Depeche Mode WITHOUT Alan Wilder

A somewhat contentious subject - Alan Wilder announced his departure from Depeche Mode on June 1st, 1995. In this video we discuss how Alan's departure has impacted the sound and dynamic of Depeche Mode in a big way.
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[@DepecheModeHub]

A somewhat contentious subject - Alan Wilder announced his departure from Depeche Mode on June 1st, 1995. In this video we discuss how Alan's departure has impacted the sound and dynamic of Depeche Mode in a big way. Join "Vaughn George Locals" - Members Only streaming site: watchvg.com

[@michaelwilson2340]

The Alan Wilder era is gold for me. Just listening to the musical complexity of 'Walking In My Shoes' or 'Never Let Me Down Again'.

[@MUSiC-world-20986]

Yes, Sir

[@piscesempress1978]

Simple when I see Alan Wilder, I will watch... I miss him so much. hopefully we will see him again soon. x

[@HJPhilippi]

In my opinion, there is a fifth part-time DM member (if you will) who is sadly overlooked: Gareth Jones! It was him, along with Alan, who created the sound we all started to adore. The Berlin trilogy would never have happened without their combined genius. The rest is history - and Alan, for sure.

[@gahan101]

People never ever mention Gareth Jones while he was a huge help for DM at the time.

[@HJPhilippi]

@@gahan101 Absolutely. Vaughn has interviewed Gareth Jones several times, and he has explained how he contributed to Construction Time Again e.g. with samples. In my eyes/ears, that was the basis for DM's groundbreaking new sound. And Alan knew how to make the new sound fit the songs perfectly. That really is combined genius.

[@auberjean6873]

@HJPhillippi thank you for making that point. I have even more DM to look into now.

[@marukqs]

Video from 101 where Alan plays Emulator keyboard with split zones was one of my inspirations.

[@westernsect5773]

Vince may have begun Depeche Mode... It was Alan Wilder that breathed the life into the songs. Martin is the writer ..Yes But his songs are dead on the slab and it's Wilder's dr Frankenstein that gives them life. I myself am inspired to play synths by first seeing Depeche Mode in Tiffnays in Glasgow 1983

[@erikbulow3851]

When Alan left Depeche, Depeche stopped delivering the music we all love! Says more about Alan than anything!

[@JohanJohansson-y5y]

For me Ultra is their best album ♥️😀

[@BolinasFrank]

Was the song Come Back in part a message for Alan to return?

[@MUSiC-world-20986]

​@@BolinasFrank maybe ... 😢😢😢😢😢😢😢

[@eancurtis9333]

Bring Alan back !!!!

[@RebeccaTurner-ny1xx]

He plainly would not want to. His experience in the group was not congenial so he left.

[@lisajohnson1528]

Great vid as ever .... like nearly everyone i can never get enough of alan wilder would love for you to meet up with him and have an amazing chat what a legend miss him terribly come back alan!

[@derkernspalter]

A few days ago someone here on YT promoted a Depeche Mode sound pack he did for the Arturia Emulator II V and demoing the sounds. This is when i remembered what marvelous sound design Depeche Mode were known for in the 80s. None of that magic is there anymore today only the same overused analog blips for the past 2 decades.

[@sarahwelty9223]

Depeche Mode are one of my favourite bands. And from that era when I first heard them in 1981 when I was 7 years old and they blew me away! I've been a fan ever since and they definitely aren't the same without Alan. Great video thanks!👍

[@MrDual2]

Thanks for video Vaughn! wish you an interview with Alan :) And maybe... little collab in your studio with him :D

[@DepecheModeHub]

Maybe one day! VG :-)

[@AndrewJohnClive]

Alan Wilder was the the reason Depeche Mode are what they are.❤ Gave Martin’s ideas bollocks. Superadditivity.

