Ten Greatest Rock & Roll Songs With Words “Rock and Roll” In Title

Fall Out Boy gets it.

The band’s latest album, Save Rock and Roll, came out in April and went straight to number one.  During interviews promoting the opus and upcoming Fall Out Boy concerts, members of the Illinois quartet, in particular Pete Wentz, have shown that they know exactly what rock and roll is all about.

Wentz was recently quoted as saying “rock has become this quiet and quaint little thing.”  He then goes onto explain that rock and roll needs saving and he hopes Fall Out Boy can do so by inspiring “an attitude of fun, danger.”  Wentz is absolutely right.  Rock and roll is loud, destructive, rebellious, and a whole lot of fun.  When it loses any of those attributes it stops becoming rock and roll and becomes something else.  Bottom line, Wentz and his band mates know the true definition of rock and roll.  They know rock and roll isn’t necessarily guitar riffs and drum beats but as Wentz said “an attitude of fun [and] danger.”

Fall Out Boy isn’t going to save rock and roll although they’re pretty good live.  If you have a chance to get Fall Out Boy tickets make sure you take it.  You can also catch Fall Out Boy in Lowell, Massachusetts on Sept. 6; Fall Out Boy in Brooklyn, New York on Sept. 7; and Fall Out Boy in San Francisco, California on Sept. 21.  Why can’t they save it?  For one, their latest album, the one titled Save Rock and Roll, is more pop than rock.  So, if they can’t save it who can? 

We have no idea, however we do know all about great rock and roll of the past—the type of music Wentz said is no longer being made.  Below, are the ten greatest rock and roll songs that contain the words “rock and roll” in their title.  Interestingly, the band that inspired this list, Fall Out Boy, didn’t make the cut.  The title track of their latest album, which happens to feature Elton John, is good but nowhere near as good as the following ten songs.

10. "Rock and Roll Never Forgets"

Our first selection may be our most controversial.  We picked Bob Seger’s “Rock and Roll Never Forgets” over “Old Time Rock and Roll” because the latter has been covered so many times that it has rendered the original version impotent.  Also, Seger’s “Rock and Roll Never Forgets” is a headier song that teaches you that even though you’re too old to rock and roll all the time, you’re never too old to rock and roll some of the time

9. "Rock and Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution"

Maybe it’s not the best song ever written, but there’s certainly no better beginning to a rock track than the opening few bars of AC/DC’s “Rock and Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution.”  The song and its poor grammar are the final track of the band’s seminal 1980 album Back in Black as well as its fourth single.  During the song, Brian Johnson sums up our favorite musical genre succinctly and articulately by crooning: “rock ‘n’ roll ain’t no riddle man.”

8. “Rock and Roll Fantasy”

“Rock and Roll Fantasy,” and the 1979 album it opens, Desolation Angels, are really Bad Company’s swan song.  The single peaked at number 13 and the album at number 3—the band never came close to equaling that type of success again.  The song, written by Paul Rodgers, daringly describe just about everyone’s rock and roll fantasy: loud music, dancing in the aisles, and you mother disapproving of your debauchery.

7. “Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo”

“Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo” was the first song Rick Derringer wrote for Johnny Winter.  Winter recorded it in 1970 and then Derringer recorded it in 1973.  Derringer’s version did much better as it peaked at number 23—Winter thought the song was a little corny.  Derringer said the “rock and roll” part came about because that’s what he was supposed to be brining to the mix while the “hoochie koo” part was inspired by Winter’s standing as a blues idol. 

6. "Rock and Roll All Nite"

The rock anthem “Rock and Roll All Nite” is KISS’ most identifiable song and since 1976 the closing number of every one of their concerts.  The song was written with alacrity by Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons at the behest of the head of their record label.  He wanted Stanley and Simmons to write a rock anthem.  Boy did KISS deliver.  “Rock and Roll All Nite” is one of the greatest rock anthems to ever come out of a guitar.  The song speaks to everyone who appreciates the schedule of rocking and rolling all night and partying every day. 

5. "Rock and Roll Suicide"

David Bowie’s “Rock and Roll Suicide” is the best written song on our list and the least rock and roll.  Some might even call it a show tune.  If so, then why is it included?  Besides being a masterpiece, “Rock and Roll Suicide” deals with that timeless question of what happens to rock and rollers when they get old. “You’re too old to lose it, too young to choose it/And the clocks waits so patiently on your song/You walk past a cafe but you don’t eat when you’ve lived too long.”  “Rock and Roll Suicide” is the last song on Bowie’s “Ziggy Stardust” album.

