Is Depeche Mode in danger of becoming obsolete? ("Mode's Unsatisfying Success," Nov. 22.) Possibly. They are in danger of being outdated, just as is any other rock group such as Nirvana or Pearl Jam, but Depeche Mode has been around for 13 years and survived the different phases of rock, such as the new romantics (early '80s), bubble-gum rock (Bon Jovi, Poison; mid-'80s), rap, Manchester, techno and now the grunge phase.
Robert Hilburn is under the false impression that Depeche Mode has copied U2 in the way they have staged their new tour. But, during Depeche Mode's last tour in 1990, the band was using large video screens to highlight the music. This tour was long before U2's "Achtung Baby" album or the Zooropa tour. So who copied who?
