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BONG
MAGAZINE
Summary: In late 1987, the Depeche Mode Fan Club became a magazine later known as "Bong", which settled into a routine of being issued quarterly. Initially the US and UK / Europe versions were entirely different, but this was streamlined by issue 14 in 1991. Its final issue (number 52) was published in June 2002. Here are all the notable articles and images from the entire run of the British edition of Bong Magazine. Also included is the US Bong 3, from the summer of 1989.
Bong 1 (January 1988)
Articles:
A Story.... (spoof band interview) by an anonymous fan
Depeche Mode Live in Paris by Charmaine Ramdass
Pictures:
cover
page 1 Dave snoozing
page 2 the band
and the Never Let Me Down Again bubble car
page 3 the band with
Sonet's Denmark manager
page 4 page
5 the band off duty
Bong 2 (April 1988)
Articles:
Depeche Mode In Paris (Part Two) by
Caroline Gardiner
To Put It In Words, To Write It Down (a fan
meets the band) by Julia Wright
A Question Of... Tolerance by Caroline
Gardiner
Personal Profiles
Pictures:
cover
page 1 the band
backstage
page 2 the band off
duty
page 3 Dave's Bong
Members Poll form
page 4 Andy's Bong
Members Poll form
page 5 Martin's Bong
Members Poll form
page 6 Alan's Bong
Members Poll form
page 7 during the
shooting of "Never Let Me Down Again"
page 8 page
9 the band off duty
Bong 3 (August 1988)
Articles:
1989 - The Year Of The Mode? by Jo
Bailey
Pictures:
cover
page 1 page
2 the band off duty
Bong 4 (December 1988)
Articles:
101 - The Movie (tour bus recollections) by Margaret Mouzakitis / Jay
Serken
Backroom Boys (J.D. Fanger profile)
Pictures:
cover
page 1 The band at the MTV Awards, September
1988
page 2 Martin
in a towel and face-pack
page 3 Anton
Corbijn
page 4 preparations
for the "Strangelove" video shoot
page 5 Dave and
Martin at K-ROQ and off duty
page 6 the band
around Prague
page 7 the band
off duty with Daryl Bamonte and Teresa Conway
Bong 5 (May 1989)
Articles:
Ask Fletch
Daniel Miller (interview)
Backroom Boys (Andy Franks profile)
Pictures:
cover
page 1 Daniel Miller and Dave
page 2 the band at the San Remo Festival
page 3 Dave and Alan in New York
page 4 Martin at the 101 premiere
page 5 the band in Paris
Bong USA Edition: Vol. 1, Issue 3 (Summer 1989)
Articles:
Reviews (reprint of a US
newspaper interview)
Modes On The Road
Collectors' Corner
Pictures:
cover
page 1 promotional
band photo
page 2 the
101 competition winners at the film premiere
page 3 Dave
at a soundcheck
page 4 promotional
photo of Martin
Bong 6 (July 1989)
Articles:
Ask Alan
Backroom Boys Girls (Jo Bailey profile)
Pictures:
cover
page 1 Alan and Martin
page 2 Fletch, and Martin live
page 3 Dave and Fletch in the Rosebowl
Bong 7 (October 1989)
Articles:
Ask Dave
Superfan 1989 (fan profile, with tour
report) by Jo Bailey / Rob Latchford
Pictures:
cover
page 1 Martin and Alan in the studio, and the
Personal Jesus video shoot
page 2 Martin
Bong 8 (January 1990)
Articles:
Ask Martin
Pictures:
cover
page 1 Dave at the
Enjoy The Silence video shoot
page 2 Martin at
Sacree Soir
page 3 the band at
Dusseldorf Airport, and Fletch backstage at a TV show
page 4 Dave at the
Enjoy The Silence video shoot
page 5 Dave goes
native
page 6 Martin
backstage at a TV show
page 7 the band at a
TV show
Bong 9 (April 1990)
Articles:
Diary of a Daryl by Daryl Bamonte
Phew - Rock'n'Roll! (the Wherehouse 20/03/90 incident) by Jo Bailey
Pictures:
cover
page 1 the band in an interview and at an airport
page 2 Martin and Andy
page 3 Dave at Radio 1, and Alan, Dave and Martin in San
Remo
page 4 the Halo video shoot
page 5 live at San Remo
page 6 Alan and Fletch at K-ROQ, and a gold disc
presentation
Bong 10 (July 1990)
Articles:
I Survived The Depeche Mode Riot by Angel Perlas
A Few Facts On Being An Aussie DM Fan by Gavin Dwyer
Depeche Mode Live: A Spectacular Show, A Technical Nightmare by Jonathan
Roberts
Pictures:
cover
page 1 page 2
At the Wherehouse
instore, March 20th 1990
page 3 Martin in his angel costume
page 4 Fletch at the Policy Of Truth video shoot
page 5 page 6
page 7
the band members live, off duty, and at the Personal Jesus video shoot
Bong 11 (October 1990)
Articles:
DM's 'World Unification' (concert review) by Katie Holm
Depeche Mode Fans in Yugoslavia by Andrea Zagar
A Few Lines on Being a DM Fan... by Rebecca Oliver
Depeche Mode Convention - Camden Palace Sunday 8th July 1990 by Lynn
Newcombe
World Violation: Cancelled Shows by J.D. Fanger
Mode Violation, South and West (concert review) by Jean Louie
The Melbourne Story (article on a cancelled concert) by Jeremy M.
