Book Review: 33 1/3: Depeche Mode’s 101

Release Date: May 30th, 2024

“Good evening, Pasadena!” These three words don’t hold much significance for most, but for Depeche Mode fans, it’s the start of their legendary status. The band’s 1988 concert at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California was the band’s biggest of their career at the time, playing to a sold-out crowd of over 60,000 people. The concert, the 101st of their “Music for the Masses” tour, would cement itself as one of the most iconic in rock history. Though the band have played bigger crowds since then, the Pasadena show remains their most revered and beloved among fans. Writer Mary Vale attempts to break down the show’s history and significance in her new 33 1/3 book Depeche Mode’s 101.

Though the book is supposed to be about Depeche Mode’s iconic concert, it’s not discussed at length. Instead, it’s a hodge podge of the band’s history, the history of Southern California’s KROQ radio station, and the writer’s musical journey throughout the 1980s. Vale attempts to weave together these narratives to discuss the concert’s impact and how it helped make Depeche Mode the biggest synth band in the world. Unfortunately, the whole thing is disjointed. It’s like you’re reading four different books at once.

If you’re searching for a book that offers an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at the concert, you won’t find it here. Vale sprinkles in tidbits about the concert, like the oft-forgotten opening acts Wire, Thomas Dolby, and Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, and even talks about her own experience attending the show. Yet, it leaves you wanting more. Anything that is brought up about the show is well-known among Devotees. Though the book lacks focus, there are moments where Vale’s observations are right on point.

She argues how the concert marks a huge turning point for the band. These Basildon lads went from having a cult following to selling out stadiums thanks in large part to the Rose Bowl show. As she points out, KROQ also played a big role in the band’s story. They not only hosted the concert, but they also put Depeche Mode in heavy rotation helping to break them in the US. Elsewhere, she provides KROQ’s history and how the station’s core value of going off the beaten path and letting DJs play the music they liked helped it become one of the most influential rock radio stations. Oddly enough, this is the strongest part of the book. The history of KROQ is well-researched and compelling, making it a fascinating read. Unfortunately, it takes up a significant portion of the book taking you away from the Depeche Mode story.

Vale even adds her anecdotes about her love of the band, which is sure to resonate with like-minded fans. She reminisces about hearing Depeche Mode for the first time, lists which songs drew her in, enthuses how the band gave her permission to feel bad and compares her experience at the Pasadena show to the band’s recent “Memento Mori” tour. While each of these narratives is interesting on its own, it doesn’t work when they come together. If more time was spent fleshing the story out, it could be a unique retrospective about the show, but since the book is so short it’s unfocused, making for a messy read.

Depeche Mode’s 101 is well-meaning and at times fascinating yet misses the mark. It’s hard to pin down what exactly the book is going for. Is it the history of Depeche Mode? Is it about the rise and fall of KROQ? Is it about a fan rediscovering what they loved about the band? Yes, and it doesn’t work. There is a good book to be found here, it’s just a shame it’s presented in a disjointed fashion. Despite its shortcomings, the book is a fun look back at a career-defining moment for Depeche Mode that will resonate with fans both old and new.

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