4. “Rock and Roll”

“Rock and Roll” is one of Led Zeppelin’s most popular tracks and one of the few where all four members of the band share songwriting credits.  Zep stumbled onto this song while recording “Four Sticks.”  During a break, John Bonham started playing a beat that inspired Jimmy Page to start playing a riff.  Tapes were rolling and in a manner of minutes they had the basis for one of the greatest rock and roll songs in the history of humanity.  The song’s structure follows the tried and true rock cliché of the 12-bar blues and while bawling out the lyrics singer Robert Plant mentions three classic rock songs: "The Stroll," "The Book of Love," and "Walking In the Moonlight."

3. “Rock And Roll Music”

Chuck Berry wrote “Rock and Roll Music.”  His original 1957 version went to number six on the singles chart.  The Beach Boys covered the song in 1976 and their version peaked at one better.  Of course, the most well-known edition of this song, and a version that fooled many into thinking it was the original, was by The Beatles.  Their take on “Rock and Roll Music” appeared on their 1964 album Beatles For Sale.  This classic rock and roll song has also been covered by REO Speedwagon and Humble Pie.

2. “I Love Rock and Roll”

“I Love Rock and Roll” is the quintessential rock and roll song.  Three chords supported by simple lyrics about a rocker trying to get a “dance” with a perspective paramour.  Most people don’t realize that this is not a Joan Jett song although her 1981 cover is by far the most successful and popular version.  The original was recorded by Arrows in 1975.  We think Fall Out Boy should play this song during their live shows.  Think about it when Fall Out Boy performs in Dallas on June 8 or when Fall Out Boy rocks Las Vegas on June 15.  Co-songwriter Alan Merrill said he wrote the song as a reaction to first hearing our number one selection…

1. “It’s Only Rock ‘N Roll (But I Like It)”

Although it’s credited to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, the former composed this classic rock and roll tune in response to critics chirping about The Rolling Stones’ new stuff not being as good as their old stuff.  It was also Jagger’s answer to pundits who took the band way too seriously.  Jagger originally recorded the song at Ron Wood’s house (long before he was a Stone).  Bowie sang backup, the great Willie Weeks played bass, and Kenny Jones, future member of The Who and former member of Small Faces and Faces, played drums.  “It’s Only Rock ‘N Roll (But I Like It)” perfectly sums up the genre.  Rock and roll isn’t much but it’s still very affable.  Leave it to the greatest rock and roll band to write the greatest rock and roll song.

By David B. >

Miami Heat Winning Streak: Eight Reasons To Root For South Beach

The Miami Heat is on their way to another championship.  After they dispatch the San Antonio Spurs in five games, the Heat will be the first team to repeat as NBA champs since the 2009-2010 Los Angeles Lakers.  If you line up all their credentials—the Heat are the media darlings of the NBA and the league’s marquee team—and take into account how much sports fans love underdogs, it’s easy to see why the Heat are a team basketball fans root against.

You shouldn’t, however, be saying “my favorite teams are (insert NBA franchise here) and whoever are playing the Miami Heat.”  You should let go of your animosities and root for the team from South Beach.  Why?  Below, we’ve listed eight reasons to cheer for the Heat to repeat as NBA champions.  Please don’t misunderstand.  We don’t want you to abandon your favorite team; we’re not advocating that you jump on the Heat band wagon and deck yourself out in black and red.  There’s not need to buy anything.  We just want you to realize that as far as historic, once-in-a-lifetime, championship teams go, the Miami Heat isn’t that bad.

Eight Reasons To Root For The Miami Heat
They’re Going To Win
No one is going to stop the Miami Heat.  They’re going to win a championship if you root for them or not so you might as well be on the winning side.  The Heat won 66 games in the regular season including 27-in-a-row.  They led the league in field goal percentage, were fifth in points scored, and second in point differential.  Furthermore, they have home court advantage throughout the playoffs and Finals, a player that can score anytime he wants to and from anywhere on the court (LeBron James), and, if that wasn’t enough, the referees are always on their side. 

