A thread for the Depeche Mode reissues

Definitely part of it. Fletch seems to mostly function as their internal BS detector when it comes to whether the songs work, as I recall right. Combine that with the fact that he was the de facto manager for almost two decades until Kessler finally took the reins and he's part of the story of the band as unit if not necessarily as creative force.

Yeah, I think he's kind of an important neutral component of the band dynamic.

My Depeche Mode fan friend used as shorthand for Wilder and Fletcher "the one who does everything" and "the one who does nothing".

internal BS detector

That's what Billy Corgan said about D'Arcy.

Lol, clearly even when she was in the band she was only modestly effective. At least Fletch has kept DM from ever embarrassing themselves, imo, but that could be as simple as Gore and Gahan lacking the sheer relentless ego of Corgan.

They had a very unusual band dynamic until Wilder left. Very rare that the lead singer did not really contribute to songwriting, while the songwriter wrote the songs and then left the arrangements up to other people! They really needed each other, I guess even Fletch

That's what Billy Corgan said about D'Arcy.

Bez’s role in the Happy Mondays and Black Grape was described as being “Shaun’s ears.”

Belatedly caught their HOF acceptance speech - highly charming stuff, especially when they pay tribute to their influences, hah:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7teQR3B-z8

"...the Eagles."

But yeah, while it's hard to say one should have COVID-era highlights, this was actually one of them.

https://www.rhino.com/article/depeche-mode-detail-strangestrange-too-dvdblu-ray-collection

Previously available as individual titles in VHS and Laserdisc formats (now out-of-print and highly collectible), Strange (1988) and Strange Too (1990) are compilations of the provocative and visionary short films lensed by master photographer/director Anton Corbijn, in collaboration with Depeche Mode, to create a new visual iconography for the band and their music.

Available for the first time in DVD and Blu-ray configurations and as a single collection, Strange/Strange Too presents 11 Anton Corbijn/Depeche Mode music films, newly restored from original Super 8mm sources, alongside six previously unseen outtake "vignettes" from the DM archives.