Quotes from Martin Gore

I think being in a band is probably the only job when you're actively encouraged to be out of it most of the time.

I've not worn a dress since about 1985. It always amazes me how there is still a fascination for it in England. The rest of the world doesn't seem to care. I'm not sure whether they don't remember or whether they've just moved on from it. I was brought up in the glam era.

I lead two totally separate lives. There are times when I have to slip into rock star mode.

If you repeat yourself, then I think you're in danger of losing that fan base, because if you're not interesting yourselves, you're not interesting your audience.

I wasn't ever a massive David Essex fan, but I liked a few of his tracks, and Stardust was one of them.

I studied German at school. I lived in Berlin for two years and had a German girlfriend for five years, so I don't find speaking German particularly difficult. Singing was slightly more difficult.

All of my kids are into music. My older daughter plays guitar, piano, sings. My young son, he sings.

I love being in the studio. If I'm at home, I will go to the studio pretty much every day anyway. It's just something that I like to do.

Music is really all about experimentation and lots of trial and error. It's just mind-numbingly boring until you hit on something that works well.

I will be the focal point for however long I decide to play. Half of me likes that idea and half of me doesn't, but once the adrenaline kicks in, I'll probably really enjoy it.

I always hate explaining away songs, because for me they mean something, and for other people, they'll mean something absolutely different.

I even have nephews who make music, my daughter makes music. I don't know what advice to give them these days. It's really a tough industry to break into.

More than accepted, it's encouraged for rock stars to be out of control.

People are People still gets played to death on '80s stations. It was our first big break in America. It's not exactly my favorite song.

I loathe the idea of going onstage in a T-shirt and jeans.

I knew at quite a young age that I had an issue with drinking.

As part of Depeche Mode, I don't think it's right for me to be using my own songs for a solo project. I'm not a very prolific songwriter, so I keep those for Depeche Mode.

Songwriting is a mysterious art. When I sit down to write a song, the end result should be mysterious and have this dark quality.

I like their darkness but I also like the pop-side of the Velvet Underground.

I do a cover of a Velvet Underground song, and they were one of the most important bands, for me.

For years, I was stuck behind a keyboard rig. When I started playing guitar onstage, it was a bit of a release - not to be stuck in one spot the whole night. It's really enjoyable having the freedom to move around. You just have to remember to end up somewhere near a microphone.

There's something insane about this business - about the cycle of making albums and going on tour to promote them.

I don't like to think 10 years down the road.

Kids today don't know that much about vinyl.