Left to right : Joe Beaumont, Keith Trigwell and Paul Wood

Left to right : Joe Beaumont, Keith Trigwell and Paul Wood

Initially formed in 2007 in Brighton (UK) by Stuart Avis and Andrew Sturmey the initial plan was to perform Depeche Mode’s Violator album in full, LIVE as a challenge to themselves. Having recruited uncanny Dave Gahan-alike Paul Wood to handle vocal duties, Joe A. J. Beaumont on keys and backing vocals and Steve Cobley on guitar, the initial incarnation of the band was complete and the task of the full album performance was successful earning the band more gigs and the beginnings of a very loyal following of friends.

Since that first gig the band have a yearly residency at Esquires club in Bedford, headlined the Brighton Electrofestival, performed at the re-built Bridgehouse venue where Depeche Mode themselves were spotted and signed to Mute Records, and have played at many other venues spread around the UK.

In late 2009 the departure of Andrew Sturmey and Steve Cobley saw the addition of professional studio engineer, technical musician and programmer Keith Trigwell; a  keyboard player who had spent more than 25 years playing Depeche Mode music. Keith was also a member of “Indigenous” (electronic duo produced by Julian Beeston from Nitzer Ebb), and in 1993 worked in a technical capacity with ‘Throb’ Young from the Primal Scream on an act called ‘Revolver’ and engineered one of Depeche Mode’s 1984 tour opening acts Portion Control, amongst others While a daytime engineer at Basement Studios.

Paul Wood and Keith Trigwell

Paul Wood and Keith Trigwell. Hamburg 2012

The band have always carefully and painstakingly sourced the real sounds used by Depeche Mode and perform them live accompanied by a full video projection backdrop which helps enable them to present the sound, the look, then energy, the emotion and the devotion of a real Depeche Mode concert. With their new line-up and fresh new ideas, Speak and Spell took giant leap forward in 2011 playing to critical acclaim to packed-out crowds across Europe and the UK, and again headlined the Party For The Masses Festival.

This is a very exciting time for Speak and Spell – more opportunities are opening up allowing them to take their show to audiences even further afield.