yasipedia #5: I love Blondshell, Gahan's goatee, Depeche Mode part 2, and more
I'm in Woodstock on the kind of retreat they used to send women away on to "take the fresh air" and "stfu" so I won't spend too much time on my little blog this week…
What I’m fucking with rn:
The new Blondshell album is out and while I have known how gorgeous and exquisitely angsty and just fucking GOOD it was for some time (I’m an industry insider babe) now many other people with good taste and bittersweet palates get to drive around for hours with the ideal music to whet their wistful to
This GQ profile of Yohji Yamamoto by Noah Johnson
I asked Yamamoto if this ever bothers him. “I don’t care,” he said gently. “It’s all right. Copy me. A copy is always a copy. I never copy anything.”
Yamamoto phrases the sentiment a little differently in Wim Wenders’s 1989 documentary Notebook on Cities and Clothes. When Wenders asks, “So you’re not afraid that somebody would steal your language?” Yamamoto replies, “Nobody can do that.”
This Human Pursuits interview with me which is largely about my cat and inexplicably, Chris Black
deriving serotonin through the purchase of sparkly $40 lip gloss
and this tweet:
There are less than 50 of these Robert and Mary Smith shirts left…simply letting you know…do with this info what you will…
If you, unlike this man, made it through the Bandsplain episodes about Depeche Mode, here’s some extra ephemera around part 2 for you as a treat:
here’s a rather excellent cover of “Never Let Me Down Again” by William Corgs and co
maybe my favorite moment of juxtaposition/editing in the Depeche Mode 101 documentary (which you watch in full on Showtime)
It’s really worth watching just for how fucking cool the fans they “cast” to ride along on the bus looked the whole time
Here’s a photo of one of those kids on the bus, Maggie Mouzakitis, who went on to tour manage Oasis for 13 years (thoughts and prayers for her cortisol levels) which I learned from this great piece about the fans in the doc by Jill Krajewski
news story about the premiere of the doc in Century City
On the unrealized friendship of Axl Rose and Depeche Mode:
I heard that Axl Rose used to hang out with Depeche Mode. True?
Yes–but only for one night. In 1989, at the Hollywood premiere of Depeche Mode’s concert film 101, the Guns N’ Roses singer introduced himself to the band as a huge fan–proving it by reciting the lyrics to their mournful song “Somebody.” He then brought them to the Cat House, a favorite heavy-metal club. But when Rose left the Mode, he continued his evening at a friend’s barbecue in Beverly Hills, where he reportedly shot a pig. A band spokesman soon announced that “as strict vegetarians, the band were appalled by [Rose’s] behavior and do not wish to associate themselves with anyone who goes round shooting pigs for fun.” (Via Gavin Edwards/Secret Rock Knowledge)
here’s an example of the classified ads that were posted in regional newspapers in the UK leading up to the release of the “Personal Jesus” single in August 1989
here’s a really cool vintage copy of Elvis and Me by Priscilla Presley, the book that inspired Martin Gore when writing the song “Personal Jesus”
“Dave needed an image and identity. He kind of fell in love with Anton who saw a gap and went for it.”
Chris Carr, Depeche Mode’s longtime UK press manager, throwing shade at Anton Corbijn and adding proof to my Evil Antontheory
a cover of “Policy of Truth” by Dishwalla that both me and Mart like quite a bit (tell me all your thoughts on god innit)
This SPIN Magazine 1990 cover story is maybe my favorite for the way it perfectly captures a time and place (Warehouse Music, KROQ, DM super fan Kelly in her Ugg boots shopping on Melrose, it me fr)
early appearance of the goatee (1991)
Listens to Jane’s Addiction once
important image to me, personally
do u like my OM ink bro
Judge I present to you exhibit B in the case of Yasi vs. Anton Corbijn
the goatee is fully running the show, 1993
“It was... dead boring - l've never seen so few drugs in my life. That wee geezer, the singer, he had some but the rest of them didn't so we just got drunk the whole time. It was a waste of time.'
Bobby Gillespie on touring with Depeche Mode
Primal Scream’s 1994 Redding set ft an appearance by David Gahan
the goatee on E!
NME 1996
NME 1997
Exhibit C in the case of Yasi vs. Corbijn
what is more 1997 then going to the beach in a white suit and trudging across the sand carrying a metal suitcase (I do like this song quite a bit)
okay I’m tired and need to go talk to a tree so until next time…listen to Bandsplain Depeche Mode Part 2 HERE and the accompanying playlist HERE.
Next week…it’s gonna get drafty in here with Bobby Harvillz and the artist known as CR…2002 was an insane year in music…did Yasi secure the raw milk bag in upstate NY? and more…