Here is our exclusive HOME interview with Alan Wilder. This time he answers the questions asked by you, the fans. Enjoy!

Has your recent involvement in the DM album re-issues given you any new appreciation or insight into them or in fact your time in the band overall? Was this involvement something you were asked to do or did you volunteer?

I wouldn’t say I gained any great new insight into the records themselves. The listening experience brought back a lot of memories however. Certain individual sounds, when exposed, sparked off a recollection of how they were recorded which in turn would remind me of conversations and how we were relating to each other during different DM periods.

The concept was to get each producer(s) to act as consultant for the albums they were involved in. I was asked as consultant and also because I was the only one with access to certain sounds which hadn’t been recorded to tape at the original sessions. I had kept everything on back-up DAT tapes for the purposes of putting together live versions.

Also, with the benefit of hindsight, are there any songs or albums you now like more (or less) than when they were originally recorded?

A few but not many. Perhaps something like ‘Rush’ seems to have improved with age. Generally, I feel now the same way I felt at the time. Some I love, some I hate:)

How does your contact with the Depeche Mode-factory work these days considering re-releases etc etc and with current band members?

There is little contact with the ‘factory’ as you put it. I mean, I don’t need direct contact with the other band members for consultancy issues or royalty issues. I deal directly with Mute over matters such as label copy for re-issues for example. There were one or two minor band discussions which needed agreement over the singles package (part 2) a few years back. I have e-mail contact with Dave on a pure social basis.

Why didn’t you participate in the DVD version of the ‘101′ film. Was the film that bad you think?

I was asked (in fact I was begged) to take part but just didn’t feel it would be any good. I hated the idea of sitting in a viewing room together watching it and making stupid comments - to be recorded for a commentary. It seemd to me that Mute were just trying find anything quickly to use as an extra rather than come up with a really good idea.

As for the film, I feel it works on one level and captures a moment in time in quite a funny way but it could have been so much more. I don’t blame Pennebaker - he just made a film about what he saw - but the band could have contributed more, added some depth.

This one isn’t strictly speaking about just Depeche Mode, but I have a feeling the reply will be: Name 3 songs you regret getting involved in!

‘It’s Called A Heart’, ‘Pleasure, Little Treasure’, ‘But Not Tonight’.

What was the last DM album or song you listened to and when?

‘Rush’ - Amyl Nitrate mix - because Hep likes it at the moment and keeps playing it.

When you left Depeche, you cited a lack of acknowledgment and appreciation within the band. Was there a single event that was the final straw? You can tell us - hardly anyone reads this site. Wink

No single event. It was an accumulative thing which peaked during the making of SOFAD. I was very unhappy at that time and vowed during those recording sessions that I never wanted to go through that experience again. The band was in a mess, no enthusiasm, drug problems, apathy, tension and arguments. It didn’t help all trying to live together at the same time!

Which “post Alan” DM song would you have liked to have worked on?

Probably ‘Home’ - although Tim Simenon did a pretty good job anyway. I really like the string arrangement and the song itself, both lyrically and melodically. I think Martin based the verse around ‘Lucy In The Sky’ (verse). Check the chord structure.

If you could re-live a DM moment again what would you choose ?

That’s tough - on a creative level, there are those special moments when you know you’ve done something good. For example, when we nailed ‘In Your Room’ (which had been tough) by effectively stitching together three working versions and making one. Everybody sat back, listened through and collectively said.. wow, yes that’s it. But really I would just like to re-live some of the great after show parties!!

Tell us about the footage you shot over the years ?

Well much of it is very personal and may never be seen - lots of being stupid in the studio during the Berlin period and plenty of tour stuff at airports, hotels, driving into gigs, fans screaming - and sound-checks where everyone looks miserable and cold. I also have funny stuff from trips to Japan and other strange places. I haven’t watched the footage for many many years.

We understand you think DM quality control is lacking - but would you agree with a retrospective box set containing demos etc etc being released.

No I wouldn’t. That’s a classic case of not controlling quality. Demos are exactly what they say they are, a demonstration for those working on the music to hear the song in a very basic undeveloped way. They were never intended for public consumption and that is how it should stay (well until I’m long dead anyway:)

Aren’t you sick and tired of being asked about DM?!

Yes.

Of all your Recoil albums so far, which is your favorite? Which album would you recommend someone new to your music to start with? What are your impressions from each Recoil album? If you prefer one specially, the most difficult one, etc.

I don’t have a favourite. I guess I would recommend either the most recent or maybe ‘Unsound Methods’ for a first time listener. The general feeling is that ‘Liquid’ is a bit more left field and maybe more ‘difficult’ although I like it just as much as ‘UM’ or ’subHuman’. The albums before these such as ‘Hydrology’ and ‘Bloodline’ for me are not fully developed although I like quite a lot of the stuff on ‘Bloodline’. I think by the time DM had finished ‘Violator’ and ‘SOFAD’, my production skills were much more finely honed.

What are your motivations when you start a new record? Do you have a fairly solid idea of where you want it to go, or is that something that develops in the process of recording?

I have no ideas or motivations. It’s a real problem for me to get started on something new. It seems such a daunting prospect knowing that I am so far away from the end and not having the focus of songs written up front. This is exactly the situation I am in at the moment and, frankly, I’m struggling. But once I get past that hurdle, things usually start flowing again.

Are you working on anything new at the moment?

As above.

Over the past year or so, you’ve been doing a lot of grassroots type stuff with Recoil, promoting ’subHuman’, meeting as many fans as possible! What are the advantages/drawbacks of this - both personally and professionally?

It gives me a chance to meet people and be sociable, given that I’m mostly locked away and quite unsociable. I’m often accused of being grumpy, even by my close friends. It is something I am trying to change about myself. Going on promo trips forces me to engage with people and that’s good for me. Professionally, I just try to do whatever is needed to help promote the music (apart from play live). Sometimes it has a small effect but it is difficult to acquire really meaningful press & promo these days. There are so few outlets for more eclectic, left-field projects like Recoil.

Alan, could you please ask Hep to kick your butt from the sofa more frequently? We might have more of your creativity often… Wink

Don’t worry - I can assure you she’s been kicking me hard recently… I’ll be in the gutter soon if she carries on.

Xbox 360, PS3 or Wii? Pick your favorite damn it!

Never used any - although Wii sounds like it could be fun.