Depeche Mode

[thesecretingredientiscrime]

I'm not suggesting they're rumoured but on another forum, some people are claiming they'd be big enough to headline. What's the opinion on here? I can't really see it to be honest, I know they're a very very big band, but not in my view big enough to headline.

[LittlemissC]

They could headline no problem, but question mark is over Dave Gahan's health - didn't he have a bladder tumour? May well be ok now though.

Couple of mates saw them in Paris 2yrs ago and said they were fantastic.

[eFestivals]

There name has come around a few other years as rumoured as playing, so it's been discussed here before.

Much like all bands with overly-obsessive fans, those die-hards can't believe they'd do anything but headline.

Taking the wider view, they're far too unknown or irrelevant to too many people within the UK nowadays for them to get close to headlining Glasto.

[Toilet Duck]

I'm not suggesting they're rumoured but on another forum, some people are claiming they'd be big enough to headline. What's the opinion on here? I can't really see it to be honest, I know they're a very very big band, but not in my view big enough to headline.

[audio farm]

other stage headliners innit

[Mardy]

Funny band, Depeche Mode, having spent much of the last 16 years working abroad, they're much much bigger and regarded with more credibility in lots of other countries (particularly Eastern Europe and post Soviet Bloc) than they are in the UK. From my understanding, Depeche Mode are massive on a worldwide basis, but not that big a deal in Britain.

*awaits cejx*

[Wooderson]

They would be absolutely flippin' incredible. Neil sometimes you surprise me. They are a huge band in the UK.

[sifi]

other stage headliners innit

[4AssedMonkey]

Yes they are, but I'm not sure they would.

I love Depeche Mode, the back catalogue is stunning and anyone probably Late thirties+ will remember their UK heyday (I would hope fondly). For this reason they could easily command a headline slot and would be awesome.

HOWEVER, I do see the relevance that they are not a big UK act these days and the demographic at Glasto is such that it would potentially be seen as a poor headliner by a good sized chunk of the attendees. I reckon it's conceivable that many in the UK under 25 may have never heard of them.

[zahidf]

They could probably headline glasto. If Skunk Anansie can headline...

[eFestivals]

They would be absolutely flippin' incredible. Neil sometimes you surprise me. They are a huge band in the UK.

Nah, they're not. They have a pretty small - but obsessive - fanbase, that is made to look more than what it is by their irregular shows here. They're not 'huge'.

[Milbert]

I wouldn't bother going to see them on their own tour, but if they'd played a festival I was at, then I'd be there like a shot.

[dirty_dog]

I can't name one song by depeche mode so I doubt they could headline.

[LusciousLucy]

Well if the Pet Shop Boys who are only relevant to 30+ year olds can headline like they did last year, then there is no reason why DM couldn't do the same. The only reason I don't see them signing up is the fact they have had nearly 30 years opportunity to do so and I only personally recall one appearance and that was a solo set by Dave Gahan in 03 (which was stunning I have to say).

Would be nice for a big singalong but it would just be fans in the field but tbh, having a headliner in the Other Stage field where there's loads of room to move is really nice. Dear Eavis and Co. Please carry on with the Second Stage headliner being solely for us 30+s. We really appreciate it

[eFestivals]

Well if the Pet Shop Boys who are only relevant to 30+ year olds can headline like they did last year, then there is no reason why DM couldn't do the same.

headlining the Other Stage isn't them being a headliner, as was asked about in the original post.

I agree with the angle you're taking, that they could headline the Other. But that is based more on their irregular UK performances and even fewer (perhaps even none at all?) festival performances over the years than it is on them being as all-round popular as the likes of the Pet Shop Boys.

[fullfathom5]

a solo set by Dave Gahan in 03 (which was stunning I have to say)

[LusciousLucy]

headlining the Other Stage isn't them being a headliner, as was asked about in the original post.

[eFestivals]

Blimey. I had no idea that the headline slot on the Second Stage means bugger all. Where HAVE I been these past 17 years??? It certainly was rarely the Pyramid Stage from the hours of 10.30pm onwards.

I don't get what you mean. Sorry.

lol ... I wasn't saying it means bugger all, I'm merely saying it's not what was asked by the OP. He asked whether they were big enough to headline, and that means on the Pyramid.

[jimmyt]

Surely the difficulty in answering this is that we appear to be getting another pretty huge set of headliners this year. There have certainly been years where Depeche Mode could easily have played after certain acts that did headline and would not have seemed like a bad choice but when we're rumoured to get U2, The Stones, Prince, Coldplay, Pulp, etc. they just don't quite match up these days (sure there was a time when they would have played after U2 (and probably did somewhere) and no-one would have thought it weird but that's at least 25 years ago now).

Personally, I wouldn't consider myself a die-hard (I only own the greatest hits and "Ultra" which I thought was an absolutely amazing album (oh, and "Songs of Faith and Devotion" which was good as well)) but I would love to see them. But I would want to see them in the dark and I don't think they currently merit a headline slot on the Pyramid, so either they headline the Other or, which would make far more sense, play their own show at Hyde Park.

[Big Vern]

I bought their Tour Of The Universe - Barcelona on blu-ray the other day. I love them dont get me wrong, but im not a hard core fan and have never seen them live, but watch that DVD and tell me they couldnt head line Pyramid.

[eFestivals]

There have certainly been years where Depeche Mode could easily have played after certain acts that did headline

yup - in about 1983.

[jimmyt]

yup - in about 1983.

[jimmyt]

yup - in about 1983.

[The_Amazing_Oblong]

Depeche Mode have had forty-eight songs in the UK Singles Chart and #1 albums in UK, US and throughout Europe. According to EMI, Depeche Mode have sold over 100 million albums and singles worldwide,[1] making them the most successful electronic band in music history.[2] Q magazine call Depeche Mode "The most popular electronic band the world has ever known".

Edited January 25, 2011 by The_Amazing_Oblong

[eFestivals]

I just looked up the 1983 line-up on wikipedia and I can see why you picked on that year - The cast of Glee would have been an improvement!

I picked on 1983 because I was at college then with a huge DM fan, and DM were at their UK peak at about that time (a year or two either way from that).