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Do you think that current electronic dance music is inspired by you? Does it annoy you that a new generation of artists are making a success out of what you've been doing for years?


Phil Oakey: No, not at all really. I don't think anyone else thinks that about us either. Bands like have developed their own electronic sound, which is why they're a success. To be honest, I don't think anyone really remembers us anyway. All I ever do is bump into Depeche Mode fans! Everywhere I go, everyone loves Depeche Mode. I think because we're pop, we just pass in and out of peoples' consciousness.
Joanne Catherall: I think because pop is so disposable, people just assumed we were disposed of along the way.



Can you really say you're disposable when you've had so many successes?


Susanne Sulley: We don't think our stuff is disposable...it's just that pop music generally is these days...it's just one of those things. I got a new window cleaner last week, for example, and he said, 'didn't you used to be in that band?' And of course I said, 'well we still are, actually'.



You're obviously not still together for the money though, because didn't Moby want to remix one of your classic tracks recently? You could have just run off with the pay cheque, so why are you still taking the harder route?


Phil: We can't afford to have Moby remix our tracks...and although we've heard that he's been talking about working with our material for some time, we're not sure he'd be right for our tracks. It's really nice when someone like that talks about you, but it was the record company that pointed it out to us...we're just not sure what he'd do with our tracks really.
Joanne: Mind you, you never do know what someone's going to do with the tracks you give them. You sort of give them to people and they can often come back with something that's completely off.