Today we mark a true milestone in the annals of ’80s synthpop: Depeche Mode’s classic debut album, Speak & Spell, was released on Oct. 5, 1981 — exactly 30 years ago. To mark the occasion, we present, below, the band’s first few appearances on U.K. TV institution “Top of the Pops,” which find a group of very young men — introduced as “Depech-ay Mode!” — miming along to their early hits.
PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS
- Stream: New Depeche Mode mixes by Alan Wilder, Vince Clarke — off ‘Remixes 2′
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- Video: Depeche Mode, ‘Personal Jesus’ (Stargate Mix), off ‘Remixes 2: 81-11′
- Milestones: Dave Gahan is 49 today; watch full ‘World Violation’ concert
- Video: Depeche Mode’s Dave Gahan performs ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’
- Depeche Mode’s ‘Remixes 2: 81-11,’ featuring Vince Clarke and Alan Wilder, due
Great album. ‘Puppets’ (in my opinion) is sheer class.
I remember buying this album when it came out and being disappointed by it. Took a while for this band to release more vital music.
I assume the departure of Vince Clarke and the ascension of Martin Gore as songwriter explains the transformation, but it’s still funny to see how well-scrubbed and wholesome they seemed on these early tracks, vs. how ominous and creepy their music became just a few years later.
Photographic is one of the best songs EVER!!!!!!!!
Who knew what the future would hold for a band that started out with this kind of synth-pop. Quite the maturation process.
Loved this album when it came out; it remains perfect 30 years later. It is as pure a synthpop record as one could imagine, and shows what a tiny bit of technology in the hands of geniuses can do: blow away the vast majority of what came after. It remains the best DM album of all time. I must be one of the select few who think Vince Clarke leaving was up there with the break-up of the beatles. His sense of melody is unmatched.