DM AC | BOOK REVIEW
Anton Corbijn (Taschen)
The first time Anton Corbijn photographed Depeche Mode was in 1981, at a Fad Gadget gig where the Essex group were supporting. Corbijn was there primarily to get some photos of the headliner, real name Frank Tovey. Recently, whilst searching for a photo of Tovey, Corbijn discovered a couple of shots he had taken of the Mode, probably testing his camera before the main act. These photos are where this book starts – likewise a creative relationship with Depeche Mode lasting nearly four decades.
The last Corbijn book totally dedicated to his work with Depeche Mode was Strangers, published in 1990 and long out of print. The good news is that DM AC features over 500 photographs, including a fair few never seen before, with handwritten captions giving insights into the photoshoots and Corbijn’s creative thought process. Their Songs Of Faith And Devotion era has many examples included here, and the Delta Machine shoot in New Orleans yields some real gems too, both previously seen and not. Sleeve artwork, shots from Corbijn’s Depeche Mode tour programmes, stage set design sketches and photos and artwork from Dave Gahan’s and Martin Gore’s solo projects also feature.
In 1986, Corbijn started to expand his role as band photographer – also making videos, which led to him later designing sleeve art and stage sets. His Violator sleeve design has become as iconic as Warhol’s for The Velvet Underground & Nico. With Corbijn’s other big client, U2, the band are involved with the creative process from start to finish; Depeche Mode tend to just let Corbijn get on with it. As Martin Gore states in DM AC, “We were big fans of Anton’s art before we worked with him and after the amazing results we saw from the first photo sessions and videos, we had no reason to doubt his ideas.” This mammoth book is a testament of his work with the band and how he has helped shape their visual identity over the years.
The bad news: the book is published as a limited edition, costing £750. Publisher Taschen are however to issue a cheaper version in May 2021, priced at £100. DM AC makes most music-related photo books look as visually appealing as a cookery book from 1973.
Price: £100. (info: here) / £15 (info: here)
words DAVID NOBAKHT