It pays to be bold, in photography and in life. That’s how one lucky music fan ended up with an entire roll of behind-the-scene shots of his favorite band, a young, up-and-coming Depeche Mode. And it all started with a gently tossed roll of film and a note. Here’s how it went down.
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No cameras allowed
The year is 1983 and the relatively new British electronic band, Depeche Mode, is set to play Ulster Hall in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Brian McDonnell, a huge fan of the band and young photography enthusiast, is stoked. Unfortunately, the venue has a strict “No cameras” policy. So, instead of sneaking one in, Brian comes up with the innovative plan to toss a roll of film on the stage with a note requesting snaps. Brian also includes his return address on the note.
At the time, he has no expectations of Depeche Mode following through. But much to his surprise, they do just that. The resulting images, shared for the first time, show a legendary band on the cusp of greatness. And the candid, behind-the-scenes nature of the shots, many snapped in the band’s green room, only adds to how special they are.
Why we’re seeing the Depeche mode film photos now
Sadly, Brian McDonnell passed away 20 years ago at the age of 37 from a heart attack. And up until recently, these images have been seen by only a small handful of people. But that all changed recently when they were discovered by Brian’s sister, Anne McDonnell Lawrence who shared them with the Facebook Group, Belfast Concert Photographs 1980s.
The images and story were subsequently picked up by the BBC, who reached out to Anne for comment. She apparently recalls the night of the show well.
“I remember is him telling me he was at the concert and he had brought a film for a camera with him—he wrapped his name and address around it and asked them to take photos and send them back to him. He never thought he would even get a response. I don’t know how long after, but he got the film sent back to him,” Anne explained to the BBC.
The wrap
So what’s the takeaway? Certainly not to pelt the next band you see with celluloid, especially given the price of a roll these days. No, no, the takeaway is to think outside the box and maybe you’ll be pleasantly surprised. That said, the next time you’re told “No Cameras Allowed,” I challenge you to come up with a creative workaround (that doesn’t break the rules).
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