required verbal assurance he wouldn’t pop his clogs on
stage – is over any superstitions. “It was fun because
even though it was smaller than people are used to us
playing, it was the biggest gig we had played in three
years,” refl ects the equally well-preserved songwriter.
“It felt like a real show.”
It’s currently feeling a lot more ‘real’ now the band are
in the throes of European stadium dates, playing to more
than 1.5 million fans in 32 cities. With further gigs in the
UK, US and across the rest of the world still to come, it
must be a daunting undertaking. “We look forward to it
really,” says Gore without fl inching. “Because we have
been on this four-year schedule thing now for a while,
which we fell into more than anything else. It’s quite
good because when we fi nish an album it’s usually been
a long time since we’d played live so you are itching to
do that bit again. And then when you fi nish the tour you
take a break and you haven’t been writing songs for a
long time; so you are feeling more creative.”
The band have been on that remarkably consistent
‘four-year cycle’ ever since 2001’s Exciter LP. Subsequent
studio albums were solid fan-pleasers, but some
accusations of treading water were beginning to be
thrown their way. After more than a decade recording
with Ben Hillier, the trio decided to shake things up a
little and enlist producer du jour James Ford, one half of
Simian Mobile Disco. “It was time to make a change to
challenge ourselves,” Gore articulates carefully. “Maybe
freshen things up, even though we loved doing those
albums with Ben. It was actually (label boss)
Daniel Miller – who has been with us since day
one – who recommended James. He knew
him as a person so felt we would get on quite
well personality-wise. And Daniel also knew
everything that James had been working on.
We were aware of the obvious stuff, but we
got sent some of the other albums we didn’t
know about and the thing that impressed
us most was that he had worked with a lot of
different bands in different genres; but they all
just sounded great.”KINDRED SPIRIT
Ford might be synonymous
with the Arctic Monkeys but his
impressive CV also includes
records by Florence + TheJAMES FORD Q+A
26freshen things up, even though we loved doing those
albums with Ben. It was actually (label boss)
Daniel Miller – who has been with us since day
one – who recommended James. He knew
him as a person so felt we would get on quite
well personality-wise. And Daniel also knew
everything that James had been working on.
We were aware of the obvious stuff, but we
got sent some of the other albums we didn’t
know about and the thing that impressed
us most was that he had worked with a lot of
different bands in different genres; but they all
just sounded great.”KINDRED SPIRIT
Ford might be synonymous
with the Arctic Monkeys but his
impressive CV also includes
records by Florence + The
While Martin Gore is the main
DM songwriter, Gahan contributed
a number of songs to Spirit"WE'Vê A LWAYS
REMAINèD SORT
OF A C U LT THING,
ALTHOUGH THAT'S
CHANGED A BIT
WITH THIS NeW
RêCORD"
DAVE GAHANere is a man who, quite
possibly, owns as many
synthesizers as Martin Gore.
James Ford became the unoffi cial
fourth member of the band while
making Spirit, contributing in
more ways than the band wish to
divulge. Classic Pop caught up
with the acclaimed studio wizard
to ask how it felt getting that
all-important call to produce the
next Depeche Mode record.Who invited you to
work with Depeche?
“I spoke to Daniel Miller fi rst then
I spoke to the band individually. I’d
been a fan for a long time and was
fl attered that I was asked to do it.”Were there ideas that
you wanted to
implement before you even
started working?
“There are defi nitely things you
want to do as a producer. I had
an idea of what it would be in
my head when I got the call, but
obviously you are working within
the boundaries of their songs and
their vision as well. Part of being
a producer is about trying to fi nd
out what their vision is and try to
make that real for them as well as
pushing my own agenda of what I
want it to be.”How did this project
differ from other acts
you have worked with?
“When I fi rst heard the demos a
year-and-a-half ago I was pretty
taken aback by how dystopian they
were and a little apprehensive. But
what has happened with world
politics the album couldn’t be more
prescient, and on point. I’d never
made an album with anyone who
has made more records than me
but they have been around such a
long time with an amazing history
that for me it was a whole new
ballgame with different challenges
that I had to rise to get involved
with, them as different people. Also
in the shadow of their amazingly
well-adored back catalogue,
which was daunting but it was an
amazing experience.”They have referred to
you as their therapist
or referee...
“I’d heard some stuff about how
they operate, but I’d never worked
with a band who have this muchhistory. They have been around
so long it’s like a marriage, their
relationships change over time
and things happen. They’re all
like brothers. It’s different frictions
at different times and it’s about
fi nding a way to get the record out
of them without killing each other.
More importantly in the studio they
were very dedicated. And, most
importantly, generous and open
with their ideas. They let me get
involved in anything I wanted to
do, they weren’t precious and that’s
all you can ask for.”What sounds did
you bring?
“I suppose everyone has their
ideas of sonics. I have a big love of
electronic music. They are a classic
electronic band so obviously I
wanted to bring a lot of that out but
then there are some live elements
as well – drums, guitars and some
of the feel and playfulness you
get from live instruments. I had a
brilliant time, it was pretty much
like being in a synth museum for a
few months. Martin’s collection of
synths is out of control. I’m into that
stuff, but he has a problem.”Did you learn any
secrets as a fan?
“There was a lot of laughter and
a lot of strange surreal moments
for me and some incredible
unrepeatable stories that are
insane. But the thing that really
struck me is that as a group of
people they are still pushing
themselves forward and still
pushing themselves forward
musically and that is
testament to them and the
reason they are still around
and people are still keen
to listen to them. I think we
made a pretty bold and
direct powerful record. I’m
proud to be a part of it.”Did your own act
Simian Mobile
Disco get to remix
any tunes?
“We did an
epic remix of...
Revolution,
we made
a pretty
fi erce
dance
version
of that.”CP30.Depeche_Mode.print.indd 26 09/06/2017 11:01