By the late 1980s, Depeche Mode had found global success—but the U.S. remained elusive. Despite support from stations like WLIR and KROQ, mainstream America hadn’t caught on. That changed with 1990’s Violator. Riding the momentum of Music for the Masses and Depeche Mode 101, the band hit a creative high, delivering the album that would launch them into true worldwide fame.
Violator :: Depeche Mode’s Breakthrough Moment
By the late 1980s Depeche Mode had conquered most of the world yet America still lay mostly unaware of their music. Despite the best efforts of radio stations like WLIR, WFNX, KROQ and others DM had yet to ignite the same fervor seen elsewhere in the world. Following the tour for Music for The Masses and Depeche Mode 101—the live album—they were poised to overtake the states. When they began recording 1990’s Violator (Sire/Mute), they were at the height of their first era of fame. Both Martin Gore and Alan Wilder had released solo albums displaying their skills without the band. They were ready to take things to the next level. Only ten years after their debut album, Violator would be the album that propelled them over the edge into world wide fame and the next phase of their career.
Halo: The Story Behind Depeche Mode’s Classic Album Violator is the story of the creation of this album, arguably the greatest of their entire discography. Authors Kevin May and David McElroy track the band before, during and after the Violator sessions, giving an intense in-depth look into one of the longest running groups in rock history. Interviews with the band members and others involved in the album round out the book, bringing this period of the band’s growth to life once again. It’s a treat for the casual fan, the regular fan and the hardcore Depeche Mode fan. May & McElroy take the reader places uncovered back at the time of Violator’s release giving it new life and meaning while placing it firmly in the pantheon of not just great albums but albums that would go on to influence countless other bands. A must read for Depeche Mode fans of all stripes and types!
Halo: The Story Behind Depeche Mode’s Classic Album Violator is available on Grosvenor House Publishing. [Purchase]