They Have A Player Who Averaged 26, 8, 7, 2, and 1.
If I told you there was a player in the NBA Playoffs that averaged 26 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block in the regular season you’d raise an eyebrow.  If I told you that player was LeBron James, your shoulders would slump and a frown would wash over your face.  Thanks to an oversaturation by ESPN, and the fact he can legally travel (crab dribble), James is easy to root against.  You need to get over that.  James keeps his name out of the police blotters, tries hard to say and do the right things, and is, overall, a decent human being.  He’s also the greatest players not named Michael Jordan to ever put on an NBA jersey.  There is literally nothing he can’t do on a basketball court.

Took Nicole Muxo To The Prom
On May 17, Dwyane Wade surprised future Miami Heat ticket holder Nicole Muxo by appearing at her prom.  The senior from Archbishop Coleman Carroll High School posted a YouTube video asking Wade to be her date for the big dance.  She heard nary a word leading up to the event but the former NBA Finals MVP came through and arrived at the La Jolla Ballroom in Coral Gables, Florida on prom night.  Wade brought flowers, posed for pictures, and even joined Muxo on the dance floor for a song.  Granted, Muxo is a future NBA player’s wife, but you still have to root for a guy who made a high schooler’s dream come true.

Beleaguered Erik Spoelstra
How can you not root for Erik Spoelstra?  He’s coaching in a lose-lose environment.  With the big-three on his team’s roster, he’s supposed to coach the Heat to championships.  That means he gets no credit when they win and all of the blame when they lose.  Also, if the Heat were to ever struggle, he’ll be the first personality thrown under the bus.  On top of all that, his boss is NBA coaching legend Pat Riley.  How would you like a hall of famer waiting in the wings to take over your job if you falter?  Spoelstra, 42, who was on the court when Hank Gathers died, is the NBA’s most underappreciated personality.

The Poor People of South Beach
Your gut reaction is to be jealous of those that call the Miami Metro area home.  After all, they live in a tropical paradise with beautiful beaches and perfect weather.  They also live in what Forbes.com calls the most miserable city in the United States.  Miami residents can wear shorts every day of the year but they also have to endure heavy traffic, rising housing costs, and high crime rates.  Basically, Miami and the surrounding area, is great IF you have lots money but miserable if you don’t.  So another Heat championship would go a long way to helping those poor Miamians cope with their interminable misery.

Root For NBA History
If the Miami Heat emerges victorious from the 2013 NBA Finals it will be the franchise’s third championship.  Amazingly, the Heat’s haul of three banners will tie them for the fifth most all time in the league.  That’s quite incredible when you consider the NBA Finals have been contested since 1950.  Theoretically, in just three seasons, a team can go from having no NBA titles to being one of the league’s most decorated teams.  We have the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers to thank for all this.  Together they’ve won 33 championships.

Heat Are Miami’s Only Chance At A Championship
The Miami Heat is as great as the other Miami professional sports teams are bad.  If the Heat doesn’t win a championship then no team in South Beach will be winning a championship.  The Miami Marlins are the worst team in the National League.  The Florida Panthers can do them one better; they’re the worst team in the entire NHL.  Miami’s other professional sports team, the Miami Dolphins, aren’t bad, but as along as Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are in New England, the Fish aren’t winning a Super Bowl.  The Heat are Miami’s only championship team and will be for a quite long time.

Send David Stern Out On A High Note
Although he’ll be the NBA commissioner until Feb. 1, 2014, this will be the last Finals David Stern will preside over.  For all he’s done for the league you should want his final NBA Finals to be the Miami Heat, a team from the nation’s fourth largest urban area, sweeping the San Antonio Spurs, a team from the country’s seventh largest city.  You don’t want the 2013 NBA Finals to be the Indiana Pacers versus the Memphis Grizzlies.  That would all but sink the NBA.  If you have any compassion for Stern and his achievements, you’ll want his last championship series to be won by a team from a major television market.

By David B.

Black Sabbath: Ten Interesting Facts About The Heavy Metal Gods

There are lots of legendary bands touring in 2013: The Rolling Stones, The Eagles, The Allman Brothers Band, Steely Dan, and Fleetwood Mac.  However, the only icons releasing a new album in 2013 (and touring) are Black Sabbath.  The heavy metal pioneers will release 13 (their 19th overall) on June 10.  It’s the band’s first studio album since 1995’s Forbidden and their first with Ozzy Osbourne at the helm since 1978.

