for gays ...)
"I think my father probably disowned me more than my mother. But it was the
80s: Everybody had a strange look pretty much - there was something funny in the
air. I still think to this day that everybody assumes I'm gay, well, not
everybody, but a lot of people assume that. It doesn't bother me. I never
questioned my sexuality. I always felt totally heterosexual, very comfortable
with my sexuality, very comfortable dressing like that - it wasn't a big
deal for me. It seemed to be a big deal for everybody else."[2]
At this time Martin had been living in Santa Barbara, California,
for a while - with wife Suzanne (the marriage broke shortly after),
their two daughters Viva-Lee and Ava-Lee as well as son Calo Leon, who was
born in 2002.
"Well, I think I lead two totally separate lives. There are times when I
have to slip into rock star mode and the majority of the time I'm at home
with my family and nobody particularly knows who I am. I play football -
soccer, they call it in America – three times a week, and for the first
six months nobody in my team even knew who I was. And that's quite nice."[3]
Asked for his motives doing a record with cover-songs he explained: "When I
was a kid I used to really love the Bryan Ferry cover records, so I quite
liked the idea of doing this series of counterfeit records, just because
I think it gives people an insight into my influences. It's not like when
I do a cover version I expect it to live up to the original, they're just
songs I like and that have in some way touched me on an emotional level.[4]
I've been thinking about it for a long time but we had a lot of commitments
with the band and I started to value my free time with my family. It's hard
enough to combine having a family and being in a band at the best of times,
so I put it on a back burner. Last year, I found out Dave was doing a solo
album and so I thought it would be ideal.[5]"
(I Cast A Lonesome Shadow - with friendly permission of © Sabine Perigault)
Dave released the single Dirty Sticky Floors /
Stand Up / Maybe on May 26th, followed by the album
Paper Monsters on June 02nd.
Of course, he talked much more than Martin: "I just got the feeling, during
the last band album, that it was something I had to do, and that it wouldn't
be possible within Depeche.[6] This album has helped me get rid of my
insecurity.[7]"
About Black And Blue Again: "My wife and I had a huge fight, and I
walked out of our apartment. I was on my way to the studio when it suddenly
dawned on me that I was the one in the wrong. That song is basically me
admitting that I'm not always a very nice person. I realized that
relationships weren't easy, and I had to change."[8]
About Dirty Sticky Floors: "I had these huge Wizard Of Oz statues in
my Santa Monica apartment - the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion. They pretty
much became my companions. On any given night they'd begin talking to me.
I ended up actually shooting the Tin Man ... he was the worst. It was
complete paranoia. I'd be on my own, walking around my apartment with a
loaded .38 down the back of my pants. Scared of my own shadow. I mean,
I'm laughing now, but it really was heavy at the time. Anyway, this song -
I wanted to reflect the stupidity of addiction. To say, look, this is where
it ends up - hanging out with the toilet bowl, with your head down it most
of the time. Crawling around some dirty sticky floor, usually your own,
on your own."[9]
On June 05th Dave started a solo tour that lasted - with a break
in September - till November 30th.
In between, on August 18th, the single I Need You / Closer /
Breathe was released.
In June 2003, Dave met Gavin Martin again who had
described the shattering conditions behind the scenes of DM
ten years before.
"Did I get aggressive with you?" Dave asks. "I remember reading what you
wrote and it p***ed me off. But I was glad you did it. There were people like
you who said 'Forget the music, this guy is sick and needs help.' But at the
time I was beyond receiving help."[10]
(Hidden Houses - with friendly permission of © Emilie Lashmar)
At the beginning of the promotion tour he was in a good mood.
Question of a fan: "Do you get a free subscription to Depeche Mode, the
French mag you stole the name from?"
Dave: "I don't, but they once wanted to do a photo session with us.
Years before that there was a period of time where there were lawsuits
flying around because we'd copied the name. Once we became more successful
they let it go because we probably helped them to sell more copies.
