Depeche Mode - Speak & Spell artwork discussion with Brian Griffin
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- Опубліковано 6 вер 2024
- An in-depth interview with legendary photographer Brian Griffin about his time with Depeche Mode and the album cover and artwork of "Speak & Spell" , released in 1981.
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Brian Griffin website: www.briangriffin.co.uk
Brian Griffin. This is so amazing. I can't wait for A broken frame artwork. My favorite Depeche Mode cover.
Awesome video! But hey, if Alan is also a guy with time for people, how cool would it be to get him on the channel?
I'd love to some day!! V:-)
I Got the Speak & Spell album cover framed on my living room wall!! Its epic music history!! Great Cover indeed! and Great Show again Vaughn!! Thanks!!
Stockholm Nightlife thanks as always my friend !! V👍😎
I think Brian's images are great and have stood the test of time, but for me Anton's work went deeper and complimented the music and the band much better. Anton really helped give DM the consistent visual element that was always missing in their early career. Thanks for the video - really interesting.
I'm old-49 but this supports the evidence of an album covers importance. When I was a teenager in the 80's the cover actually enhanced my listening experience. Buying an album and listening to it while staring at the cover/back cover and reading the lyrics and credits printed on the inner sleeve was so organic and required your complete attention.
Michael Wilson absolutely agree!! The artwork was very much part of the package . Some of my fondest memories are spending an entire day in a record shop. V😊
Vaughn George Thanks to the resurgence of vinyl, I'm spending a day in my local record shop. Although the prices are much higher than in the old days. The price you pay for 180 Grams. If you can find one, I suggest the recent reissue of Klaus Nomi's first album. 1000 copies and "Cabaret Smoke" colored vinyl but the cover itself is fantastic. Iconic and worthy of framing. What a striking image!
Michael Wilson will check it out!! I’ve noticed that a lot of re-issues don’t sound have as good as the originals. I do notice a lot of sibilance issues especially on “s” sounds . Have you noticed this too? VG👍😎
Vaughn George No I haven't noticed that. In fact the 180 gram does give me a great sound. Regular 120 gram pressings do sometimes sound mono-like even though their stereo. Perhaps your turntable is a much higher quality than mine and can pick out limitations in today's vinyl pressings. I will say picture disc sound absolutely terrible though. There for show only. I love Killing Joke but I have Fire Dances on a picture disc and everything sounds low. Even Geordie Walker's guitar. To make it worse, it's an import and I paid $35.00 for it.
I had a chance of meeting several artists (way not that well known but quite talented). And It’s always so fascinating when you meet them irl after seeing their work and you actually see that behind that genius of their’s there’s always a real human being. And in case of Mr Griffin - also a very nice one!
Thanks for the interview! Waiting for the next ones!
Mary Fedotova thanks as always Masha!! V👍😎
Very interesting video indeed, I adore these "old" Mr. Griffin's covers, so original, unique and timeless🦢. The CTA cover still fascinates me like the first time I saw it. Looking forward to watching the next episodes. Have a nice trip to Estonia Vaughn!
The songs from Speak & Spell period, are all true electronic classics. Although the studio versions sound inferior, compared to their live interpretations. And you will appreciate them more, if English is not your native language. Vince Clarke writes amazing music. But the lyrics are certainly not his stronger point.
Happy birthday Vaughn 😁
Thank you Beata !! V:-)
I would love to hear even a brief chat about Brian’s work with Echo and the Bunnymen, Minny Pops, or Teardrop Explodes. Love this vid cannot wait for ABF!!!
Fascinating Vaughn.history in the making.my favourite DM song is Puppet,s to this day.
Greetings from Łódź!
Brian's DM cover photos are spectacular and so different from anything else out there - very unique and striking. I have always loved the first 4 album covers more than the others because of that. I remember the big thing during the 80s at the height of the cold war, was the fact that Construction Time Again had a hammer, and A Broken Frame had a sickle - hilarious!
Ian Wilson good memories Ian !! V👍😎
Yes i agree....but in my opinion, Echo & the Bunnymen's album covers from the 80s & 90s are just as fabulous and even more
New life ......what a tune .....what got me in2 depeche
.....and photographic.....
Amazing to finally find out about the entire process of the making this cover!
Interpreting the cover (hoping I'm not disappointing Brian Griffin's vision): the swan can represent the band's innocence or youth at the time, the plastic bag the dismissive attitude directed towards the band's musical potential. Since this was the first album, the red lighting can suggest a sunrise.
Also, the simple title Speak and Spell can imply the youthful, honest beginnings of the band.
I know Vaughn that you are pushing forward with the DM series - I am very, very glad - but please do not forget about OMD, Talk Talk, Tears For Fears, Recoil, Alphaville, perhaps NIN...(there are too many to list!)