To support their latest opus, the band will embark on a 20-date tour of North America beginning July 25 in Houston, Texas.  Their spree ends Sept. 3 in Los Angeles.  Major stops on their route include Black Sabbath in Toronto on Aug. 14; Black Sabbath at the Gorge Amphitheatre in George, Washington on Aug.  24; and Black Sabbath in Las Vegas on Sept. 1.

To get you ready for the upcoming Black Sabbath tour, BSTLV has come up with ten interesting facts about the band.  Even if you’re a hardcore fan you still need to read our list.  We guarantee that you’ll either learn something new or you’ll have a knowledge gap filled in that might have “developed” over the years.  If you’re new to Sabbath, then our rundown is the perfect way to learn more about the greatest heavy metal band of all-time.

>>Black Sabbath’s First Album Was Released On Friday the 13th.
How appropriate for a band so closely associated with the macabre, and one named after a horror film, to release their self-titled debut album on Friday the 13th (in February of 1970).  The band only had one day to record their first LP so they laid down all the tracks live and pretty much in one take.

>>Black Sabbath Released Their First Three Albums In A 17-month Period.
The band’s self-titled debut dropped in February of 1970.  Their sophomore effort, Paranoid, came out in September of the same year.  Their third studio album, Master of Reality, was released July 21, 1971.  At the time, all the three albums were panned by critics.  Nowadays, those three discs are considered hard rock classics and seminal to the genre of heavy metal music.

>>Black Sabbath’s Record Company Renamed Two Of Their Early Albums.
Black Sabbath wanted to call their second studio album War Pigs after the work’s lead track.  Their record company disagreed and changed its name to Paranoid after the album’s lead single.  The band’s fourth album was originally titled Snowblind after their song about cocaine abuse.  The record company called an audible and renamed the work Black Sabbath Vol. 4.  That was somewhat of a ridiculous epithet since there were no volumes one, two, or three.

>>Black Sabbath Toured With A ‘Who’s Who Of Hard Rock’ In The 1970s.
The band spent most of the early 1970s on the road selling Black Sabbath tickets.  They played all over the world.  Of course, the zenith of Black Sabbath concerts was their appearance at the California Jam Festival on April 6, 1974.  The music festival attracted more than 200,000 fans and parts where broadcasted on ABC.  Besides Sabbath, fans also enjoyed sets by The Eagles, Deep Purple, and Emerson, Lake & Palmer.  Well-known bands that opened for Black Sabbath in the 1970s include KISS, Boston, Ted Nugent, AC/DC, Blue Oyster Cult, and Van Halen. 

>>Sharon Osbourne Suggested Ronnie James Dio As A Replacement For Ozzy Osborne.
In the late 1970s, Black Sabbath were nothing but a bunch of drunks especially Ozzy Osborne.  In fact, he was such a booze hound, and was contributing so little to the band, that they fired him.  As for a replacement, the band followed the suggestion of Sharon Arden, the daughter of their manager, and who, in a few years, would become Mrs. Ozzy Osbourne.  Sherri’s suggested Ronnie James Dio.  It was a good idea.  The former Rainbow singer breathed new life into a fledgling band.

>>”Mob Rules” Recorded At A Beatles’ Former Home.
“Mob Rules” is the title track and lead single from Black Sabbath’s 1981 opus.  The song was recorded in England at a home that once belonged to former Beatle John Lennon.  An alternate version of the song was used in the animated film Heavy Metal.  The album Mob Rules would be the last Black Sabbath album with Dio singing lead until 1992 (Dehumanizer). 

>>The Live Album, Live Evil, Eventually Cost Black Sabbath Half Of Their Lineup.
The material for Live Evil was recorded in 1982 during a Black Sabbath tour.  While mixing the album, Tommy Iommi and Geezer Butler accused Dio of sneaking into the studio and secretly increasing the volume of his vocals.  In the middle of all this turmoil was a poor sound engineer receiving contrary directions from two warring factions.  Eventually, Dio took his microphone and went home.  He also took Vinny Appice, the band’s drummer at the time, and started his own group.  Needless to say, Black Sabbath and Dio were overshadowed during this period by Ozzy Osbourne’s solo career.

