Depeche Mode by Anton Corbijn

by Anton Corbijn (Photographer), Reuel Golden (Editor)

In November 2020, Depeche Mode were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and Dave Gahan, accepting the honour, said: "I'd like to thank Anton Corbijn who thank God came in at the right time and actually made us look cool." Also in the fall of 2020, TASCHEN released the limited edition Depeche Mode by Anton Corbijn (81-18) signed by Depeche Mode and Anton Corbijn, and it became one of the fastest selling collector's editions in the publishing company's history. This equally epic, but more wallet friendly XL edition, is a testament to Corbijn's unique vision, and indeed "cool" as Gahan acknowledged so movingly in his speech; a detailed illustrated history of how Corbijn, who became in 1986 the band's de facto creative director, and helped cement Depeche Mode's reputation as the biggest cult band in the world.Featuring over 500 photographs from Corbijn's extensive archives, some never seen before, including formal and informal portraits from places such as Madrid, Hamburg, the California desert, Prague and Marrakech (some taken during the making of iconic videos such as "Enjoy the Silence" and "Personal Jesus"); a multitude of off-the-cuff, candid images; and stunning live shots from all their tours since 1988. In addition to the photographs, there are sketches and designs for stage sets and album covers, Corbijn's handwritten captions throughout the book, placing the reader right in the middle of the shoots, and an extended interview with the Dutch master.Created with the full collaboration of the band, who share some insights on working with Corbijn, Depeche Mode by Anton Corbijn (81-18) trumpets how one man's original aesthetic, that has encompassed all of their photography, most of their music videos, album graphics and set designs, helped shape the band's enduring popularity. Reflecting on his role in Depeche, Corbijn recalls in the book's introduction: "A lot of it came down to me, and I wanted it to be right for them. I wanted to think for them. To be great for them." This book is a tribute to the depth and breadth of that greatness, a celebration of one of the most creative and enduring collaborations in rock history.

Genres: Music, Photography, Art

512 pages, Hardcover

Published May 7, 2021

About the author

Anton Corbijn is a Dutch photographer, filmmaker, and video artist. He is best known for his black-and-white portraits of artists shot with slow shutter speeds to allow for the subtle movements and gestures of his subjects. “I feel the imperfection is much closer to how life is than perfection,” the artist has said.

Born Anton Johannes Gerrit Corbijn van Willenswaard on May 20, 1955 in Strijen, Netherlands, Corbijn began shooting local bands at the age 17, before moving to London to work for NME magazine as a staff photographer. He has directed over 80 music videos for a number of musicians, including Nirvana, U2, Depeche Mode, and Joy Division. In 2015, the artist was the subject of the exhibition “Anton Corbijn 1-2-3-4” at the Fotomuseum Den Haag, which included over 300 of his most iconic images. Living and working in The Hague, Netherlands, Corbijn is currently focused on feature-length films.

Reviews

[Ramón Nogueras Pérez · Rating 5 out of 5]

¿Te gustan las fotos? Este libro es genial. ¿Te gusta Depeche? Este libro es genial. ¿Quieres echar un vistazo al proceso de la creación de la imagen de una de las mejores bandas de música de la historia? Este libro es genial.

También puedes parar balas con él o matar a alguien a palos.

[Natalie Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a work of art, and is essential for die-hard fans of Depeche Mode. The book itself is printed on the highest quality of paper, using the most expensive inks, and beautifully bound.

[GONZA · Rating 3 out of 5]

Only for Depeche Mode fan.

[Jurga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can there possibly be anything better than a photo book of your favourite band by a truly talented photographer?

[Dragan Nanic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just amazing!

Such a great overview of the Depeche Mode and the best walk down memory lane of the times in my life that were marked by their music and appearance.

A real treat.

[Marleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing photo documentary of one of my favorite bands

[Trixi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such beautiful photos and interesting to get the background on things.

[Dbgirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not the biggest fan of Depeche Mode, but I still like most of their albums and I’ve liked Anton Corbijn’s works in general so I just had to pick this from a library. It’s not the most detailed book, but it has short interviews from the artist himself and the band in the beginning of this book and then a lot of pictures. Words are very unnecessary indeed, if you look at those pics. I don’t like all of them, but some are truly great either technically or it goes so deep to the target that it captures the essence of that person, I can see the intimacy and trust. And some are pure art. I think I liked the most where they were on some desert and if I remember correct it was Gahan who’s on front and behind him is some sort of net and someone enters to the same space as Gahan is through that net. And that net makes an interesting texture to the picture. It totally doesn’t look a typical rock star shoot and I love it for being different. Oh and why is Gahan showing a middle finger in Helsinki? Are we Finns so horrible? :D

[Laurence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just stunning, a work of art! Beautiful photos and interesting text to go alongside. Excellent print quality.

[Momo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magnifique

[Achilleas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A visual journey in DM-world.
Really interesting and touching.

(Regardless of how bad is Corbijn's handwriting. A custom font would have been less personal but far more enjoyable.)