I always see it in the shop where I buy my magazines in New York and it's
funny because it's similar to House and Garden."
Question of another fan: "Is it true that a few years ago a bloke approached
you for an autograph in the toilets while you were having a piss and you
turned round and pissed all over him?"
Dave: "Yeah, that is true. I can't remember where it was though. I don't
mind signing autographs but when you're at the urinal and someone's
standing next to you shaking with a pen it's a bit strange. I actually
gave the guy an autograph, but I was still pissing so it splashed all over
his feet and he didn't notice because he was just so hell-bent on getting
me to sign his bit of paper. I think now I'd just say, 'Piss off'."[11]
(Sorry for the unrefined expressions but I like the pun ;-))
(Bitter Apple (Alone in the city) - with friendly permission of © Xiker Hidalgo)
But over the course of time Dave had to realize that it wasn't so easy
to release a solo record without any DM-connection. If this was the
reason or not - he started some kind of slugfest against Martin.
"Has Martin heard Paper Monsters? He called me and said, 'I've just
got back from holiday and I've got a message that there's an album at the
post office which I'll pick up, but what I'm ringing about is have you got
a number for a chiropractor?'[12] I know that I'm writing new songs, working
with new musicians. I'm open to that, and if there's to be another DM record,
Martin would have to be open to it as well. If he's not prepared to work
as a team, I can't see that there's any point.[13]
I don't know at the moment whether I could work for DM under
the same conditions as before. I don't think so. One should
let me have my say, listen to me and give me the feeling that
my ideas are as important as Martin's.
I sent Martin a copy of my album, for his I had to ask. And Mart
said: I asked my manager to send you one. I: You asked your
manager for? Move your a***, take a CD, put it into an envelope
and send it to me, you arrogant a***![14]"
And it got even worse. In the course of time
Dave reacted more and more irritated
and thin-skinned: "I'm not here to be judged by Martin Gore.
I'm not his marionette. If Martin can give me what I have
given him with his songs within all the years, then we can
work together. I have a solo album now ..."
But when he was asked about the perfect mode of operation
with Martin and Fletch: "Well, listen: There aren't any plans,
okay? Is it enough now? And Andy doesn't do anything in the
studio, even the fans know this. He hasn't contributed any
musical to DM perhaps since A Broken Frame.
It was Alan, Martin and me. Alan left the band and now it's
Martin and me. I'm not going to carry on with DM just because
it's such a big name. A new album must fill me with enthusiasm.
It must come from our hearts. But at the moment I find it rather
outrageous to ask me all these questions. I'm cooperating with
a cool band ..."
And when one dared to ask him about Alan ...
Dave: "Alan left DM ten years ago. You should be over
it. - I recently saw Alan, he is well, he lives with his
wife and the children in the countryside and makes music under
the name Recoil. He saw my concert in London. Before that I
hadn't spoken to him for two years. I do something else now
and enjoy it!"[15]
Sometimes the media reacted almost as bitchy as him, called him an "in-sulted
diva", compared his lyrics with Martin's and sneered at "cliché af-flicted
cross rhymes". On the other hand it often was his own fault. So there was
an interview with an Austrian tv-show which was first shortened from twenty
minutes down to ten minutes and finally broke off because Dave was in
very bad mood.
While Martin kept quiet (good decision), Fletch shot back:
"Dave's talking nonsense. He just has released his first
solo album and he's very proud of it with good reason.
Therefore he's on cloud nine at the present. But basically he
knows, of course, that Martin is the songwriter. Martin's songs
and Dave's voice - that is DM."[16]
(Bottle Living - with friendly permission of © Matteo Prezioso)
On October 27th with Bottle Living / Hold On another single
was released, followed by A Little Piece on
February 09th, 2004. Besides on March 01st the concert
video Live Monsters was published.
In 2004 the "bitch alarm" still went on a bit until peace
was restored and DM announced there would be a new album.