[@tlmstpiusx996]

i will still keep dreaming about that one day DMAV(dave martin alan vince) reunite for one last album before everyone officially retires

[@fm32yo]

Why Vince? 🤔 His music far from DM of Alan era

[@timdm101]

@@tlmstpiusx996 well. It would be a great send off for DM to do one last gig together with X DM band mates ! I would go and see them in concert for sure and whats would be great is if they’d played all of their old stuff that you don’t hear in current concerts for really early albums!!! I know major DM fans want the band to go on forever and they be upset when the final news does eventually come round that DM are retiring! I know a fare bit about the music Biz and things have changed a lot ! And to be honest ! I was not happy DM got a contract with Sony ! Basically DM sold out to make big money , which in one sense l understand but in another sense l don’t get the point! They had already established themselves ! So why sell out! As of the Music of Vince! That would not fit the DM way!! But Alan music would!

[@tlmstpiusx996]

@@fm32yo why? For devotees

[@fm32yo]

@@tlmstpiusx996 IMO devotees are "Alan devotees" 😁, Vince had neither time no desire to continue with DM.

[@AnalogX64]

There are some recipes where if an ingredient is missing, the dish simply doesn't taste the same. Alan Wilder is that indispensable ingredient.

[@DepecheModeHub]

Great point!

[@llane269]

The video is how I discovered you. Still here. Love your content, honesty and wilder respect ❤️‍🩹

[@DepecheModeHub]

Thank you for that that and thank you for still being here !! VG :-)

[@peterracz8410]

Well, a huge part (significantly larger) of fans (including me) think the same as You in this video, and finally we all buy tickets to the latest shows tour by tour and enjoy them, but mostly we appreciate the songs written before 1993 with the collaboration of the Master.😊

[@phildudu6564]

DM without Wilder was only "The Basildon Trio" 😑 Ultra made illusion thanks to Tim Simenon who was a "DM sound" fan, but it took collaborators and studio musicians to replace AW.

[@mustafakemal9547]

As a veryyyy long time DM fanatic, im getting more and more int your channel and work mate, thank you and please keep it up.

[@pulsarsonico]

He left at the exact moment when they had reached the maximum, the summit. Then all that remains is to descend, some fall abruptly and others descend slowly and with dignity. With or without Wilder they would never have repeated that golden era. Proof of what I say is precisely Recoil, it didn't do much else afterwards. Besides, there was a change of era and also of sound, the era of the volume war began, etc. Everything was digitalized in terms of sound. After all, it seems to me that Depeche mode survived quite well for many years without Wilder, taking into account how important his contribution was when he was there.

[@DepecheModeHub]

You re absolutely right. They had reached a peace and even if Alan remained, they would have certainly. dropped from their peak over time. VG :-)

[@johanrebensdorff8828]

This was my first contact with your channel, so glad I found it. Totally hooked since the first minute 🤗 Thanks for everything so far and to what lies ahead. Btw, you've dropped a few pounds since then, well done! 💪

[@DepecheModeHub]

Welcome aboard! Thanks of the compliments!! Yes I have also lost weight!! Cheers, VG :-) :-)

[@MickeyMauseclub]

Depeche Mode will never be the same again!Those years (86-87-88-89-90)are gone!

[@MUSiC-world-20986]

93?

[@thesynthfloyd]

Alan Wilder made Dave Gahan a rich and famous man.

[@The_artist_called_The_Engineer]

Hmm I liked ultra, sound of the universe and momento mori, did not particularly like any of the other albums from that period. But then again I don’t like exciter, speak and spell and a lot of a broken frame. So while I’d say I didn’t like Vince Clarke DM I like about half of the post Alan wilder stuff. I like everything in the the run from construction time again up to Ultra. With music for the masses probably being my favourite.

[@oandri]

Oh, I know I'll "gather stones" in the comments again. I completely agree with you: after “Ultra” - this is Demo mode. I am grateful to Alan for many things in my life. With his creativity, he helps me understand and accept a lot of things for my clients. But I respect his choice. I hate to think that DMs don't respect their fans. They put out 1-2 songs with a cool arrangement, and the rest... yes, demo versions, maybe those created by AI are better.

[@DepecheModeTimeAgain]

The golden era was 81 90. For me. (On SOFAD there is just one amazing song : in your room).

