The last time we spoke was in 2013, on the occasion of the first edition of Monument. Later, we had the chance to meet in person during one of Sascha’s book promotion events in Hannover. For some time, we also stayed in regular contact while working on the editing and proofreading of Sascha Lange and Dennis Burmeister’s latest book — depeche MODE LIVE— which will be published in Poland on October 29th by SQN. Out of these conversations came this interview with Sascha, which I warmly invite you to read.

Przeczytaj polską wersję tego wywiadu.

[101dM.pl]: You regularly write books about depeche MODE and the fan subculture in Germany. Where did your fascination with the band come from, and when did you realise you wanted to do more than be a fan?

[Sascha Lange]: About twenty years ago, I was researching depeche MODE’s only concert in East Germany in 1988. It was initially supposed to become a documentary film, but that project didn’t work out at the time. During my research, however, I met Dennis Burmeister, one of the biggest depeche MODE collectors, and the idea arose to create a major, comprehensive book – depeche MODE Monument. It was published in 2013.

While working on that book, we once again realised how much this band continues to fascinate and accompany hundreds of thousands of people to this day. There were so many stories to tell – about the band and about the fans. That’s why we later published two more books: Behind the Wall – Depeche Mode Fan Culture in the GDR (unfortunately, only available in German) and Depeche Mode Live, which is now being published in Poland – something we’re very happy about.

Our three books reflect exactly what fascinates us about the band: sophisticated studio albums, magical live concerts, and a unique fan culture.

[101dM]: From your previous interview in 2013, we know that you and Dennis worked on Monument for about five years. How did the idea for Live come about, and how does it differ from Monument? How long did you work on it, and what was the starting point?

[SL]: Dennis and I met in 2019 to develop the concept for Depeche Mode Live. Our initial plan was to work on the book throughout 2020. We expected a new depeche MODE album to be released in 2021, and our book was supposed to come out at the same time.

Unfortunately, the coronavirus pandemic changed everything, and depeche MODE LIVE wasn’t released until 2023, first in Germany. On the other hand, this gave us more time to refine and complete it. Altogether, we worked on the book for around four years, with a few breaks in between.

[101dM]: Your East German background has clearly influenced your perspective. How does this translate into the story of depeche MODE concerts?

[SL]: Telling the story of depeche MODE LIVE on tour meant diving into a world I would have loved to experience myself in the 1980s, but couldn’t due to political circumstances. Being a depeche MODE fan in East Germany – much like in Poland – meant idolising a band you might never be able to see live. Of course, the band had played once in Warsaw in 1985 and once in East Berlin in 1988, but that was hardly the same as a full-scale tour accompanying every album.

The band seemed unattainable back then. But that longing, that need to belong, combined with the band’s unique music and style, created an even deeper bond between the fans and the artists – one that still exists today.

[101dM]: Is this East German perspective more relatable to fans in Eastern Europe than in the West? And how do younger generations perceive this history?

[SL]: All of these events took place about forty years ago, yet they remain very vivid in the minds of many fans. I’ve been doing book tours for more than ten years, and I always talk about that one concert in East Berlin in 1988. Especially in West Germany, people begin to understand why there’s such a special relationship between East German and Eastern European fans and depeche MODE. Yes, I do think fans from East Germany and countries like Poland had very similar experiences in the 1980s.

But of course, the band doesn’t just exist in the memories of that era. Many fans – including younger ones – are happy that since 1990 they’ve been able to see depeche MODE live anywhere they want, and that the band’s story continued after the difficult mid-1990s, with growing success. Today, there are no more East-West divides at concerts or parties. And younger fans also understand that depeche MODE has a truly fascinating history, something the older generation deeply appreciates.

[101dM]: What was the collaboration between you and Dennis Burmeister like? Who was responsible for what – collecting materials, editing, layout, text?

[SL]: We’ve always taken a fairly structured approach to our work. First, we discuss the book’s overall content and chapter structure. I handle the research, interviews, and writing – which makes sense since I’m a trained historian and familiar with this kind of work.

Meanwhile, Dennis selects photos and artefacts from his collection and contacts people who contribute their materials. We meet regularly, talk on the phone almost daily, and exchange ideas. Dennis supports the writing process with his incredibly detailed knowledge of the band, and I suggest which events should be illustrated with photos.

Finally, Dennis assembles the texts and images and designs the book’s layout. As a professional graphic designer, he has a deep understanding of the distinctive depeche MODE aesthetic and knows how to translate it visually. It’s always been important to us that the book’s design reflects that same aesthetic.

[101dM]: In the LIVE book, you collected an enormous amount of material – photos, posters, songs, memories. How did you select what to include, and what were your criteria?

[SL]: Deciding what to include wasn’t easy. At first, Dennis collected, scanned, and edited a huge number of photos to ensure we had the widest possible selection. He then made his choices during the layout process. Often, we had to make last-minute changes when previously unseen photos from the early 1980s suddenly appeared that we absolutely wanted to include. The rarer the photo, the more likely it was to make it into the book.

