Electro synth pioneers Depeche Mode is known for their
amazing shows. From the stage production, the visuals, the music and the fans.
Me, being a HUGE Depeche Mode fan, went looking back at all the shows the band
has ever done and came to the conclusion that their best ever show was Live in
Hamburg, or as it's known in the music industry - The World We Live In and Live
in Hamburg. This was also Depeche Mode's first ever legit first video release,
featuring almost an entire concert from their 1984 Some Great Reward Tour, in
Hamburg, Germany on 14 December 1984. Ok, I understand people won't agree with
me (what about 101? Touring the Angel: Live in Milan? Tour of the Universe :
Barcelona?), but I do have my reasons, and here they are. The Some Great Reward
CD is probably regarded is the best of the DM releases in the early 80s. They
were edgy, the sound was almost industrial like, they were regarded as
leather-pervy guys who can turn sweet innocent catholic girls into leather
wearing sluts, and the band they made good solid music. At that time Depeche
Mode was not your general mainstream music like their other electro peers. They
were regarded as underground electro synth pop and had a cult following. It was
cool to be Depeche Mode fan then. They were on the rise and the music sucked
you into their pervy lyrics and industrial sound. What set The World We Live In
and Live in Hamburg apart from 101 and other aforementioned concerts is that
they played songs then, that you don't hear now on their tour list. Yes,
Photographic is still played, but then it was pure electro orgasm without the
sample-loop sounds from the Black Celebration era, or mainstream poppy Violator
or "we use live instruments" Devotional CD. Don't get me wrong, I
LOVED those CDs and shows, but watching The World We Live In and Live in
Hamburg just gave me goose bumps.
A young Dave Gahan with Live In Hamburg
You don't get this concert on DVD. It's only
available on VHS and it's pricy these days and a collector’s item. Songs like
Leave In Silence, Lie To Me, Told You So and See You are hardly on their latest
concert playlists. Also, and this is my favourite, is the inclusion of the
B-side song Shout on this concert. It sounded better and clearer that the
original version! The sound of this was amazing. Hearing how different, yet
similar, the songs sounded live to their CD (or then vinyl) counterparts were
mind blowing. How they adapted each song to fit in with the feel of that time
in their musical meteoric rise to fame, hearing some glitches, and Dave Gahan
grunting over the mic, makes this show the best Depeche Mode concert....EVER!
Ok, now you can criticise me... Here is my FAVOURITE track from that concert, Shout. The track was the B-Side of their single, New Life.
Electro synth pioneers Depeche Mode is known for their
amazing shows. From the stage production, the visuals, the music and the fans.
Me, being a HUGE Depeche Mode fan, went looking back at all the shows the band
has ever done and came to the conclusion that their best ever show was Live in
Hamburg, or as it's known in the music industry - The World We Live In and Live
in Hamburg. This was also Depeche Mode's first ever legit first video release,
featuring almost an entire concert from their 1984 Some Great Reward Tour, in
Hamburg, Germany on 14 December 1984. Ok, I understand people won't agree with
me (what about 101? Touring the Angel: Live in Milan? Tour of the Universe :
Barcelona?), but I do have my reasons, and here they are. The Some Great Reward
CD is probably regarded is the best of the DM releases in the early 80s. They
were edgy, the sound was almost industrial like, they were regarded as
leather-pervy guys who can turn sweet innocent catholic girls into leather
wearing sluts, and the band they made good solid music. At that time Depeche
Mode was not your general mainstream music like their other electro peers. They
were regarded as underground electro synth pop and had a cult following. It was
cool to be Depeche Mode fan then. They were on the rise and the music sucked
you into their pervy lyrics and industrial sound. What set The World We Live In
and Live in Hamburg apart from 101 and other aforementioned concerts is that
they played songs then, that you don't hear now on their tour list. Yes,
Photographic is still played, but then it was pure electro orgasm without the
sample-loop sounds from the Black Celebration era, or mainstream poppy Violator
or "we use live instruments" Devotional CD. Don't get me wrong, I
LOVED those CDs and shows, but watching The World We Live In and Live in
Hamburg just gave me goose bumps.
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