[@pewburrito]

my fav era was SOME GREAT REWARD through VIOLATOR. SOFAD was the beginning of the end for me. There's a few songs that are good to OK after that, but was just not the same. PSB is similar, I loved all their albums through VERY and started losing interest after that.

[@michaelwilson2340]

My favorites are Black Celebration and Songs Of Faith And Devotion. With 'Songs' they had some testosterone added to their music.

[@MUSiC-world-20986]

​@michaelwilson2340 yes

[@dennismoran1299]

In my opinion I think Alan was a good influence on Martin. He subconsciously made Martin write very powerful songs. Alan would take Martin's songs to the next level. You can hear Alan's influence on Martin's songs like Pimpf, Sibling, and Memphisto. Since Alan left DM just releases cleaned up versions of Martin's demo's.

[@DepecheModeHub]

That is a very good insight my friend! Thank you! VG :-)

[@kramskee]

Now it's just the Dave and Marty Experience! ............ I have a different theory and this is just purely my own personal theory, we know what he said in his letter yes and as you put it he's a genius and a gentleman, that letter was very well written but and I've often thought about this and it's just my gut feel /personal opinion, I think he knew, he knew, they'd hit the peak, the top of Everest, nowhere left to go and all he did was take a bow and exit stage left! Never to return! Kudos to the man! ........... he is missed and yeah it's not the same band without him. Doesn't matter if his stint was only 10 years and the DM appendages have clocked up more hours than he ever did! It will never be the same! he is as much DM as Martin, Dave and Fletch. I think he was a real influence from Some Great Reward onwards, it started from there where the music got darker and gloomier. There are some gems on earlier albums too though, Told You So from Construction Time Again comes to mind but Some Great Reward to Songs of Faith and Devotion that is true Depeche and as the die hard Gen X fans now into our 50's, we will always have that! ............ he wasn't known as "SLICK" in their early days for nothing! hats off to Alan Wilder

[@westernsect5773]

As I've said I have been inspired by Alan Wilder in 1983... seen them 83', 84' and 86' and worked them 2009, 2013 and the current tour (security venue Secc and Hydro).... I may love what Wilder did for Depeche but I'm not daft on his Recoil stuff (Yes you can guess I'm from Glasgow)

[@BiserAngelov1]

Enjoy The Silence is indeed the perfect song to introduce Depeche Mode to someone! My DM introduction were 3 songs: Just Can't Get Enough, People Are People, Master And Servant.

[@AlineDietrich-yd7qc]

Alan was the color of DM ;-) Without him, it's not the same :-( it's never been so good again !

[@vinnymitchell2550]

Alan Wilder was the heart and soul of dm. The music changed since his departure, but still solid stuff. Interesting to think where they might be today. Some AI integration may be the answer

[@solstice1681]

"Vince Clark is very, very poppy and Martin Gore he's just....devine" Devine is definitely the perfect word to describe Martin and his songs. I love your videos you're definitely a Depeche Mode expert.

[@JeterSwisherFan88]

I’ve only been following this band since 2022, but as much as I love them and their music, I have to agree: the band was at their artistic and mind-blowing best, indeed, when their lineup was comprised of Gahan/Gore/Fletcher/Wilder. End of discussion.

[@simoharjane7823]

"While the rest of the band recuperated in England, Alan Wilder quit. In Depeche Mode’s unique division of labor, Alan had been responsible for playing Martin’s songs on synthesizer; Dave sang them; Fletch tended to business matters and his Italian restaurant. “Alan never did like us as people,” says Fletch. “Well, he doesn’t like anyone as people, really-he hasn’t got friends and things like that." Article by Gavin Edwards. Originally published as “Long and Winding Mode” in the May 1997 issue of Details.

[@Lee-33]

I’ve been a fan since Construction Time Again as I found the earlier albums too ‘poppy’. There was a clear sound distinction from CTA onwards which I feel is mainly down to Alan. From that album through to SOFAD there was hardly a weak track on any album but when he left the difference was notable. I’m still a fan and I feel they have produced some great tracks such as Wrong, Cosmos, Favourite Stranger and Useless but nothing compared the ‘Alan’ days. He had to move on and whilst many of us are still huge fans, like the person a few comments below suggested, it still feels like an important ingredient is missing.

