Depeche Mode

Customer Reviews:

The start of something massive.......2007-12-07

This concert was a massive risk for the band. A huge venue abroad in america, at the end of a long tour, with only limited material at their disposal.

Not only did they the band pack the stadiam, they produced one of the best performances of their lives, and the rest is history.

Average customer rating:

STRIPPED - of any worthwhile content
Finally 101 on DVD!
DON'T BUY IT!!!
Still no complete 101 concert
Stadium Rock Gods

Depeche Mode - 101 [1988]
Starring: Martin Gore , David Gahan , Andrew Fletcher , Alan Wilder (II) , and Oliver Chesler
Director: Chris Hegedus , D.A. Pennebaker , and David Dawkins
Manufacturer: Mute Films
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0000CAPXD
Release Date: 2003-11-10

Amazon.co.uk Review

Depeche Mode 101 is a fascinating documentary co-directed by the esteemed DA Pennebaker (The War Room, Down from the Mountain), focusing on backstage realities of art and business during the synthesizer band's 1988 American tour. We see managers worrying over slow ticket sales for a stand at the Rose Bowl, observe sound checks at concert sites, get a tour of the group's multiple keyboard banks and listen with some alarm to singer David Gahan describe his steroid-based throat treatments. There are plenty of performance clips, but for music alone, Disc 2 in this package contains the uninterrupted Rose Bowl show, including the plaintive "Blasphemous Rumours", the exultant drama of "Stripped", and the dreamy "Somebody". Pennebaker's promotional video "Everything Counts" is also here, but don't miss the director's recent, touching and informative interviews with the now 40-something, individual members of Depeche Mode. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

STRIPPED - of any worthwhile content.......2004-01-20

I've waited for years to see this performance in it's entirety and finally I managed to find it on DVD. Quite frankly, I'm beyond disappointed Feeling a little "short changed" is a complete understatement. Out of the 20 songs on the audio CD, you a get a measley 12, some of which are edited badly to make them shorter than they should be.

The documentary has some interesting bits with the band, interspersed between footage of some fans no-body really gives a stuff about, and songs that are already on the other disc.

I'm sure what we all really wanted was the full length performance, not this badly put together collection of bits and pieces.

My advice: Buy the audio CD, crank up the volume and just imagine you were there

Finally 101 on DVD!.......2003-11-24

Some fans will find this release on DVD disappointing since the extras are not really that appealing, but having 101 adapted to 5.1 surround audio sound and the faultless DVD image treatment is a treat, specially if you did buy the video long time ago and it's already falling apart. The film in itself is the most classic piece of DM video that you will find around, if you're not a long time fan and don't have anything of them on video I reccomend you to buy this, it's a classic! 101 was their last concert in Pasadena, California, during their Tour For The Masses (June 18th 1988). Simply there is no footage of a bigger and more emotional concert than this one. Fans are still waiting for World Violation Tour footage to appear on DVD, but until then releasing the classic 101 is an obvious choice. The documentary itself is very entertaining if you know how to take the kids on the bus who follow DM around the States with a pinch of salt, they can be very funny sometimes and more often that not a funny reminder of what the 80's were like! Some of these fans have been collectors of DM material till this day so they are not imposers even if in the video they look like fashion victims, but hey those were the 80's, right?
The most memorable scenes include the moments with the band before they hit the stage, the nerves, the publicity shots, the interviews, the band jokes, Dave telling a journalist a very funny anecdote of him in a fight inside a taxi, Alan telling the cameraman how to play a keyboard, the concert footage and the histeria of fans, Dave waving his hands at the audience and 70.000 souls waving back during Never let me down again (stunning!!!), the Everything Counts singalong, the shots of the audience (hilarious), etc. Very funny and insightful stuff on the band, you won't find it anywhere else, and some of the best music they've ever made! The DVD includes the original documentary and also the uncompleted live concert (what was saved from the master tapes), including: Master and servant, Pimpf, Behind the wheel, Strangelove, Blasphemous rumours, Stripped, Somebody, Black celebration, Pleasure little treasure, Just can't get enough, Everything counts, Never let me down again. + Exclusive interviews with Dave Gahan, Andy Fletcher, Martin Gore, Daniel Miller and John Kessler. Someone said in another review that it was cheap of the band to not have asked Alan Wilder to be interviewed as well, the fact is that he was asked and he politely declined!
Buy this, it's as classic DM as it gets!!!

DON'T BUY IT!!!.......2003-11-12

Don't get me wrong, 101 is truly entertaining, but if you have the video then don't waste your money - there is nothing extra here worth having. Don't be fooled into thinking the "extras" are extra - the songs are just the same as in the film.

In all - very disappointed in mute for cashing in - wonder how much input the band had??? Not too much I imagine.

Still no complete 101 concert.......2003-10-08

The content of this DVD has been subject of heated discussions since it was pre-announced. First of all, there is of course the old 101 film by DA Pennebaker. I can't really recommend it to anyone interested in the music of DM, as it's a kind of MTV style documentary with some song clippings thrown in. The film is rather unpopular with DM fans as well, since Pennebaker (who said that he had not known the band in the first place) chose to create a freakshow of intoxicated fan imposers and embarrassing band statements. Don't expect to watch this twice.

The second DVD contains a lot of bonus tracks that look good on the cover but disappoint bitterly. The fans had hoped for a complete live concert, instead we got an old TV production created from some considerably shortened songs. Mute says that the concert was not filmed in its entirety, and looking at 101 I half believe that Pennebaker messed that up as well, but I suspect they just wanted a cheap cash cow and recycled the already released material. The only new material are interviews with some of the 'fans' from the film (I don't know how I survived without this) and the band, that is the three present members of the band, but not Alan Wilder, who gave the band the unique sound that made them superstars until he left in the 90s. How cheap of them.

All in all this is for only for those who buy anything with DM written on it to complete their collection. For the rest there is still the 101 2CD with the great music to enjoy.

Stadium Rock Gods.......2003-09-28

Having the Video of this Road Film following Depeche Mode around their Music for The Masses (Brilliant Album) tour of the states is suberb. It also follows a group of dodgy 80's American Mode fans who win a competion to met the band and see some of the gigs. Despite this, the behind the scenes footage of the band mixed with on stage live performances is a real treat. With the added extras on this DVD it'll be a worthy addition to any Mode fans collection. Misunderstood still in the UK by many people including the media. This shows that they can fill stadiums and walk out with their heads up. The scene of Dave during Never Let Me Down Again just shows the true power of music. The view of nigh on 70,000! Yes SEVENTY THOUSAND fans, when he utters the words 'I can't see you!' is truly awe inspiring. Upgraded visually and audially for DVD will only add to the effect. Enjoy

Depeche Mode: 101 [1988] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

Average customer rating:

Depeche Mode: 101 [1988] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
Starring: Martin Gore , David Gahan , Andrew Fletcher , Alan Wilder (II) , and Oliver Chesler
Director: Chris Hegedus , and D.A. Pennebaker
Manufacturer: Rhino Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD