Depeche Mode in the 90s: From Violator On | POP FIX | Professor of Rock
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Published 2020-05-22
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#DepecheMode #90s #90sTop5
Musically, the 90s were a very fruitful decade for Depeche Mode. In 1990, they truly conquered America with Violator which sold 4.5 million copies followed by their first number one album in the states with Songs of Faith and Devotion. The 90s were also a very dark time for the band as issues of substance abuse and personal differences fractured the band as Andy Fletcher struggled with mental instability and was not able to continue with the second half of the Exotic tour in 94. Alan Wilder left the band permanently in 95, David Gahan almost died with a near fatal overdose in mid 96, Martin Gore even contemplated breaking up the band and releasing the music he had written at that time as a solo project.
90s Fiver.
#5 It’s no good the second single from Ultra. Musically I feel like this one hearkened back a bit to the classic Violator sound. It went to #5 in the UK and #4 on the US Modern Rock tracks chart and broke the top 40 on the hot 100. I felt like it was David’s strongest and most sincere vocal on the record and though the song is obviously about a relationship, Gore’s words could be taken a different way. I remember Anton Corbin appeared in the video.
#4 Walking in My Shoes the second single from Songs of Faith and Devotion. It went to #14 in the UK and #1 on the US modern rock charts, the same spot as I feel you. Corbin did a great job with the design of this, the bird woman freaked me out in a good way. I also Love the lyrics: Now I'm not looking for absolution Forgiveness for the things I do But before you come to any conclusions Try walking in my shoes. Even though Martin wrote the song, The Gahan sang it, you felt it was his, a cry for help and a reminder to those who judge.
#3 World In MY Eyes from Violator. To me, one of the best opening tracks in the history of long play albums. It sets up the record perfectly and let’s the listener know that you’re about to get hit over the head with a sledgehammer. Andy Fletcher said of the song and I quote: “Martin did the demo on his own,""I don't remember it standing out when we heard it then.
#2 Policy of Truth from Violator. That phenomanal noir like guitar drone, from Martin really set this song apart from any other DM song. I remember listening to this while watching Twin Peaks, of which I became a major fan, still am. Because I played it while watching the show, and they are both so strange and eerie for some weird reason this song and the show morphed into one for me. I can’t think of one without thinking of the other. Ha. The song went to #1 on the US modern rock charts and #15 on the hot 100 and #16 in the UK. In my opinion it was heads and shoulders above anything on the charts at that moment.
and #1 Enjoy the Silence from Violator. DM’s first top 10 in the US, in topped the modern rock charts and went to #6 in the UK it hit #1 in spain, denmark and poland. I already covered this in our 1990 segment but this song is where the dies was cast for Depeche Mode. this is where they came out of the underground for good and took their rightful place as stadium Gods, yes they were already doing this when Music for the Masses was transforming them, but this song was the tipping point where they went from another band within modern rock to becoming the face modern rock. It inspired countless bands of today from Coldplay to the Killers. Coldplay even paid tribute in their video Viva La Vida.
All Comments (21)
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Let’s be real. Violator is like a greatest hits album for most bands
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I love every DM song but this chorus ..omg “I’m hanging on your words.. Living on your breath.. Feeling with your skin.. Will I always be here ?”
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Martin Gores writing with Alan Wilder's classically trained musical talents made DM great! I miss the Alan Wilder years. I always thought that extra special something was missing after Alan left.
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For me World In My Eyes is number 1. I will NEVER forget listening to that OPENING, in that West Coast Video... That synth POUNDED throughout my chest and into my soul. And yes, you felt like you were being hit with a musical sledgehammer. I've listened to that song thousands of times, & I am still transported back to 1990. And as for Andy Fletcher... our beautiful Fletch... you've GOT to see the World In My Eyes tribute with the band acknowledging that this was his favorite song. #RIP_Fletch.
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Waiting for the night to fall is a brilliant single play that driving at 3am
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I'm a simple man, I see a pic of dm in a profesor of rock vídeo and I clicked immediately.
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DM stayed strong into the 90s, because they were one of the only synth bands from 80s that actually had a "deepness" to synth music. Most bands in the 80s played off the great/fun playful nature of the 80s (Which was Awesomw!!!! lol), but DM actual put deep, dark, sensual lyrics and presentation to the synth sound and that just doesn't fade. Hence Violator and Ultra were as powerful as anything else at the time.
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I could listen to, "It's No Good", forever. That song gets down into my marrow.
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You're wrong about one thing. They did make four masterpieces in a row. Some Great Reward. Black Celebration. Music for the Masses. Violator.
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Yet again it just shows how timeless DM is.... forever will be my favorite band of ALL time
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Not the band of the 90’s. THE band. Prof, you get it, not sure many others do. 40 years nearly and still going..... strong. Crazily, still underrated !
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I am partial to 80's Depeche Mode with some of the decade's best tunes. My favorites... 5. Blasphemous Rumors 4. Master and Servant 3. People are People 2. Everything Counts 1. Shake the Disease
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They are a multi-generational band. The 80’s, 90’s, and even into the next century. They are brilliant, and their music is timeless! I can’t think of ANY of their songs which isn’t a work of pure genius.
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Depeche Mode: Gods of music. Masters of sound. Voices of angels.
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Dressed in black is a highly underrated song
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Blue Dress is a masterpiece. So simple, and moving. Martin Gore's voice, with his superior vocal range, is just amazing, using his deeper register to bring a haunting melody above the staccato back-beat synth and lilting, high pitched keyboards. There are dozens of covers and tributes to this song on the Internet, and some actually do it justice. And that interlude at the end...
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I disagree Sofad IS A MASTERPIECE as well!
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SOFAD and Violator are among the best back to back albums ever from a band, Depeche Mode never recovered from Alan Wilder's departure even though Ultra was very good
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YES! Please do a show about the magic of the merch table!! It is indeed magical! You enter the concert and once in you look w/ great anticipation for the merch table. You’re a kid again. It’s like a Christmas high.😊
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I can remember going to Tower Records and getting Violator on tape when it first came out...I was smitten with it. I saw them tour for that album, and when they performed Waiting for the Night it was almost a spiritual experience...and then Songs of Faith and Devotion came out and it felt like a whole new world. Right after its release, when I was 18 turning 19, I went to England and France with a performing company I danced with...there were billboards all over London and Paris advertising the album...I walked the streets of those cities with my headphones on and Songs of Faith and Devotion playing on repeat on my portable CD player. That album transports me back every time I hear it. I was on a mission when they toured for it and didn't get to see one of the greatest shows of all time...