Pictures:
cover
page 1 backstage in Paris
page 2 promotional shot
page 3 informal touring shots
page 4 page 5
page 6 backstage and live pictures
Bong 12 (January 1991)
Articles:
A Decade of Depeche Mode by Jo Bailey
Ten Years On... by Jo Bailey
Over the Channel and Back (fanclub trip review) by Jo Bailey
Post Violation (tour recollections) by Daryl Bamonte
1990 - A Mode Year in Retrospect by Dennis Lim
Pictures:
cover
page 1 page 2
page 3 page 4
page 5 page 6
live
and backstage pictures
Bong
13 (April 1991)
Articles:
Bong Convention '91 by Jo Bailey
Pictures:
cover
page 1 page 2 Convention
lookalikes
page 3 live in Lyon
page 4 Dave at home (a rare shot of his hair
half-grown!)
page 5 Sacree Soir November 1989
Bong 14 (July 1991)
Articles:
The Meaning of Mute by Johnny
Black
Dave Gahan K-ROQ Radio Interview 9th May 1991 by Richard Blade
Learning to Speak and Spell (band biography) by Katherine Davis and Danny
Zerbib
Mending a Broken Frame (band biography) by Mike Ross
Pictures:
cover
Bong 15 (December 1991)
Articles:
Depeche Mode Fan Club Convention 1991 by Ryan L. Watkins and Dan Ouellette
(USA)
All of These Insurmountable Tasks (band biography) by Mike Ross
Story of Old (band biography) by Danny Zerbib
Personal Files
Pictures:
cover
page 1 page 2 from the Personal
Files
Bong 16 (April 1992)
Articles:
Ask Alan
Brum In Our Eyes (fan club party) by "Larmarman, Julie and Gavoid"
A Brief Period of Rejoicing (band biography) by Danny Zerbib
Pictures:
cover
page 1 the band in the studio
page 2 the Birmingham party
Bong 17 (July 1992)
Articles:
Ask Andy
K-ROQ 17/04/92 interview with Alan Wilder by Richard Blade
Everyone Counts in Large Amounts / Depeche Mode Friends Czechoslovakia
(fan club news) by Michaela Olexova
Pictures:
cover
page 1 the band in the studio
page 2 Alan in the studio; Dave's wedding
page 3 page 4 Dave
page 5 Martin
page 6 Andy
page 7 page 8 Dave and Martin
live
Bong 18 (April 1993)
Articles:
Ask Martin
Camden Palace Convention 1992 by Adam Lydiate / Lynn Newcombe
Pictures:
cover
Bong 19 (January 1994)
Articles:
Ask Dave
Dave's Birthday in Russia by Sergey Krawets
Faith and Devotion of Depeche Mode Friends by Michaela Olexova
Pictures:
cover
page 1 promotional shot
Bong 20 (April 1994)
Articles:
Get Flight With Me (concert review) by Paul A. Inwood
Spreading the News Around the World (band biography) by Brian Do
Pictures:
cover
page 1 Martin live
page 2 Dave live
page 3 the band in 1987
page 4 Dave live
Bong 21 (July 1994)
Articles:
Waiting for Two Nights to Fall by Michaela Olexova
Reach Out Touch Faith (band biography) by Brian Do
Hung(a)ry for Depeche Mode (fan club news) by Andras Sereg
Bong Convention Review 05/06/94 by Tracy McLoughlin
Pictures:
cover
page 1 page 2 Martin and Dave live from
"Waiting for Two Nights to Fall"
Bong 22 (September 1994)
Articles:
Near Miss (the crashing Tornado
incident) by Alan Wilder
Andy Franks - A History
Ask Anton
Depeche Mode For "Devotees" (band biography) by Brian Do
Devotional Diary I (tour recollections) by Daryl Bamonte
Depeche Mode Fest '94 (U.S. convention report) by John E. Roberts
Pictures:
cover
page 1 Dave live
Bong 23 (December 1994)
Articles:
Ask Daryl
Devotional Diary II (tour recollections) by Daryl Bamonte
Guten Abend Deutschland! (fan convention
report) by Michaela Olexova
Rushing For Depeche Mode (band biography)
by Brian Do
In Our Eyes (international fan club news) by various contributors
Pictures:
cover
page 1 Dave live
page 2 some of the band and crew off duty in Durban
page 3 promotional shot by Anton Corbijn
page 4 Dave live
Bong 24 (March 1995)
Articles:
Devotional Diary III (tour recollections) by Daryl Bamonte
Ask Daniel
In Our Eyes (international fan club news) by various contributors
Archives (information on early songs) by
Daryl Bamonte