I will be patient.
Looking forward to the next video, whichever subject!
Speak and Spell defines a very special time in my life as a young teenager. I loved the album since first I heard it- and still hear it with a smile:) Mr. Griffin’s work for this cover and others have intrigued me. I’m glad I found this video. Thank you! As a Visual Artist, I joined a collaborative exhibition a few years ago where we had to reimagine favorite Album’s artwork covers. Of course, I chose this one! All the best to you both. 🙏🏼
Great video! Mr. Griffin, you are a legend among DM fans. I do hope you work with them again.
Please also ask more about the graphic designers input and relationship, typography and layout. Would have like to know more about Barney Bubbles on this one.
R.I.P. Brian 😢
Thanks so much for this, I was a photography student in the 90s and taught on film. Really like Brian and Anton's work with the band.
Greetings from Łódź Brian !
When I met Brian at MMX he told me that the album cover was a deliberate pisstake, cos he thought they were awful at that point. I have to say I can't blame him
Wow !! Great stuff - would love a ‘construction Time Again print’ !!!
Hello form Poland :-) Big fan of you :-)
Brian Griffin. Love this series. Purchased his signed book. Speak and Spell album cover. Is this a love in disguise. Or just a form of modern art?
Thanks for this fantastic video!!! Very very interesting!!!!
Athanasios Vivikidis you are welcome !! V👍😎
I'd pay extra for an ABF print with a frame broken by Brian!
Hi Vaughan and Brian.
The Echo and the Bunnymen , Heaven Up Here is my favourite cover of all time. Could I please ask Brian What the inspiration/brief was for that photo?
I know it’s off DM topic (chicken squark)
But I am a huge Brian Griffin fan from the Bunnymen album covers. I didn’t even realise he had done the DM covers until now.
Great video guys. Very interesting watch. Keep up the good work. Thanks
Congratulations for the video.
This reminds me how much I loved all the DM documentaries, very professionally done with the rostrum close ups of the album artwork. I bought all their albums again, just to pickup the companion Making Of DVD’s.
Loved that cover. A pleasure as always!
and Poland loves Brian !!!
I live in New Cross and missed the PV of the show,.. so it would be great to have a second chance to meet you both !
I enjoy ....the talk
What a treat, Vaughn. Amazing video. I think the album cover for Speak and Spell is a masterpiece. Far above the music quality I think. The concept is unfathomable, but somehow it works. And it does marvelously today as back then. Brian is a genius.
Love this episode 😊
What another great video. You often state that you want the viewer to feel like they are sitting there with you or like, in this case, you and Brian and you deliver that every time.
I have always been very curious about Speak & Spell's album cover probably more than any other Depeche Mode album cover and it's great finally meeting the creator and hearing from him about the history.
I look forward to hearing from Brian in the future. Also, I'm looking forward to seeing more of your brilliant videos Vaughn!
Happy early Birthday!
James much gratitude to you as always !! V👍😎
@@VaughnGeorge Wishing you the happiest of Birthday's! Here's to wonderful things in the year, and years to come! - James
James Cheers my friend and I hope we can have beer some day !! 👍😎
This was very interesting and I enjoyed this very much.
Rico Bonifacio thank you Sir
You're very welcome sir!
iam so impressed, fantastic.love it.
I love hearing Brian talk about his work. Next time invite Daniel Miller, too, and bring a bunch of beer! Well done.
I live in Łódź :)
This cover was the best of them all. Gareth being a blurry memory working with DM at that time, is quite understandable ;)
Dude love your channel, it just keeps getting better and better, and I just can't get enough.
Awsome that he would come, this was deffinitly an unexpected highlight! I must say that i was amazed when i saw this was actualy real.
thanks Vaughn.
Great! The early Albums with Mr. Alan Wilder are the best in my opinion..
Awesome video, always fun hanging out with you Vaughn, and Brian was pretty interesting to listen to as well. For a moment i considered the slim possibility of getting Alan to sit with you for 5 minutes, what a moment that would be, but i think he might be annoyed with all the DM questions. Cheers Vaughn, enjoy your trip to Estonia.
Squire Muldoon Alan is my favorite Depeche Mode member of all time. I think a sit down with him talking Depeche Mode would be fascinating. Me never being famous myself, I would understand his annoyance on one hand but yet on the other hand I would think he'd want to embrace talking about it because at the end of the day, Depeche Mode's sound was given the gift of Alan Wilder but Alan Wilder was also blessed given the opportunity to join Depeche Mode. I would think he'd be thankful and welcome a discussion in retrospect. But I understand everyone's different.
