Exclusive interview with Alan Wilder! And you get to ask the questions!
One of the things we like to do here at HOME is to talk to people involved with Mode past and present, and offer their unique perspectives on things. Well we have another one lined up, and it’s a good one! Home are delighted to announce that Alan Wilder has agreed to do an exclusive Q&A for us!
But rather than just having us HOME peeps do the Q’s and Alan doing the A’s – it will be YOU guys doing the Q’s! Alan will, of course, still do tha A’s!
Submit your questions to us via the forum (you need to be registered and logged in), and we will forward the best of the bunch to Alan. You have until February 10th to get your questions in! And make them good! Try and avoid stuff that was already covered on the Shunt site Q&As. Make them new, cutting edge and fresh.
If all goes according to plan, your interview with Alan Wilder will be on the site on February 25th – the same day the new Recoil CD single is due to ship.
32 Comments
01 February 08 at 3:28am
1
Would you consider producing a Depeche Mode album if you where approached by the band?
01 February 08 at 6:44am
2
Alan your new stuff is great. And the new DM stuff has been great too but what if you guys reconciled? As good as the new DM stuff is I say they are missing something and it's you! I could only imagine how good the next DM album would be with you collaborating on it. Think how fresh it would be after your break from them.
01 February 08 at 6:48am
3
Great to have you back, thank you! While we all love your work on subHuman; will you try some more high profile collaborations or even production in the near future?
01 February 08 at 9:26am
4
Exclusive interview with Alan Wilder to chilean Fans tonight 1th feb. Stay Tuned http://www.depechemode.cl
01 February 08 at 10:11am
5
Hi Alan, really enjoyed your latest album. I was wondering, with regards to your experimental collaborations, have you ever considered working with any more cross-genre artists to create something a bit more outlandish? Say for example, Iggy Pop for instance or Nick Cave? Regards, Jon
01 February 08 at 1:57pm
6
Brilliant. Home is THE Depeche Mode Website. Submitted my question in the forum.
01 February 08 at 2:33pm
7
Hi, Alan! I congratulate you on new release :) My question: Will be - whether Recoil sometime to sound, how in Bloodline, or you will always do something absolutely new, not doing origin of your old created ? Best wishes.
01 February 08 at 5:03pm
8
Hi Alan, acording to your experimental colaborations, have you ever considered make music for films? Regards, Javier
01 February 08 at 7:24pm
9
Hi Alan! I suppose you listened to the last three DM albums. Did you ever think about how they would have sounded differently if you would have been involved in their makings?. Is there any particular song on them you would have liked to put your hands on? Best wishes.
01 February 08 at 10:12pm
10
You've mentioned in the past that Michael Nyman's film scores for Peter Greenaway - especially his lyrically minimalist score for "A Zed & Two Noughts" - influenced your production approaches about 20 or so years ago, especially in the recording of DM's "Little 15." My question is: Now that Recoil is such an established entity in its own regard and your music still holds an extremely cinematic although very different type of feel to it than that earlier DM material, have you ever considered working on film scores yourself, and in particular have you ever considered the possibility of approaching Greenaway himself with an offer to score one of his many film projects currently under development?
01 February 08 at 10:36pm
11
(PS: Aside from the "Secrets of the Dead" TV score micro-piece culled from the "Unsound Methods" sessions...) (PPS: Thanks for your genius)
01 February 08 at 11:09pm
12
My question is: If Depeche Mode/MUTE planned to release an "anniversary" album and had written 9 _new_ tracks and called it "Violator 2", recorded with the same 1990 instruments and synths that Violator was made with, in that case would you consider not rejoining the band but accepting to be a guest musician and producer, would you be interested in the project, of course, if you liked the songs enough!
01 February 08 at 11:27pm
13
To 11, Secrets Of The Dead theme is actually built with bits and pieces from Breath Control on Liquid ;)
02 February 08 at 1:52am
14
I was just wondering if you ever had a reuniting (personal or by phone) with the other guys since you left Depeche Mode? Have they ever asked your opinion on things they were working on or worked on, while not being a member of the group? Sorry for asking 2 questions.
02 February 08 at 9:54am
15
As you know, on DM's latest record Dave Gahan started writing songs for the band. Apparently this has created a new situation for DM, in the sense that Martin Gore is now showing a more welcoming and accepting approach to letting others in the band join in with ideas. My question to you is: Does this tempt you to rejoin DM? PS. Isn't it in a way nice for you to so often be asked whether or not you are considering rejoining DM? I mean, it shows that a lot of fans recognise and miss the destinct influence you had on the band's sound.