I Met That Bloke From Depeche Mode Once by
Paul Lewis
Pictures:
cover
page 1 Alan in South Africa
page 2 Martin in South Africa
page 3 Fletch in Hawaii
page 4 page 5
page 6 page 7
The "Any Second Now" article,
featuring lots of very early Mode memorabilia
Bong 25 (June 1995)
Articles:
Personal Files
Kessler's Korner (behind the scenes article) by Jonathan Kessler
Devotional Diary IV (tour recollections) by Daryl Bamonte
Bong on the Road (Hungarian fan convention) by Michaela Olexova
I Met That Bloke From Depeche Mode Once by
"Karina"
Pictures:
cover
page 1 page 2
page 3
Dave, Andy and Martin respectively from the Personal Files
Bong 26 (October 1995)
Articles:
Kessler's Korner (behind the
scenes article) by Jonathan Kessler
Marek Lieberberg Celebrates 25 Years In
The Music Business by Daryl Bamonte
I Met That Bloke From Depeche Mode Once
by various contributors
Convention Diary by Michaela
Olexova
In Our Eyes (international fan club
news) by Jurga Raskauskaite and Tony Lewis
Pictures:
cover
page 1 Martin
off-duty
page 2 Martin
and Dave off-duty
page 3 page
4 page 5
Dave live
page 6 promotional
shot of Dave
Bong 27 (February 1996)
Articles:
The Depeche Mode Christmas Lunch by J. D. Fanger
I Met That Bloke From Depeche Mode Once by
Karsten Schreiber / Monica Lepping
Martin Gore Interview (from Rolling Stone magazine, 1993) by Marvin Scott
Jarrett
Prague In My Eyes (Czech fan club convention) by Andras Sereg
Speak and Spell (album review) by various contributors
A Broken Frame (album review) by various contributors
Pictures:
cover
page 1 page 2
the
Depeche Mode Christmas lunch
page 3 Martin backstage in Indianapolis and Dave
at the Enjoy The Silence video shoot
page 4 the 1996 calendar
page 5 page 6 promotional shots
of Dave and Martin
Bong 28 (May 1996)
Articles:
Learning To Speak And Spell
(band biography) by Katherine Davis and Danny Zerbib
Mending a Broken Frame (band biography) by Mike Ross
Getting The Balance Right (band biography) by Mike Ross
Story of Old (band biography) by Danny Zerbib
A Brief Period of Rejoicing (band biography) by Danny Zerbib
Spreading the News Around the World (band biography) by Brian Do
Reach Out Touch Faith (band biography) by Brian Do
In Depeche Mode's Room (band
biography) by Brian Do
Songs For The Faithful And Devoted
(band biography) by Brian Do
Pictures:
cover
page 1 promotional
band photo from 1987
page 2 promotional band photo from 1989
page 3 promotional band photo from 1990
page 4 Dave in the studio, 1992
page 5 Songs Of Faith And Devotion Promotional photo
Bong 29 (August 1996)
Articles:
Introduction (announcement regarding Dave's overdose)
In Our Eyes (international fan club news) by Angie Trafford
Construction Time Again (album review) by various contributors
Some Great Reward (album review) by various contributors
I Met That Bloke From Depeche Mode Once by Rona Kostner and Stefan
Altewolf
Pictures:
cover
page 1 Dave live on the SOFAD tour
page 2 page
3 page 4
page 5 the
band in the studio
page 6 page
7 promotional shot of Martin
page 8
Fletch's birthday party 1993
page 9
promotional shot of Dave
page 10 page
11 Fletch on the phone
page 12
promotional shot of Dave
Bong 30 (December 1996)
Articles:
In Search Of Depeche Mode (mammoth band interview, here split
into three parts for convenience: Martin
/ Dave / Andy )
Singles 81-85 (album review) by various contributors
Black Celebration (album review) by various contributors
From "Pressed In Black" (fan letter) by "Raf Boy"
Pictures:
cover
page 1 the band's Christmas greetings
page 2 the band in the studio
page 3 Fletch's birthday party
page 4 page 5
page
6 page 7
page 8 page
9 page 10
the band and production team in the studio
page 11
the band and production team in a lighter moment
Bong 31 (March 1997)
Articles:
