I remember going to see Depeche Mode at the DeMonfort Hall in Leicester back in 1984 when ‘Some Great Reward’ (their fourth album) was released and the band had embarked on a tour. I seem to recall they started the concert with this number (which had been a single) and the use of the Emulator (which was one of the first synthesisers to use ‘sampled’ sounds) stood out in the sound that rang out from the massive speakers that stood at either side of the stage.
I have been to see Depeche Mode a number of times since, most recently at Crystal Palace and also at the NEC but at this time (in the days before they became a ‘stadium’ band) it was just the band and a small, standing appreciative audience and a very different and exciting experience.
What I have always like about Depeche Mode since Vince Clarke left and they moved towards creating a darker and more ‘industrial’ sound, is their ability to tackle this type of subject matter head on. ‘People Are People’ is another example but ‘Blasphemous Rumours’ asks some very valid questions for which we will probably always (even if we are committed Christians or indeed devotees of other faiths) be looking for answers.
Now listen to the song…
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