My limited edition book is on its way, and probably yours as well (if you ordered it). When I read the information about the release of the anniversary album for the first time, I thought that maybe it was worth asking Michaela Olexova a few questions and returning to those times for a moment. This book is the loveletter to the band from 1993-2001 period. But it is also a retrospection of Michaela’s work for the band. I invite you to read our conversation on 101dM.pl and to return to the times when each new BONG number was delighted and was awaited by fans thanks to the work of Michael and the team.

Let’s start from the end, or rather from the present. What has happened to you and your life since the end of your adventure with Bong?

Throughout my life, I’ve been always into anything that has to do with creativity, design, production, marketing and visual media. Generally speaking, I love new challenges and creating things. So after BONG, I was lucky enough to bring all these elements together working in the music, publishing and film industry for several years. But I eventually grew tired of a 24/7 job so I went to India to train as a yoga teacher, then moved from Prague to London to set up a yoga business. However, after about 13 years teaching yoga, I started to miss creating and designing things, which is really what lights me up, so I set up a brand and website design studio to help women launch their dream business online and I find it extremely satisfying.

OK. Now, let’s rewind a few years. How did you get to the Band’s Fan Club?

I used to co-manage a fan club in the Czech Republic in the early ’90s called depeche MODE Friends where I was in charge of producing the fan club magazine ‘Halo’. Then when I visited London in 1991, I just turned up at Mute Records to show them the magazine and tell them about our fan club. This information was passed on to depeche MODE’s Management, they got in touch and invited me to their London office a few months later. That’s when I met Lynn Wood (Newcombe) who was in charge of the Band’s Fan Club at the time. We became friends and I started coming over on regular basis. Eventually, I got asked to help with the BONG Magazine, conventions, etc. so you can say I was at the right place at the right time.

Oh yes! It was really right time, right place. Which issue was your debut?

It was BONG 20.

How big access did you have to the band?

As much access as we needed to ensure the smooth operation of the fan club, magazine and conventions but there were also quite a few social occasions outside the work. Usually, I would come up with ideas for the BONG magazine and once the idea got approved it was just a question of working around the Band’s schedule.

BONG’s existence comes at a time of many turbulences in the band. Have you ever had any doubts about publishing something or writing something in BONG from the backstage of the band?

BONG magazine was running for a few years already before I took over and although each edition had to be approved, I always felt the band and the management were really open and supportive, making sure we get to share all the latest news with the fans as it happened.

Do you regret that something was posted in fanzine, or do you know that you could, but did not do it?

Not that I can think of.

What was your freedom to drive a zine? What you could not do during your time in BONG?

As a big depeche MODE fan myself, my vision for BONG was to create a magazine that brings an exciting mix of the official news (such as releases, tours, etc) as well as provide a sneak peek behind the scene that you couldn’t get elsewhere. We also wanted to make sure that the fans really felt it’s their magazine so dedicated a large section of BONG to content built around articles, reviews, stories and photos submitted by the fans from all around the world and it made it really special.

That’s true, BONG zine is until now good source of informations from that period. OK, Michaela, you finished number 52 of BONG and that was the end. Did you do anything for the band after the Bong project was over?

No, it was time to move on for me after almost ten years with depeche MODE. The only other thing I got involved in was when Mute Records contacted me to use my photos of the Band from the recording session of ‘Ultra’ in the DVD documentary that was part of a Collector’s Edition in 2007.

Why was the decision made to close BONG and the band’s official fan club?

The Internet took over [the world], so it was the natural next step to move from a printed magazine to a website to communicate with the fans.

Don’t you think it was a mistake to close the Fan Club and BONG as channels of communications with fans and profit? Looking at how fan programs/clubs aimed at Metallica or U2 fans work – limited editions for fans, preferential access to concert tickets, clothes, dedicated communication, an additional source of profit outside the tours.

I think it’s always nice to do special treats for fan club members but I don’t know how all the other fan clubs operate so I can’t really comment.

Years later, you release a book with your photos. What were your motivations for publishing the book?

Nostalgia, the desire to commemorate that time? I think the first time I started thinking about doing the book was when I did the depeche MODE Facebook takeover a few years ago. I was going through my photo archive and realised I’ve got over 1,000 photos of the band which have never been fully digitised as only a small percentage of the photos were published in BONG. Then when the Covid-19 hit and everything slowed down, I suddenly had a chance to organize the archive and it brought me an incredible sense of joy which I wanted to share with all the other fans. Moreover, it’s exactly 30 years since I showed up at Mute Records with an idea to publish a book about depeche MODE, so what a better way to celebrate their musical genius.

How long have you worked on the book for a long time?

As I mentioned, the idea was there for a few years but the actual scanning, editing and book production took about 4-5 months.

Which photo from your works is your favourite?

It’s so hard to choose as there are so many memories attached to them all but I’d have to say it’s the photos of Dave I took of him while he was rehearsing for the song ‘The Love Thieves’ during the ‘Ultra’ recording session at Rak Studios in St. John’s Wood, London in 1996. It was just him on the mic and me taking the photos inside the vocal studio and that was a pretty special moment.

Nice! 🙂 And who is your favourite photographer who worked with depeche MODE or outside of the depeche MODE universe?

I’ve been inspired by Anton Corbijn, Annie Leibovitz, Ellen von Unwerth, Helmut Newton and many others.

Michaela, thank you for the conversation it was a pleasure to talk with you.

DREAM book you can order via michaelaolexova.com.

Publisher: The Baoli Ltd
Publication date: 04.11.2021
Limited edition: 1,000 copies
Language: English
Cover: White (limited) / Black (standard)
Print length: 84
Dimensions: A4
Price: 25 GBP (limited) / 20 GBP (standard)