Fletch: "Unfortunately, Dave uses interviews as a therapy substitute
sometimes. He always tells a lot about things which are
burning issues to him. He always tells journalists a lot to
inflate his self-esteem, this is rather obvious. Why do
you suddenly write songs, Dave? Why haven't you done this
before? His answer was of course: Because Martin hasn't
let me. This is complete rubbish because Dave had never
shown any ambitions to write songs."[17]
Martin: "During the press for his solo record, he went a bit too far,
saying stuff like he felt like a puppet and I was a dictator, and he felt
he had a right to contribute. I realised during that period that if the band
were going to continue then I would have to (pause) allow that to happen up
to a point. But I didn't think it was right that after 25 years he should
step in and write 50 per cent of the songs."
Dave: "Martin said 'I think it's going to be very hard for Depeche
Mode fans to take this.' I was like, Bull-s***!"[18]
Martin: "Yes, Dave called me a totalitarian dictator."
(laughed). "What was a little unfair because I'm not like that.
Everyone who knows me knows that I'm not a totalitarian
dictator."
Fletch: "Oh, you have such moments. But, yes, Dave said some
strange things. But that's how Dave is. He always says what
he thinks."
Martin: "Even in DM interviews he sometimes says things
that let me think: What?! But we know what he is like.
Not everything he says he also means."[19]
As an outsider it's difficult to say if Dave's hurrying ahead was
warrantable. Sure is that Martin isn't an innocent "fluffy bunny-wunny"
either but a dictator? The main problem of the band is definitely that
it is an English band and therefore almost unable to communicate. And it
doubles because of Martin's shyness.
But why Dave thought the solution might be to write songs on his own -
I don't know. Also some other fans have their difficulties with that.
(Most of them would have better liked it if Dave had insisted on
bringing Alan back into the band.)
At least Dave had realised that the band had a problem, especially after
Exciter (at least an album that divides the fans). And he tried to find
a solution. Indeed he prefered the Alexander-method (cut the Gordian knot
with a sword) but nevertheless, he moved the band.
References:
[1] 60 Second Interview: Martin Gore, Metro, 28th April 2003. Words: James Ellis
[2] The Return of Martin Gore, Boyz, 12th April 2003. Words: Uncredited
[3] Martin Gore: Counterfeit 2 Interview, Mute ICDSTUMM214
[4] The Return of Martin Gore, Boyz, 12th April 2003. Words: Uncredited
[5] 60 Second Interview: Martin Gore, Metro, 28th April 2003. Words: James Ellis
[6] The Uncut Questionnaire: Dave Gahan, Uncut, July 2003. Words: Chris Roberts
[7] Facing my Monsters, Daily Mirror, 27th June 2003. Words: Gavin Martin
[8] Depeche Frontman in New Mode, Daily Mail, 2nd May 2003. Words: Adrian Thrills
[9] The Uncut Questionnaire: Dave Gahan, Uncut, July 2003. Words: Chris Roberts
[10] Facing my Monsters, Daily Mirror, 27th June 2003. Words: Gavin Martin
[11] Cash for Questions: Dave Gahan, Q, June 2003. Words: Paul Stokes
[12] Cash for Questions: Dave Gahan, Q, June 2003. Words: Paul Stokes
[13] Q&A Dave Gahan, Metro, 27th October 2003. Words: Rob Haynes
[14] Depeche Mode Am Ende?, Musikexpress, Juni 2004, Words: Albert Koch
[15] Ich bin nicht Martin Gores Marionette, Laut.de, 06th November 2003, Words: Michael Schuh
[16] Dave Gahan schwebt auf einer Wolke, Laut.de, 30th October 2003, Words: Michael Schuh
[17] Depeche Mode: Das ist Demokratie, Intro, October 2005, Words: Jürgen Dobelmann / Thomas Wenker
[18] Songs of Innocence and Experience, Mojo, November 2005. Words: Danny Eccleston
[19] Source can't be found anymore
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