When I was a teenager I went to see Depeche Mode play at the Los Angeles Sports Arena with several friends and right before leaving the house, I told my Israeli mother I was going to a “Depeche Mode” concert. ‘Tipesh Meod’ means ‘very stupid’ in Hebrew. So, when my mother responded “why are you going there if its so stupid?” I couldn’t help but laugh…

The 2007 film “The Posters Came from The Walls” is a documentary film about Depeche Mode fans from around the world. I can’t find the film anywhere on IMDB yet, but apparently its playing at the London Film Festival ….

Here’s nine things you should know about Depeche Mode:

1. Dave Gahan’s birthday falls on 9th May, Russia’s National Day. In St Peterburg, Mode fans celebrate it as “Dave Day” every year.

2. When he overdosed in 1996, the heroin Dave Gahan used for the speedball was a pure brand called ‘Red Rum.’ He said: “I thought it referred to the racehorse until someone pointed out it spells ‘murder’ backwards.”

3. George Michael’s favorite Depeche Mode track is ‘A Question Of Lust.’

4. Vince Clarke and Andy Fletcher were in the 5th Basildon Boys Brigade.

5. The band are from Basildon. An anagram of Basildon is “I So Bland.”

6. The first album Martin Gore bought was David Bowie’s ‘Ziggy Stardust.’

7. Vince Clarke’s real name is Vince Martin. He changed his name when he realized he would be in trouble as he was still signing on to the ‘dole’ (unemployment benefits in the UK.)

8. When Alan Wilder (who lied about his age at the audition - he was over 21) joined Depeche Mode, he was paid only £50 a week.

9. Alison Moyet was in Andy Fletcher’s class at school and “the best fighter in the year”.

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