Catching Up With Depeche Mode
(band itinerary) by Michaela Olexova
Music For The Masses (album review) by various contributors
101 (album review) by various contributors
South African Devotion by Mario Moodley
I Met That Bloke From Depeche Mode Once by
three anonymous fans
Pictures:
cover
page 1 page 2
page 3 the band in the studio
Bong 32 (June 1997)
Articles:
One Night At The Hotel Ultra by Anita Cox
Ultra Party by Michaela Olexova
Ultra (album review) by Lajos Borbely
Bong Convention Camden Palace London 27.4.97 by Heather Gille
Violator (album review) by various contributors
S.O.F.A.D. (album review) by various contributors
I Met That Bloke from Depeche Mode Once by
Charlotte R. Redout
Pictures:
cover
page 1 Martin live
page 2 Dave live
page 3 shots from the filming of the It's No Good
video
page 4 from the Ultra launch party in London
Bong 33 (September 1997)
Articles:
Germany Modes On by Monica Lepping
S.O.F.A.D.-Live (album review) by various contributors
Depeche Mode Summer Camp 97 by Dana Styblo
I Met That Bloke From Depeche Mode Once by
various contributors
Pictures:
cover
page 1 Dave and Martin with fans in 1987
Bong 34 (December 1997)
Articles:
Some Great Videos (videocassette review) by
various contributors
The World We Live In And Live In Hamburg (videocassette review) by various contributors
I Met That Bloke From Depeche Mode Once
by Lena Hamburg
Bong Convention Prague 1997 by
"Kirsty + Katherine"
Pictures:
cover
page 1 a
drawing of Martin by Rolando Oscar
Bong 35 (March 1998)
Articles:
Strange (videocassette review) by
various contributors
101 (videocassette review) by various contributors
I Met That Bloke From Depeche Mode Once by
Dennis Kollner / Niclas Carlenius
Pictures:
cover
page 1 promotional
shot by Marina Chavez
page 2 a drawing
of Dave by "David"
page 3 Martin live
Bong 36 (June 1998)
Articles:
Strange Too - Another Violation
(videocassette review) by various contributors
Devotional (videocassette review) by
various contributors
Twenty-Four Hours In Cologne (band press
conference itinerary)
20th April 1998 Depeche Mode Press Conference
Musings For The Masses Convention by "Red"
For The Masses by Philip Blaine
Pictures:
cover
page 1 promotional
shot by Marina Chavez
page 2 the band at
the 20th April press conference
page 3 a drawing of
the band
page 4 Martin in the
studio
Bong 37 (September 1998)
Articles:
The Singles 86-98 by Martin Gore
compiled by Michaela Olexova
In Devotional Memory (concert review) by
Andy Fallan
For The Masses by various contributors
Pictures:
cover
page 1 Martin and
Fletch as hippies
page 2 page
3 the band and coworkers in the studio
page 4 a drawing of
Martin by Alexander Huerzeler
Bong 38 (December 1998)
Articles:
Screening Mr Corbijn by Michaela Olexova
The Singles 86-98 (comments on the singles) by various contributors
I Met That Bloke From Depeche Mode Once by Tobias Schulze / Gea de Roo
The International Bong Convention 1998 by Michaela Olexova
Russia a la Mode (review of performances in Estonia and Latvia) by Ilja
Judeikin
LA Convention (review) by Holly Poon
Pictures:
cover
page 1 sketch of the Singles Tour stage design
page 2 the 1999 calendar
Bong 39 (March 1999)
Articles:
Russia A La Mode II (tour
recollections) by Andrew Winter / Lee North
Shows In Their Eyes by various contributors
Dreaming Of Depeche Mode (meet and greet
stories) by various contributors
I Met That Bloke From Depeche Mode Once by
various contributors
Pictures:
cover
page 1 Dave live
Bong 40 (June 1999)
Articles:
Singles Diary by Jez Webb
Shows In Their Eyes by various contributors
Hanging Out With Depeche Mode by Kate
Nikolaeva
I Met That Bloke From Depeche Mode Once by
various contributors
Pictures:
cover
page 1 Dave backstage
page 2 Andy and
Martin as Sergeant Pepper, with Anton Corbijn
