Another artist who recalls getting resistance initially to covering Depeche Mode is Rammstein guitarist Richard Kruspe. He discovered the synth-pop group while growing in the former East Germany where it was difficult to find records by his favorite bands; nevertheless he became a fan after seeing them perform "People Are People" on TV and, in 1998, he convinced his industrial-metal group to take on Black Celebration's "Stripped." "I even paid them money to do it," he jokes.
But even once the rest of Rammstein were on board, he had to make a concession with the way the song was recorded. "I remember going into the studio and Till [Lindemann, vocals] was trying to sing 'Stripped down to the bone' and for hours he couldn't get rid of this thick, German accent," Kruspe says. "So we eliminated the 'down to the bone part.'"
For his part, Lindemann says he has come around to Depeche Mode, save one thing. "They don't have guitars and when you play metal, you want to hear a guitar, so it demands a cover version," he says. "But Depeche Mode are the best band without guitars where it's still working."
But even once the rest of Rammstein were on board, he had to make a concession with the way the song was recorded. "I remember going into the studio and Till [Lindemann, vocals] was trying to sing 'Stripped down to the bone' and for hours he couldn't get rid of this thick, German accent," Kruspe says. "So we eliminated the 'down to the bone part.'"
For his part, Lindemann says he has come around to Depeche Mode, save one thing. "They don't have guitars and when you play metal, you want to hear a guitar, so it demands a cover version," he says. "But Depeche Mode are the best band without guitars where it's still working."
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