[@Red_Ford]

I think he will come back to DM to support next, maybe the last album of Depeche. This is justified step if we talk about musical, historical and commercial reasons.

[@wagstaff6135]

If Alan Wilder had stayed, would we have Recoil? I am a big fan of the Recoil records.

[@rikimarudonchelie1229]

I'll always luv their work from Alan's era & time even ask my mum to buy their BLACK CELEBRATION/VIOLATOR audio CD in the US, cus at the time it wasn't available locally in pH market. After he left from SOFAD last album which i purchased the locally released CD here, never did got interest of their released which always 90%miss kinda static, minimalist & lacks dynamism & movement layering of sounds which i was accustomed during Alan time which made their sound more profoundly enigmatic, dynamic, & very industrially balance sound. Can blame if he left at some point, its always hard esp. in a group where one's tries his best, but the remaining others are left on their vices, left alone even he was accused of the members of many issues & grievances which are very unreasonable esp - they didn't give Alan a helping hand or consideration on those dark & depressive times...plus i believe Alan felt betrayed so i guess with his sanity intact it was a wise decision plus he realized longed term about his family with utmost importance. Would luv to see him back at DM, but not at the same level treatment he does before... Alan left the group with no qualms or issues it was a good departure but bad for DM, they can hire musicians to mimic Alan sound but it can never duplicate its unique brilliance imprinted of dna DM legacy sounds. Nevertheless still glad his crafted sound along with Gore writing is intact with DM legacy sounds...thnx for this sir!!! always like Alan low profile demeanor and as good sound engineer & producer...just subscribed thnx sir!

[@colin_a]

I watched a vid with Dave after Fletch had died, and he was asked the question re Alan, and he bluntly said "its never going to happen, move on" - Seems that there is no love lost there. My guess is Martin would have him back in a shot.., Dave is the problem..

[@tlmstpiusx996]

alan said when he was thinking about leaving, dave was not even around to talk to because he was busy w other stuff

[@xiaoxia5]

most likely because everyone asks the question if Alan is coming back. Dave, and Alan were close when Alan was in the band. just like Martin, and Fletch were close. i don't see the no love angle. i see the fact he gets tired of hearing that question, since it's been 27 years since Alan left from the time Fletch died.

[@endipp7978]

I find it strange that everyone focuses on Alan Wilder in Depeche Mode but I see almost no support for his Recoil project. Doesn't anyone like it? It would be great to stop living in the past, even Alan turned the page

[@michaelbruce6190]

I think Recoil is an acquired taste for DM fans because it really doesn't compare well to the sound that Alan perfected during his time with DM. Personally, I like a few Recoil tracks, but it's not really my thing and that's weird for me to say considering the source of the material.

[@billybartcody3591]

Violator was the last truly great Depeche Mode album, despite a few enjoyable later singles. You can hear the difference in the sound design and composition very clearly. With Wilder they were untouchable.

[@adicelo]

While I agree that Alan's contribution was crucial and my top 3 DM albums are those released in 1986-1990, I would say the golden era started in 1984 with the songs like People Are People and especially Blasphemous Rumours and ended in Violator. On SOFAD, the band was already heading in a different direction, Condemnation was a turning point for me when I started losing interest and I didn't actually enjoy half of SOFAD despite the presence of an obvious masterpiece In Your Room. Had Alan stayed for one more album, it would have probably been a sonically advanced version of Ultra but nothing reminiscent of the classic band of the second half of the 80s.

[@DepecheModeTimeAgain]

Vaughn is it absolutely impossible for you to talk to Alan ? And maybe to Martin and Dave later ?

[@DepecheModeHub]

Never say never my friend!! VG :-)

[@daveaskew2105]

Surely Mr Lyon could arrange regarding Alan?

[@FavreianVengeance]

Most of the 80s songs were performed better on 101 than Devotional, so understandably many think 101 was the pinnacle. But I agree that Devotional was the ultimate with many of those songs done at a high level combined with the added greatness of Violator and SOFAD as well as Wilder and Gore upping their games.