page 3 Anton photoing
Andy and Martin
page 4 Dave and Jez
Webb, a technician
page 5 Martin live
page 6 Martin
playing guitar at a hotel
Bong 41 (September 1999)
Articles:
The Private Singles Tour (tour diary) by Harvey Edgcombe
Shows In Their Eyes by various contributors
I Met That Bloke From Depeche Mode Once by
various contributors
Pictures:
cover
Bong 42 (December 1999)
Articles:
Martin Gore Personal File
I Met That Bloke From Depeche Mode Once by Marilyn Owen / "Berangere"
Shows In Their Eyes by Marilyn Owen
Pictures:
cover
page 1 promotional shot of Martin from the Personal
File
Bong 43 (March 2000)
Articles:
Andy Fletcher Personal File
Spreading the News Around the World (band history overview)
I Met That Bloke From Depeche Mode Once by
various contributors
Shows In Their Eyes by Lloyd Soldatt
Pictures:
cover
page 1 promotional shot of Andy from the Personal
File
Bong 44 (June 2000)
Articles:
Fletch in Prague by Michaela Olexova
Diary of the Bong Convention by Michaela Olexova
Dave Gahan Personal File
I Met That Bloke From Depeche Mode Once
by Vincent Legros
Pictures:
cover
page 1 page 2 from "Fletch
in Prague"
page 3 Convention prize winners
page 4 promotional shot of Dave from the Personal
File
Bong 45 (September 2000)
Articles:
Bong in Basildon (convention) by "Red and Billy Bob"
Depeche Online Mode by Daniel
Barassi
I Met That Bloke From Depeche Mode Once
by Andrea Skoufis / Hannah Nagamine
Pictures:
cover
page 1 informal shot of Andy
Bong 46 (December 2000)
Articles:
What's Up Fletch? (interview on the recording of Exciter) by Michaela
Olexova
I Met That Bloke From Depeche Mode Once
by Mariska Heijnen / Frank R. Holm
Pictures:
cover
page 1 page 2 mini 2001 calendar
page 3 page 4 the band in the
studio
Bong 47 (March 2001)
Articles:
Behind the Scenes with Anton Corbijn by Michaela Olexova
The Return of Depeche Mode (quotes from the band)
I Met That Bloke From Depeche Mode Once
by Shawn Decker
Pictures:
cover
page 1 promotional shot
page 2 page 3 from "Behind
the Scenes with Anton Corbijn"
page 4 from "The Return of Depeche
Mode"
page 5 the band in the studio
Bong 48 (June 2001)
Articles:
The Story of Depeche Mode (part 1) by Tony Wood
Stars In Their Eyes by Jez Bailey
Pictures:
cover
page 1 the band in the studio
Bong 49 (September 2001)
Articles:
Let Me Show You The World In My Eyes
(personal account) by Trevor Swart
The Story of Depeche Mode (part 2) by Tony Wood
On Road With Depeche Mode (various contributors)
Pictures:
cover
page 1 Anton
photographing the band
page 2 Fletch and
Mark Bell in the studio
page 3 Martin live
Bong 50 (December 2001)
Articles:
Ask Depeche Mode
On Road With Depeche Mode (various
contributors)
The Story of Depeche Mode (part 3) by Tony Wood
The Best of Bong
When Budapest Meets Depeche Mode by Michaela Olexova
Pictures:
cover
page 1 Dave live
page 2 backstage in Prague
page 3 Dave and Jon Kessler off duty in Prague
page 4 the 2002 calendar
page 5 shots of Martin live
page 6 Dave live
Bong 51 (March 2002)
Articles:
Introduction (announcement on the end
of Bong) by Lynn Newcombe / Michaela Olexova
How I Won The Best Fan Award by Claudia
Borgwardt / Uncredited
Nearly (Not) Exciting Tour by Karen Houston
I Met That Bloke From Depeche Mode Once
by Eileen Becker / Anke Lieven
Pictures:
cover
page 1 Dave live
page 2 Dave and Fletch (promo picture)
page 3 page 4
live shots
Bong 52 (June 2002)
Articles:
Bong 52 (an overview of the band's career) by Lynn Newcombe and
Michaela Olexova
Pictures:
cover
page 1 Depeche Mode
In The Studio
page 2 Depeche Mode
Behind The Scenes
page 3 Depeche Mode
In Private
page 4 Depeche Mode
In Videos
page 5 Depeche Mode
Backstage
page 6 Depeche Mode
On The Road
page 7 Bong
Conventions In Our Eyes
page 8 A montage of
covers of all 52 issues of Bong magazine