Great video! I Would LOVE to see Brian's work on a new DM album. I was going through his portfolio and was pleasantly surprised to see that he also worked with Bill Nelson and John Foxx.
And while I appreciate Corbijn's work, well let's be honest, it's been the same old same old for the past several years.
finally got to start watching this serie. great work. question for brian actually, has he ever considered doing a book with only the DM pictures including outtakes and alternate versions
Wonderful to see this! Thanks! I just really want to know from Brian the message he was trying to convey with the S&S cover? Wish you’d asked that one Vaughn!
A visionary, the idea,the concept, S&S cover describes the problem with the plastic,this photo is art,with an ecologist sense, we need more signs like this,no more shit (face app,facebook or Instagram selfie photos)thanks man for introduce this máster again thank you
My mom has her birthday on the 29th of July, too.
I was Always wondering what made Brian or the Band to associate with the cover artwork of the finished S&S albumcover versus the albumtitle such as "Speak and Spell", which was back in 1980/81 an early Computer toy from TI?
Rene Kirchner I think it may have just been coincidence 👍😎V
This was so fascinating!to hear the history...omg if you could get Daniel Miller and Gareth 👀🙏🏻I don't know why but that image reminds me of Lecters quote...typhoid and swans it all comes from the same place...he also had Leda and the swan in his dining room🤔maybe he's a Thomas Harris fan😀 and ...yeah somehow you had to weave in AW into the conversation...smooth🤣👍🏻
I am a swiss fan of Brian's work. Years ago I bought from him a "Construction Time Again" print and also his "POP" book.
Since next video will be about the CTA cover, I would like to ask him: How was the Matterhorn area chosen as scene for the CTA shooting session? I know that Daniel Miller in his youth has been working for some time as a DJ in Zermatt (the village nearby); did this play any role? Thank you...and great video by the way, I just loved it!
About Construction Time Again .. I have a version of that album titled Shame with a different track order and different artwork, though all the songs are the same. What's that all about then?
Interesting but I have never seen this edition and I would be keen to see it V:-)
ok the track order is:-ShamePipelineMore than a PartyLove, in itselfThe landscape is changingEverything countsEverything countsTold you soAnd then …Two minute warningfor the cover just google Depeche mode shame album and check images … probably trying to break into a diff'rent marketplace at the time I guess
Brilliant
I would be happy to bring some beer to mmx big thumbs up
Iconic cover for me,fully amazing!Brian:did you listen the albums to get inspiration for the covers?Anton doing it if iam right,so i wandering if that was the case with you as well.wish all the best!
Very nice review with Brian. When he planned DM's album covers did he take inspiration from the music, the look of the band, input from the label, or something far less obvious?
It was usually something less obvious!! V:-)
Very Interesting content.. I would love to get a copy of the prints.
Awesome episode dude
Can you ask him if he’ll be reprinting his book POP please?
Unfortunately there are no plans to re-publish "Pop".
WOW - HE LOVES ŁÓDŹ ! Greetings from POLAND !!!
#kochamłódź... me too, as I live there :D
Hey, Vaughn! I don't suppose you can cover Nizter Ebb? Also, would you be up for distributing MIDI files that comprises of Electronic music? I want to learn how to recreate/create some Electronic music. I can't play an instrument to save my life! Much appreciated!
I found your channel through a love of DM and really enjoy the content However, I am interested to know, are you a fan of Radiohead? I knew them from their 1990's output but recently explored their later and recent work and it has completely blown me away.... Thanks, Nic.
Brian Griffin gave a special colour to each cover, something that distinguished them, and also the photos were something memorable. If you see this cover, there is something that intrigues you and invites you to listen to the album. It is a part of the concept of music, it is not literal and that is why it builds something that joins a total concept. Obviously, music is the most important thing, but I miss that in all the latest covers of the DM albums. Along with the music is the first thing that one remembers and I think they do not have the same "spirit" as before, although I liked the album cover of "exciter" a lot, I do not think there's anything iconic in the rest. I think they were very intelligent in associating with a great photographer, and the price for this album cover is not only fair but seen from perspective, it is very little compared to what it contributed. Besides being a great photographer, he is sincere and that is why his word is worth it. If he says that a cover like "A Broken Frame" is a marvel, he is right and the same happens when he criticizes the final result of "Black Celebration". He does not try to cover something that he knows could have been better. This cover is wonderful, and only the red colour and quality are part of inviting you to listen and love this album...
... also I like the Speak and Spell cover, no idea why - I just do. Love a Broken Frame - although musically is my least favourite DM album. I think Construction Time Again is my favourite as I love the cover photo and design and I love the album as well. The great thing is all the photography was done for ‘real’ ie in the days before Photoshop and digital manipulation etc 👍
a little confused as to how he mentions the 'best' DM stopping at Black Celebration...am I the only one who finds MFTM and Violator as the definitive DM?
