Depeche Mode's greatest achievement

OK, it's a live album that contains some of their greatest and most well known hits from the 80's. But there is something special about this album. Could it be the fact that there are over 100,000 fans screaming to every song? Or is it the fact that DP take all of these songs to another level because of them? It's both really. Songs like "Master and Servent", "Stripped" and "Behind The Wheel" sound even better then their original studio counterparts. The best, however must be "Shake The Disease" which gives me goosebumps every time I hear it. Dave Gahan's voice with Martin Gore's backup vocals are just mind numbing. Yes, some of the music is outdated sounding ("Just Can't Get Enough" comes to mind, though still a foot tap worthy song). But when the crowd starts singing "...the grabbing hands grab all they can, everything counts in large amounts" at the end of this disk, the emotion and power this "synth" band has over their audience is unmatched even today. So to say that this album is DP's greatest achievement really isn't that much of a stretch. If you have seen the 101 movie with Dave G. just bursting in to tears, he had to realize that it would never get any better then this concert was. In some ways, it's a correct statement.

Good Evening Pasadenaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Memories still vivid in my mind. June 1988. A gloomy, hot, humid night..perfect setting for a DM concert. We get the pleasure of other acts: Wired, Thomas Dolby,OMD..they finish..but we want the MODE. and around 7;30pm...the crowd awaiting for the quartet to take the stage start getting impatient. What happens? The biggest FOOD FIGHT in concert history errupts. Hot dogs, buns, shoes and an assortment of snack bar goodies flying through the air. It subsides and.. Whats that? The lights are dimmed and PIMPF plays in the air. Ther intro finishes..then with 2 loud bangs.. a recognizable bass is heard.. 'Behind the Wheel' starts this night of black celebration. Then as the song plays we hear Dave with the first verse. He sings but where is he? We cant see the band as they are behind a massive curtain. Then swiftly the curtain drops! There they were. DM. Right in front of our waiting eyeballs. The 65000+, black clad, new wave crowd goes nuts. We lost it. Couple of the most most memorable highlights were when they performed 'Blaspehmous Rumours'. Anyone that was also there remembers. During the performance a dark clowd formed above the Rose Bowl, then a loud bang of thunder, and it rained on that hot June night..heres the eerie part..only for that song! Freaked the hell out of our crowd man. Then when they performed 'Never Let me DOwn", Dave had all 65000 pairs of arms moving side to side. I cant really describe what it was like. THe energy and the vibe was outrageous. Dave was feeding of the crowd. At one point he held his face and started crying. So much emotion for the band and us. Never again have I expereinced such a concert. In my mind and many others..one of the best in concert history. DM FOREVER.

My introduction, and a perfect one at that

Being only a teenager now i didn't know much about depeche mode, only what older friends had told me. I probably would never have become the fan i am now if i didn't find this cd in the bargain bin at my local cd store. The wonderful thing about depeche mode is that they are perfect for fans of all types of music so dont let the fact of them being an electronic band turn you off. They are very talented musicians. After just a few days i had adapted to there style and i feel in love. Standout tracks for me include:everything counts, Blasphemous rumours and a question of lust