BLACKWING STUDIOS, 17 JUNE 1981
Soon after the release of their second single New Life had thrust Depeche Mode into the UK Top 20 for the first time, the band headed to south east London’s Blackwing Studios to begin the recording of their debut album, Speak & Spell. Photographer Virginia Turbett turned up to the studios to capture the baby-faced foursome in a series of intimate portraits before things went stratospheric. First on the recording agenda was Just Can’t Get Enough, and within weeks one of Turbett’s pictures of Dave graced the front cover of Sounds. Their debut Top Of The Pops performance would follow soon after.