>>Black Sabbath Inspired A Bit In The Movie This Is Spinal Tap.
Remember in the movie This Is Spinal Tap when “Stonehenge” is lowered from the rafters onto the stage and it’s just 18 inches tall?  “There was a Stonehenge monument on the stage that was in danger of being crushed by a dwarf.  That tended to understate the hugeness of the object.”  Well, that scene was inspired by Black Sabbath.  The band was going to have a Stonehenge set built for a string of Black Sabbath concerts.  Unfortunately, the dimensions were incorrectly written down and instead of Stonehenge standing 15 feet high it stood 45 feet high.  At that size, it was much too big for even the largest of concert stages.

>>Bob Geldof Gets Original Black Sabbath To Reunite.
The 1985 Live Aid Benefit Concert inspired three reunions of three major British rock and roll bands: The Who, Led Zeppelin, and Black Sabbath.  The original lineup—Osbourne, Iommi, Butler, and Bill Ward— performed in Philadelphia on July 13, 1985.  It was the first time the prime foursome had been together since 1978.

>>Osbourne Sues Iommi
How does that saying go?  You’re not a legendary rock band until your members start suing one another.  In May of 2009 Osbourne sued Iommi for 50 percent ownership of the Black Sabbath name.  In Iommi’s defense, he’s been the only constant member in the group’s four decade-plus career and for several albums released in the 1980s and 1990s he was forced to use the name “Black Sabbath” by the record label.  Osbourne and Iommi ended their dispute in June of 2010 not long after Ronnie James Dio died of stomach cancer.

By David B.

KISS Lottery: The World’s Greatest Rock Band Sells Scratchers… Again!

“You don’t win the lottery and complain about taxes.” – Paul Stanley

Rock band KISS is famous for its vast array of merchandize.  The painted-foursome have slapped their likeness, logo, and/or name on countless products including latex masks, wine, blankets, action figures, comics, and caskets.

One of the most unusual products that have utilized KISS’s appellation and rendering have been state lotteries.  Yes, that’s right state lotteries.  We’re talking about those scratch tickets governments sell so they don’t have to cut spending.

The latest state to tap the world’s greatest rock band is Texas.  That means, if you’re in a Lone Star State convenient store, with a couple of bucks burning a hole in your pocket, you can buy yourself some KISS scratchers. 

KISS & New Mexico
Texas joins New Mexico, Nebraska, and British Columbia as states or provinces that have used KISS to sell lottery tickets.

In June of 2010, New Mexico had the brilliant idea of teaming lottery tickets with KISS.  The partnership was a huge success.   More than 80 percent of New Mexican lottery stores carried the KISS scratches within the game’s first week.  Those numbers don’t mean much to the layperson but in lottery circles they are pretty darn good—think of it as KISS selling a million albums in a week.

KISS made an encore appearance in the New Mexico Lottery in the fall of 2011.  To celebrate the 35th anniversary of the band’s seminal album Destroyer, the New Mexico Lottery launched a new KISS scratch-off game where tickets sold for $5 tickets and the top cash prize was $50,000.

KISS & Texas
The Texas lottery’s KISS scratch-off game features more than $10 million in prizes.  That includes eight cash awards of $35,000.  That money can buy a lot of KISS tickets and a bunch of KISS merchandize–for example, a KISS bingo game or a KISS stainless steel water bottle.

KISS fans however will probably be hoping that their tickets come up “Butkus.”  That’s because you can take your losing scratch tickets and enter them into one of four drawings held throughout the run of the game.

Prizes for each of the four drawings include a trip to Los Angeles and a private dinner with the band (all accommodations paid for by the State of Texas), 10 signed KISS guitars, and 100 autographed KISS wall plaques.

You also have to wonder how many tickets will be purchased but go unscratched.  Certainly, there will be a Texan KISS fan or two that will choose to leave their scratch tickets pristine.

Rock & Roll And Lotteries
There are 43 states in the U.S. that have lotteries.  Our research has found nary another band that has pushed scratchers (just KISS). 

It seems like a no-brainer.   A band, especially one as colorful as KISS, will attract fans that normally don’t buy lottery tickets while those who already play the lottery certainly won’t care who (or what) dons their scratchers.

If a state wanted to tap the hipster market they could use Mumford & Sons or if they wanted to expand into the tween demographics they could employ One Direction.  Wait, do you have to be 18 to play the lottery?  …you do.  …Nevermind.

KISS Loves Their Fans
Granted, there’s the whole gambling element, and the appearance of selling-out, but lottery money generally goes to worthwhile stuff like schools, parks, and roads.  So you’d think that a lot of artists would be willing to raise money for such causes.

