Depeche Mode’s 101st Show Filled the Rose Bowl

The number in 101 came from the itinerary. On June 18, 1988, Depeche Mode played the 101st show of the Music for the Masses tour at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. The stadium date became both a live album and part of D. A. Pennebaker’s documentary film.

The all-day event also marked the tenth anniversary of KROQ, a longtime supporter of the band. Wire, Thomas Dolby and O.M.D. appeared on the bill before Depeche Mode.

That combination places the concert in a specific Southern California music community. The Rose Bowl supplied the scale, while the recordings gave the day a lasting form. Listeners and viewers could return to a tour milestone with its number built directly into the title.

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Sources: archives.depechemode.com.