Together with a friend, a real D-fan (the best way to attend any performance is in the company of a fan), we tried to move against the stream of concert-goers to the press entrance. The concert was starting in minutes and I noticed my friend looked like she was about to cry. She had counted on getting into the auditorium by at least the third song. I knew she was dead set on hearing Try Walking in My Shoes, but was not about to murder a security guard for it.
Eventually, we made our way inside, but security was tight. They allowed no umbrellas and were quick to catch a fan without a ticket trying to get in disguised as a paramedic. The enthusiasm of the fans in the stadium was unmistakable.
I have always been impressed by the Depeche Mode phenomenon, first because of Anton Corbijn's images and videos. The Dutch photographer and filmmaker created such impressive imagery of the "independent Beatles" from Essex that even the most extreme punks paid respect to their Enjoy the Silence video. An exhibition of Corbijn's work is still on display at Budapest's Ludwig Museum.
Someone said even the band's members had gone to see it before the show, except for Dave Gahan, who was probably taking a rest after a recent operation which forced the band to cancel some of its earlier shows.
Gahan looked like any other family man in his 40s, dancing happily around in a leather jacket bought some time in the 90s. But he was not above repeating some of the more suggestive dance moves of his younger years. These gestures toward the fans were captured on the big screens around the stage and made the crowd wild, even though they were drenched.
Andy Fletcher, sitting in front of something that vaguely resembled a synthesizer, was not in his usual manic state. Rather, he looked worn-out and perhaps a little distracted.
The songwriter Martin Gore seemed to be very proud of his star-shaped guitar, and he did look presentable with it. Even though he may not be the most skilful musician, one cannot forget that he wrote Personal Jesus, my favourite song, which the band played in the second encore. I felt that was my reward for standing in the pouring rain throughout the show. Plus, I had a chance to witness in full swing the male evolution that had started in the 1980s. Depeche Mode may have had several global hits and started the ever-popular DM clubs, but the world owes the most to the band for freeing all of those men who would earlier stand shyly in the corner of discos but are now at the centre of the dance floor.
Author: sisso
Photo: MTI