There is however another element to this whole lottery thing that plays to KISS’ strength.  That’s time and energy.  These lotteries are an immense commitment (New Mexico also held a drawing to meet the band and to give away signed memorabilia).  The merchandize doesn’t autograph itself and it takes time to dine with all the winners of the lottery drawings.

Fortunately, there’s not a rock band more committed to showing their fans their appreciation than KISS.  Many artists talk about how much they love their fans but only KISS does something about it (and they do it consistently).

Stones Scratchers? 
Can you imagine The Rolling Stones doing something like this?  No way!  Or Bruce Springsteen?  Or Beyoncé?  Or Maroon 5?  You can’t imagine it because they wouldn’t do it.  Kid Rock would probably do it which is good since his image is perfect for scratch tickets.  Bon Jovi might do it.  Justin Bieber definitely would if cameras were around. 

It’s sad, but most artists will avoid events that put them in direct contact with their fans.  Most acts only care about collecting a paycheck and hearing their applause.  Bottom line, few rock bands have the clout to sell lottery tickets and even fewer have the desire to give back to their fans.

KISS On Tour
Lottery tickets aren’t then only tickets KISS is selling this year.  The band kicks off another world tour on June 1 in Stockholm.  During June, KISS marauds its way through Europe rocking cities like Helsinki, Berlin, and Zurich.

The band returns to the New World on July 5 for a KISS show in Victoria, British Columbia.  They’ve routed an extensive tour of the Great White North that includes KISS in Vancouver on July 6, KISS tickets being collected in Calgary on July 13, and KISS in Toronto, at the Molson Amphitheatre, on July 26.

KISS In America
Just recently, KISS announced four concerts scheduled in the United States.  All four are plotted for early to mid-August.  KISS will be in Gilford, New Hampshire on Aug. 7; KISS performs in Verona, New York on Aug. 9; KISS visits Simpsonville, South Carolina on Aug. 13; and KISS descends on the Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida on Aug. 16.

Obviously, there are a few gaps in those four American dates so more KISS concerts could be on the way.  Who knows, they might even add a Midwest swing and/or a trip out west in late August and/or early September.  The band is touring to support their latest album, Monster.

By David B.

Depeche Mode: Ten Things You Need To Have To Be A Hardcore Fan

Actually, all you need to be a hardcore Depeche Mode fan is an unending passion for their music and at least one story involving Songs of Faith and Devotion, a hot date, and way too much leather.  However, if you’re like most people you enjoy owning stuff.  So this list is dedicated to ten tangible things (albums, videos, concert tickets) you need to have lying around the house in order to show the world that you’re a true hardcore Depeche Mode fan.

Longtime fans probably have most, or all, of the items on our list.  Even if you think you do, keep reading.  You might find something you don’t have in your collection and you might learn a few things about the stuff you already own.  If you’re a causal fan then my list will definitely help you know more about the band and their music.  And if you’re completely new to Depeche Mode then this is where to start.  Collecting just a few of the following items is the perfect introduction to the greatest electronic band of all-time.

Catching Up With Depeche Mode
Not to date myself, but to date myself, I owned this compilation on cassette.  Catching up with Depeche Mode was released in November of 1985.  It contains singles not found on the compilation album People are People as well as two B-sides which at the time were recently released.  Songs on this album include “Dreaming of Me,” “Just Can’t Get Enough,” and “Master and Servant.”  This is a great place to start if you’re new to the band and a great mix of songs if you’re already familiar with their music.  There are several Depeche Mode compilations available and all of them are good.  Even though I like this one for nostalgic reason, it’s still a great collection.

The Band’s Autograph
Since the beginning of time, autographs have been coveted by fans.  It’s a way to say “Hey!  I met Depeche Mode and to prove it I got their signatures.”  Autographs are also a great way to increase the value of a product.  For example, the album Black Celebration is worth a lot more if it’s signed by the band.  There are many ways to get autographs from the members of Depeche Mode—Dave Gahan, Martin Gore, and Andy Fletcher.  The best way is running into them before or after a Depeche Mode concert.  The other way is to buy an item they’ve already autographed.  At the time of writing this article I found a signed Enjoy the Silence poster on eBay selling for $2,850. It’s a bargain at twice the price.

