At first, I wanted to shoot a single episode where I tell my story.
Then, I would invite other DM fans to share their stories.
Plans have changed because my story will take longer than one episode and I want to tackle some topics on my own. First episode will start right away to go deep into why do I have such a strong connection with this band? I don’t follow any other band, but I don’t qualify as a true Black Swan or devotee. You’ll find out why and how the story began in 1981 and will follow me until I die.
Also, setting up a podcast recording session with guests requires some time. These interviews will come, but I’m gonna launch on solo mode.
Hopefully, I’ll record the first episode fast enough to delete this post…
Tora!Tora!Tora! was my favorite song from the show. Also, I thought setting up the drum machine in the middle of the stage was interesting. I don’t know why that detail stuck in my mind, probably because most bands would have hidden behind a curtain the fact that they don’t have a drummer.
I didn’t immediately fall in love with DM, and I got bored quickly with “Just Can’t Get Enough.” However, the band immediately became a must within my crew of “trendy” high school kids. We would listen to the latest from Anne Clark, Front 242, Kraftwerk, Bauhaus, Joy Division, Cabaret Voltaire, New Order, The Sisters Of Mercy, etc.
For some reason, Depeche Mode was always sneaking into the tape player, and the music started to grow on me. Then, I started to listen to the words. I was shocked. How can Depeche Mode think exactly like me and express my thoughts in beautiful songs?
When I was old enough to attend a show, I went to Paris in 1986 and got hooked forever. It was simply and purely blissful.
The concert was epic, and I got lucky because the production filmed it.
Since then, I missed a few tours but attended over 50 shows. For Memento Mori, I attended four shows in the First European Leg and booked six for the Second European Leg, starting in early 2024.
The 4-year gap between albums is perfect to go by my life, then travel all over Europe every four years to go on my pilgrimage. The words and music of Depeche Mode help me stay in check with my values, remember where I come from, and figure out what I am doing here.
Forty years later, Depeche Mode has been the marker of my entire life, and they sing what I think since Day 1 until today.
My relationship with the band is so weird and positive that I thought it would make a cool story. Depeche Mode brought me so much positive vibe in my life. The idea behind this podcast is not only about nerding out the music and the story of Depeche Mode. It is also about our stories. The so-called Devotees or Black Swans who followed this band for decades. Usually, it is the only band we follow like this. I aim to bring on other DM devotees because there are so many wonderful stories out there. Whenever I attend a show and talk to old-school fans, I confirm that Depeche Mode is not your usual band, and the fans are not the usual type.
Email me if you wish to share your story on the podcast.
And you can truly help me out by following, liking, and sharing.
Usually, Europe gets the first leg, but this time the tour started in the US. I didn’t think FOMO was going to hit so hard, but videos on the Internet reminded me how much I missed my DM Pilgrimage every 4 years. I couldn’t miss the first show occurring in Europe: Amsterdam Ziggo Dome 5/18/2023
The Golden Circle queue was around 50 persons when I got to the venue a couple of hours before doors opening hour.
I decided to take pictures of this tour with a very unique camera, the Leica M10 Monochrom. It’s manual focus and only take black and white photos. The lens I picked for this show was a 35mm f/2 Summicron ASPH, but it was too wide. For the other shows, I took a weird lens called the 50mm f/0.95 Noctilux. It weights 1kg and is impossible to focus wide open.
However, when conditions are right and I can snap the shot, Leica does make magic. Especially compared to smartphones, the rendering is unique. Also, I like to enjoy the show. I prefer to watch the DVD instead of my smartphone recording. Usually, I take a few short clips for social media with my phone. Total time is about 10 minutes of filming and for the remaining time I collect moments in my mind.
Taking pictures with this weird camera is not easy. It’s not a problem to go through security, but it’s a challenge to get a decent image.
First mistake I made was to position myself on the right side of the stage. I was close – about in the 4th or 5th rows.
Since my first show in ’86, I like watching from the left.
This time Fletch wasn’t there and it sucked a lot. He was one of the main reason I always picked the right side. Dave was mostly standing in front of his mic when he was on the right side.
I like a few photos from this show. If you don’t like analog grain from the film era, my photos will throw you off. One of the benefit from my camera is to transform ugly digital noise into beautiful analog like grain.
Like Anton Corbijn said:: ” Grain is life, there’s all this striving for perfection with digital stuff. Striving is fine, but getting there is not great. I want a sense of the human and that is what breathes life into a picture. For me, imperfection is perfection.”
