JONATHAN MILLER STRIPPED - DEPECHE MODE BOOK OMNIBUS PRESS RELEASE: NOVEMBER, 2003 REVIEW: FEBRUARY 23, 2004

This is an interesting and entertaining read about the worlds biggest electronic band. Jonathan Miller writes in great detail about the lads first musical ventures, getting together, fame, drugs, and later on – a bit of rock’n’roll. And yes, there's some sex too. At times the details go in the way of the story, but it goes quite smoothly along. I couldn’t put the book down since I started.
Jonathan usually writes techie stuff, and this shows in that he often lists what equipment they use at certain times in their career – quite interesting for us tech-nerds. Jonathan is also full of interesting trivia, for example he writes that one of Daniel Miller's first synthesizers was bought from Elton John. And perhaps I show ignorance here, but I didn’t know that Vince Clarke’s real name was Vincent Martin.
The book is mostly based on newspaper clippings, but new interviews with Vince Clarke, Gareth Jones and Robert Marlow are also featured. The story intertwines with Vince’s further musical career, so we also learn a bit more about Alison Moyet and Andy Bell. All in all, it gives a fairly complete picture of one of the biggest and most fiercely independent bands of our time.
The electronic genre doesn’t really have much to show in the book department, so I guess it’s easy to suck up whatever is available, but I think this book stands on its own anyway. Check it out if you like Depeche Mode, of course, but also if you’re interested in a genuine from rags to riches story, with a lot of drama.

JOHAN CARLSSON