[@tlmstpiusx996]

alan *walks away* 😎 3 remaining members: oh sht now what

[@flexliv]

You might want to google that and find out...

[@jimmywhyte7181]

Depeche were so good at writing songs, i dont think many people outside of fans who have heard all their album's really understand just how great they were. I actually consider them too good at writing songs, the content is just too good for general pop music overall, even although it kind of is pop. It sort of stands alone in a world they created.

[@陳刀仔-k6d]

I love Depeche Mode very much. But what I want to say is, Depeche Mode without Alan has no soul. To be frank, I do not listen to the recent 3 albums of DM. I want the DM with Alan. Depeche Mode without Alan is a Saint with no Soul. Sorry Martin I don't want to say that, you are brilliant I know.

[@zacknaiyer448]

Dave and Martin (and Alan and the late Fletch and Vince) exemplify class, humility, hard work, and perseverance; it’s unfortunate these qualities have never rubbed off on the “fans” who seem to enjoy wasting bandwidth with their incessant bitch-fest, nerdily obsessive, stuck in the mud and loving it!-myopia. As a lifelong DM fan, I’m happy to report-at least based on the love the band continues to receive with their latest albums and tours-these sentiments reflect a very minuscule segment of the population.

[@huhuruz77]

Martin and Fletch met with Alan and tried to stop him from leaving the band. Alan only told them this: "When would be the most suitable time for me to leave the band if not now?" They didn't succeed and Alan left quietly. Dave did not interfere with Alan's departure, he having major medical problems.

[@InfraRedLight]

The question is why Alan had to leave the band

[@mattidohmeier5260]

The Sound of DM is not the same anymore since Mr. Wilder left.. Thank you

[@jm252]

DM have not been the same since VC left! In my opinion!

[@chrismanleyirl]

Alan wilder statement is eligible incase u aren't aware

[@Byron101_]

Alan Wilder was the best DM man for sounds, samples and sounddesign! but he´s absolutely not good in arrangement and composition. All four band members together was the real DM.

[@pgs_718]

Yes, Alan was great but even greater is the fact that they carried on without him and continued to produce great music. He's been out of DM for nearly 30 years now, I really think its time for the whingers to just move on.

[@paxsincera836]

😂...i.. can't...😅..stop.😂. you're avatar says it all.

[@JedimillerReturns]

are you doing a martin fore impression bro? lol. Juss saying.

[@DepecheModeHub]

Perhaps this is merely projection on your part my friend? I think you are seeing what you want to see. VG :-)

[@JedimillerReturns]

@DepecheModeHub lol. Well ur voice is just exactly like him here when u started. The accent and all. Or am i wrong?

[@MyJoyDepecheMode]

🥰👍❤❤❤👍🥰

[@EdgarsB]

I was thinking what will happen if Vince could make any record together with Alan. Will it be shit or masterpiece. I mean timeline, for example, 85-95. 🤔

[@paxsincera836]

Wouldn't work, too much of a clash. They are both wonderful, stubborn control freaks of sound.

[@delerium101]

que video bien al dope mamita querida

[@Zontar82]

they were not the same since he left. The only two albums they made "good" without him were Ultra and Exciter. The rest was just a mess of jumbled sounds

[@buzzfunk]

To be honest - i have no liked any post Wilder DM. Maybe 1 or 2 songs came close. But they all are sorta forgettable IMO. Shame.

[@paxsincera836]

I feel the same. It's as if I am trying to like them without Alan by trying to find beauty, but with Wilder one is not searching one is overwhelmed with sonic bliss.

[@timdm101]

Excited???????? Exciter?????? Snoring!!!!! Even l would have made the album better as l am a musican !! Album was just basic with not much life into!! No Neg towards Mr Gore, But. Mr Wilder would have rough “Exciter” ( The Snoring Boring Ltd Ed ) a lot of alive !

[@paxsincera836]

Definetly agree! 😂 The title seems like a sarcastic joke.

[@boffse]

As much as Alan burnt himself out being a producing/engineer genius he was still only polishing the golden eggs being laid by Martin.

[@simoharjane7823]

Andy Fletcher was useless .