Halo

Depeche Mode's Major Hit

In March 1990, Depeche Mode released the album that has since been regarded as their masterpiece: Violator was the seventh album of the electro-rockers, who first gained cult status in the eighties and then rose to worldwide fame, selling out stadiums included. Featuring "Enjoy The Silence" and "Personal Jesus," the long player also included the band's biggest hits to date. Violator remained in the German album charts for a total of 48 weeks.

The two super fans Kevin May and David McElroy document how this groundbreaking album came about in great detail. They spoke with a variety of collaborators – including producer legend Flood, remixer François Kevorkian, photographer and band intimate Anton Corbijn, as well as countless sound engineers, session musicians, video directors, and cover designers. All of them contributed to the overall work and were able to gain unique insights into the working methods of Martin Gore, Dave Gahan, Andy Fletcher, and Alan Wilder. Numerous fans from various countries also share their experiences regarding the global situation at the time and the societal context in which Violator became the soundtrack of many lives.

This compelling oral history provides a fascinating glimpse into perhaps the most exciting developmental phase of this unique band: it takes readers into the studios where samples and sounds were refined, to signing events in the USA that nearly sparked riots, and it primarily explores the unique chemistry between the four band members. Special attention is given to the often underestimated role of the recently deceased Andy Fletcher, while also depicting the immense emotional pressure that singer Dave Gahan was under at the time.

A book by fans for fans – perfectly timed with the new album and the upcoming tour!.