02 February 08 at 6:47pm
16
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? Also, with the benefit of hindsight, are there any songs or albums you now like more (or less) than when they were originally recorded?
02 February 08 at 6:51pm
17
My second bite at the cherry!!Listening to the Recoil albums and specifically sub-human, I can't help both notice sounds previously used on DM albums Songs of Faith especially. Do you not feel that doing this makes it seem like you are repeating yourself? Sorry if that sounds critical but I hope you understand why I am asking the question.Also, I won't ask would you consider re-joining the band. It would be like re-marrying your ex-wife!
02 February 08 at 7:30pm
18
Hi Al, it's been really good to read your articles on what equipment and software you use. Regarding the last 3 DM albums do you think you would have used similar sounding synths i.e. how much has the choice of producer really influenced the overall sound of the album? I'd add my support to you coming back as a producer on a future DM album i.e. in the same capacity as Simenon/Bell/Hillier and of course be paid highly for your input!
02 February 08 at 7:37pm
19
Are you still interested in producing a Massive Attack record? If so, is that something that you would pursue in the near future?
03 February 08 at 12:41pm
20
Hi Alan, plesaed to talk to you, we know you like working on your albums with the "Logic" software and Mac computers, my question is: do you miss any tool in that software that you miss or you think it´s perfect to develop all your musical ideas? do you miss a massive live performance as before your departure from Depeche Mode or you loathed this kind of experiences after the exhausting "Devotional tour 1993-94"? Thanks in advance!
03 February 08 at 6:17pm
21
Hi Alan! I'm very glad to hear that you are OK!I have 2 questions: 1.DM came in Bulgaria 2006 and here was unbelievable concert!Will you come here with Recoil? 2. What do you think about Dave as a song writer and his solo albums? All the best to you
03 February 08 at 7:52pm
22
Your last two albums seem to connect itself with current events in a eerie way. Liquid preceding 9/11 and SubHuman being a compelling soundtrack to the struggles around Hurricane Katrina. Do current events inform the direction your music takes? I seem to remember you writing a couple of issue related songs in "Construction Time Again"
04 February 08 at 3:07am
23
Hi Alan, What is your favorite book?
04 February 08 at 7:21am
24
Of all your Recoil albums so far which is your favorite? Which album would you recommend someone new to your music to start with?
04 February 08 at 8:10am
25
If you could rework one DM song, what would it be and how would you do it? Have you ever thought about taking a collection of tracks from them and remaking them? Call it "Translator" or something.
05 February 08 at 9:45am
26
when will you start a new recoil project? Will it be like SubHuman or diferent this time? What about your motivations when you start a record? do you have any idea how it'll be at the end of the record or not? For best N.
06 February 08 at 5:45am
27
What kind of new artists such as bands, producers, writers or anything you've been following in the last 5 years? and if you have to name a band that you'd love to be with, who'd be? Cheers mate, Rød. Jeg esker øl, skål !!!
06 February 08 at 5:47pm
28
Hello, Alan. It's a pleasure to be able to speak with you. As you are obviously aware, you are sorely missed as a member of DM. Had things worked out in a different way, what direction would you have most likely taken on the album that would have followed Songs Of Faith And Devotion? Also, the version of "I Want You Now" played on the Summer 1994 tour is amazing, but makes me wonder, what other stuff do you have hidden in that vault of yours? All the best, -James
07 February 08 at 9:51pm
29
Hi, Mr. Wilder! What make you afraid most of all? Do you have any pets at home? What of new groups can you suggest to listen? Do you keep friendly relations with Douglas McCarthy? Thank you! Impatiently waiting for the new album!!! :-)
08 February 08 at 3:33pm
30
Hi Alan, I have to join the other voices in saying your contribution to DM is sorely missed, a credit to your talent and influence. My question is: You left DM in 1995 and probably in good keep. Besides the recent "Subhuman", what have you done with your time? Do you get restless? Thanks in advance, Chris
10 February 08 at 7:46am
31
Alan, Could you ask Hep to kick your butt from the sofa more frequently? we might have more of your creativity often...
10 February 08 at 8:05pm
32
Why did flood and miller mix the album version of enjoy the silence? was francois version not good enough for them? also the video mix of the song is my favourite, why was the intro not used on the album?