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Rating: 
Summary: The definitive Depeche Mode story
Review: Having just finished reading this entire book, I have to say this is about as thorough as it gets. The book traces the history of the band from the time when they were grade school age to the Exciter era. Nearly 23 years of history. One of the best aspects of the book is the interview with Vince Clarke, and he covers everything, including the age old question of why he left the band. Finally, you get the story from the source. Each of the band members are pretty candid about why they think Vince left, as well as on other topics. Most important Alan Wilder's departure. We get Alan's take on that also. Again, no speculation and rumor, just facts. Alan's story on his years with the band could be a book on it's own.The book also covers what went into making each DM album and how the sound progressed over the years. Dave, Martin, Fletch, Vince and Alan give us a rare view inside their personal lives and how the excesses of being on the road almost ruined the band. Dave covers his drug abuse and how he climbed out of the lowest depths in his life. What I consider to be somewhat sad but uplifting at the same time seeing how Dave is doing now. There's some really interesting stories about backstage life during concert tours that will be new to a lot of fans. As a bonus there's several great pictures in the book, many never seen before. A visual history divided into 3 sections, each relevant to the time frame in the book. Childhood pictures and personal photos round out the collection. As a fan of the band for over 15 years, I would recommend this to anyone. Some fans will find $30 to be a little steep, but it's well worth it. This is Jonathan Miller's first effort and it's better than some books by authors who have written 10. All the questions people have had over the years are all addressed right here. The only flaw is that the discography has the singles released in '84 as being released in '83, a minor mistake. It certainly doesn't detract from the quality of this excellent biography. Depeche Mode, a band that made growing up in a boring country town tolerable!
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