Above all, depeche MODE LIVE was meant to show how the band evolved throughout the years – not just visually, with changing hairstyles and styles, but above all as a live act. From a young band in smoky London pubs to an international stadium phenomenon.

[101dM]: The book includes not only professional photos but also fan shots and backstage material. How do you obtain such content, and what are the challenges regarding rights, quality, and sharing?

[SL]: Dennis has been well-connected in the international fan scene for decades and has a good overview of what materials are out there. Thanks to social media like Facebook, it’s now possible to contact people directly and ask for their photos.

The publisher and we had to clarify the rights to many images during the layout process. Some photos were purchased from agencies or professional photographers, others were provided by Sony and Mute. Many people generously supported us, for which we’re very grateful.

In some cases, after forty years, it was no longer possible to identify the original photographer, and we had to decide whether to include such photos anyway – because they were historical documents showing something that couldn’t be illustrated otherwise.

We’re especially proud that so many fans were thrilled to see their own concert photos in the book and thus became part of the project. We didn’t want to make just a glossy coffee-table book – we wanted to create a living testimony to depeche MODE’s fan culture, and live photography is an essential part of that. Today, with the quality of modern cameras, it’s often hard to tell fan photos apart from professional ones.

[101dM]: Which parts of Monument and LIVE are you most satisfied with, and which were the most challenging? Was there ever a moment when you wanted to remove or change something drastically?

[SL]: Of course, I’m equally fond of both books – depeche MODE Monument and depeche MODE LIVE – because so much work and passion went into them. Naturally, during the process, there were discussions about what should be emphasised more or what had to be left out simply due to space limitations.

We agreed early on that we would structure the story tour by tour, with a strict chronological thread running through it. That’s the backbone that held the entire project together.

Dennis and I also agreed from the beginning that there would be no gossip. We see ourselves as chroniclers of the band – we’ve created a retrospective of their artistic work. We’re interested in the band members only as musicians, not as private individuals. That’s what sets our books apart from many others.

[101dM]: What were the reactions from fans and critics after the release of Monument and LIVE? During promotion, did anyone ever provide you with new material or change your perspective? Did you encounter criticism?

[SL]: Dennis and I were surprised by the overwhelmingly positive feedback for both books, especially on social media. After Monument came out in 2013, one major German newspaper even called it “the ultimate fan bible.” Naturally, we were thrilled and a little proud, too, after all those years of work.

Some readers felt Monument was perhaps too detailed – since we included every album cover, front and back. For depeche MODE LIVE, we decided to leave those out, as they weren’t central to the live aspect, and instead focused on posters and concert photography.

The reviews alone – including for the international editions – show that both books were very well received.

[101dM]: How do your live readings evolve? Do you often change the story or the visuals?

I regularly go on reading tours with our depeche MODE books. Unlike the texts in the books, I have much less time during an event, so I have to select certain chapters and photos in advance.

My events aren’t traditional readings. Between the text passages, I talk about the photos featured in the book and show examples. I also screen short video clips to visualise moments that can’t be conveyed through text and images alone.

I prepare thoroughly for each event and create a program that’s both informative and entertaining. It’s important to me that people have fun and enjoy reminiscing.

[101dM]: How does the reception of your events differ depending on where you perform – East Germany, West Germany, Switzerland, or even the US?

[SL]: I tour equally across eastern and western Germany and have also been to Switzerland several times. No matter where I go, the audience is always the same friendly, welcoming crowd you’d find at a depeche MODE concert or party. The reactions show me that the story of depeche MODE and its fans is very similar everywhere.

Already in the 1980s, depeche MODE achieved something remarkable – without even planning it. Their fans didn’t care where the person next to them came from. Everyone shared the same love for the band’s music, and that connected people across borders.

Western German audiences are always very curious about what it was like to be a fan in East Germany in the 1980s. They listen with genuine interest and empathy when I talk about that one concert in East Berlin in 1988.

A year ago, I went to New York for the English-language launch of depeche MODE LIVE and held a reading there. I had no idea what to expect, but I quickly realised that the fans in New York are just as kind, warm, and wonderfully crazy as those in Germany and Europe. It was a fantastic evening – and I had practised in English for weeks to prepare for it.

depeche MODE truly connects people around the world – that became clear to me once again. In these turbulent times full of hatred and conflict, that’s a powerful and hopeful realisation. Pop music really does have the power to bring people together – we already knew that from before the fall of the Berlin Wall. It’s something worth preserving.

[101dM]: Thank you, Sascha, for the interview. We are waiting for the next book 🙂

In the end, Dennis and Sascha would like to express their greetings and best wishes to all Polish fans on the occasion of the upcoming release of the LIVE book in Poland.

Dear Polish Depeche Mode fans!

Dennis and I are thrilled that our book „depeche MODE LIVE” is now being published in Poland. We hope it will bring back memories for you and perhaps you find something new about our favorite band you didn’t know before.

We hope you enjoy the book! See you soon and best wishes from Sascha Lange & Dennis Burmeister

depeche MODE LIVE – by Dennis Burmeister and Sascha Lange will be released on October 29th by Wydawnictwo SQN from Kraków.