Depeche Mode T-Shirt
Wear your love for Depeche Mode on your sleeves.  We’ll not exactly on your sleeves but at least on your chest and maybe your back.  You can get a Depeche Mode t-shirt at a number of places: a Depeche Mode concert, Amazon, and the band’s Web site.  There are many different styles to choose from but my favorite has the letters “d” and “m” on the front (where one would find the breast pocket).  They are written in the same font used by your alarm clock.  Underneath are the words “LOCAL CREW.”  The shirt is bright red but very understated.  Don’t worry, if crimson isn’t your color many DM shirts come in black.

Black Celebration
Longtime fans of the band have had Black Celebration in their collection since it was released on March 17, 1986.  Causal fans probably picked it up somewhere along the way.  If you’re new to the band, or you want your music collection to contain as many great albums as possible, you must acquire Depeche Mode’s Black Celebration as soon as possible.  It’s one of the most influential albums to come out of the 1980s.

Depeche Mode Concert Tickets
For the causal to hardcore fan, the must-have of all must-haves is Depeche Mode concert tickets.  In fact, even if you’ve never even heard of the band before this article (and let’s hope that’s not the case) you should make every effort to see them in concert.  They are one of the best live acts of all-time.  And no, that’s not hyperbole. 

In 2013, a robust Depeche Mode tour is being launch to support their latest opus, Delta Machine.  The world trek gets underway May 7 in Tel Aviv and ends Oct. 8 when Depeche Mode rolls into Phoenix for a show at the Desert Sky Pavilion.  Their first U.S. date is Aug. 22 in Detroit.  The band has a total of 19 shows scheduled for North America.

Highlights of Depeche Mode’s 2013 World Tour
>>Aug. 24 – Depeche Mode tickets for Tinley Park, IL @ Fort Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
>>Sept. 01 – Depeche Mode tickets for Toronto, ON @ Molson Canadian Amphitheatre
>>Sept. 06 – Depeche Mode tickets for Brooklyn, NY @ Barclays Center
>>Sept. 20 – Depeche Mode tickets for Dallas, TX @ Gexa Energy Pavilion
>>Sept. 28 & 29 – Depeche Mode tickets for Los Angeles, CA @ Staples Center

Music Skins
How many times has this happened to you?  You’re at your local coffee house, working on your laptop, when Dave Gahan walks in and looks around for a Depeche Mode fan.  After finding none, he leaves with his head hung low.  And think, had he found a DM fan they would have been treated to a free concert.  To ensure that you’re always identified as a Depeche Mode fan get a “music skin” for your laptop.  These skins, sold on the band’s Web site, contain a high quality Depeche Mode graphic.  They are removable, reusable, and very durable.  You just apply it to the top of your laptop and then work with confidence knowing that you’ll always be identified as a hardcore Depeche Mode fan even when you’re busy updating your Facebook status. 

101
101 is a documentary about the band’s 1987/1988 Music for the Masses Tour, and in particular, the band’s sold-out performance at the Pasadena Rose Bowl.  That show was the final and 101st stop of their tour —the “101” part is where the film gets its name.  This is one of the best rock docs ever made.  It provides great insight into the band and their fans.  The movie also contains a slew of great clips of Depeche Mode performing live. 

Violator
Violator dropped March 19, 1990.  This classic album contains the hit singles “Personal Jesus,” “Policy of Truth,” and “Enjoy the Silence.”  Violator is on just about every major music publications’ list of “greatest albums of all-time.”  It should definitely be in your music collection.

Stripped: Depeche Mode
On Sept. 1, 2013, Depeche Mode: A Biography by Steve Malins will hit bookstore shelves.  The salacious biography is highly anticipated but until it’s released we’ll just have to make do with Stripped: Depeche Mode penned by Jonathan Miller.  While Miller’s fandom makes him a little bias, he still does a great job of telling the story of the band, its members, and electronic music in general.  He also goes into depth about the instruments they used.  This may seem like “inside baseball” but it’s completely necessary when you’re writing about a band that’s so dependent on technology. 

Remixes 81-04 & Remixes 2: 81-11 (Deluxe Edition)
Released in 2004 and 2001 respectively, Remixes 81-04 & Remixes 2: 81-11 are two groundbreaking Depeche Mode collections that not only feature some of the band’s best work but some of the world’s best remixers (a list that includes Depeche Mode).  The band has always been on the vanguard of remixing and these collections prove it.  For the newbie, it’s a great introduction to the band’s music.  For those familiar with Depeche Mode, it’s an exciting new way to enjoy old material. 

By David B.