I'm very interested in buying at least one of the prints but the shop on Brian's website doesn't tell about prices for different sizes :(
You're quite a funny bugger in your own laid back sort of way Brian :)
Yes, I'm for animal rights. :) I have a question. Was there a special meaning at the time, not now, behind using a swan in plastic covering on a nest? I always wondered what it meant, or if it was just random imagery. Love his dm covers! Have fun on your vacation. I just got back from mine. :) Take care. ~deb
Bud Cort Appreciation hi Deb!! Brian admits it was random imagery and he says he can’t remember what he was thinking at the time . V👍😎
@@VaughnGeorge Hiya! :) Yes, I remember he did say that. Thanks Vaughn. Have a good one! :)
Btw, random idea for Fletch-Files Ep.4... We need a review of Fletch’s DJ abilities. Not in a piss take way, but I’d like to know if he’s actually doing anything more than simply Pressing Play? He’s said before that he always plays songs in the wrong speed, so what is he doing?! He played in Melbourne once, and it received so little publicity, I’m so pissed I missed it!
Where does Town & County Planning come into play?
Hey Vaughn. Nice interview and insight into the S&S album cover. But where can you order these covers from? I understand these prints are for sale
Would love to know why the Speak n Spell album cover is different for America.
Thanks Brian for this picture. This picture looks wonderful.4:38 this is joke ? ;)))Speak & Spell is fascinating LP which should be a part of everyone's which listen DM. For me this this picture always will be the first. Somebody talked : this is box of chocolates ;))) Yes this is true becouse this pecture and LP for me have importance early jewel DM how the firs chocolate. All history I know , today Brian you told me but Thanks so much , becouse this evening a box of chocolates will be on my hand ;) This swan is perfect for me , Dave told something different ;) And for me IT IS GREAT COVER !!!
Wow. You can’t get better ‘source material’ than from the man (Brian) himself. Well done Vaughn 👍
#KochamŁódź = #ILoveLodz :-)
You're going to Estonia? I presume you are going to visit the Depeche Mode bar in Tallinn?
Also - forgot to ask how do I order prints ? 🤔
nikk 51 hello matey!! You can eat in touch with Brian through his website or , if you wait until I return from holiday , I am going to discuss a discount with Brian for my subscribers , V👍😎
Vaughn George Perfect 👍 thanks , I’ll wait for the next post 😁
I'm in no rush to watch this. I thought the album cover was one of their worst. Although, to be honest, I don't think any of my fave bands from this year produced a decent album sleeve...... Am I wrong?
Everytime I look at the Speak & Spell album cover I cannot help but think of ‘ The Blob.’ And ‘The Blob’ is ready to ravage the swan. 🥺
I must admit. S&S album cover is my least favourite of any Depeche Mode album cover, however I don’t dislike or hate it. It’s weirdly charming. 😏
Question to Brian: do you have experience as music videos director?
Dave Schrödinger hello mate. Yes , Brian directed the music video for Depeche Mode’s “ Only when I lose myself”.
We will discuss this in a future video . V👍😎
Of course.
do you have to contact brian for the prints in the shop?
Even if this format can be entertaining, if you're actually interested in the process and stories about the photo and sleeve a well thought through manuscript would probably have been useful.
Will the "PoP" book be republished again?
And how much for the poster?
I've never liked the cover for Speak & Spell, still don't. I think my favorite covers of DM are A Broken Frame and 101. To each his own, of course as art is subjective. Thanks for doing this interview I look forward to the one for A Broken Frame.
£1000 in 81 is around 4000-5000 today.
Looks like a phoenix about to break free.
A black Swan from Western Australia
Its 3700 pounds in todays money and sounds like vince was a tight arse maybe that's why he's loaded today lol as for different photos DPMs love in it self 12 inch cover is a Brian Griffin photo from the same shoot but a totally different angle and concept Brian Griffin is a legend photographer and such a down to earth man his photography is art and have a resonance to it
Fave DM album covers:
1. A Broken Frame
2. Speak and Spell
3. Music For The Masses
Least fave album covers:
Some Great Reward
Black Celebration
Note: The other photo that was rejected for Construction Time Again sessions looks better than the one that was released.
Just under 4k
17:57 £4,252.64
Kate Bush? I LOVE KATE BUSH! TALK TALK? HOLY COW!
£ 1000 in 1981 would be £ 3800 today (inflation adjusted).
I was expecting a dog
Huge Depeche mode fan for 25 years.. but this album.. its just not Depeche mode.. i dont like the cover either.. Its way more Erasure ( Vince clark wrote the songs )... Broken frame is the first real album ^^