You guys remember Richard Spencer, right? He’s the Nazi/Alt-Right d-bag who openly Sieg-Heils Donald Trump. Spencer also became somewhat infamous on Inauguration Day for getting punched in the face in the middle of giving an interview about his Pepe the Frog brooch. Well, Spencer turned up to the annual CPAC conference yesterday, because let’s be totally and completely honest: 90% of those people share 90% of his views, if not more on both counts. Still, I guess CPAC didn’t want to LOOK like Nazis, so they kicked him out. Spencer bought a ticket and he had credentials – media credentials?? – but security apparently still tossed him. But before that Spencer spent 45 minutes in the lobby, chatting to reporters about how Depeche Mode is the “official band of the alt-right.” Huh?
Depeche Mode wants nothing to do with “lifelong” fan Richard Spencer. At the Conservative Political Action Conference Thursday, Spencer was asked if he likes rock music.
“Depeche Mode is the official band of the alt-right,” the white nationalist responded, according to New York Magazine. Spencer claimed later on Twitter that he was “joking,” but the rock band still distanced themselves from the alt-right leader.
“Depeche Mode has no ties to Richard Spencer or the Alt-Right and does not support the Alt-Right movement,” Depeche Mode’s rep said in a statement to Rolling Stone.
The lyrics to the British band’s 1984 hit “People are People” should probably have hinted to Spencer that they’d disagree with his values: “People are people/So why should it be/You and I should get along so awfully/So we’re different colors/And we’re different creeds/And different people have different needs.”
More information on Spencer’s pop culture tastes will have to wait for another day, as he was kicked out of the conference while holding court in the lobby of the Gaylord National Resort.
“His views are repugnant and have absolutely nothing to do with conservatism or what we do here,” CPAC spokesman Ian Walters told NPR. “He’s anti-free markets, anti-Constitution, anti-pluralism. This was one bad egg who bought a ticket.” Walters also described Spencer as “vile,” “venomous,” “horrible” and “repulsive.”
“Anti-pluralism” is as close as a CPAC person will get to calling Spencer a white nationalist a–hole who who sells anti-Semitism, racism and bigotry. Obviously, good on Depeche Mode for shutting this sh-t down in a hurry. What in the world did Depeche Mode ever do to Nazis, for the love of God? “Personal Jesus” is still one of the greatest songs ever made, btw. Obviously, people on Twitter did a Depeche Mode remix for the Punching Nazis video.
In honor of Richard Spencer saying Depeche Mode is "the official band of the alt-right," here he is getting punched to Just Can’t Get Enough pic.twitter.com/iV9HSoNMwu
— shauna (@goldengateblond) February 23, 2017
Also keep in mind: while CPAC kicked out Richard Spencer, they invited Steve Bannon into the fold with open arms. Bannon and Reince Priebus did a Q&A session together and… um, they do not get along at all. I could talk about their body language and their unhinged, alternative-factual reality for days, but I’ll just leave this clip for you instead.
Please tell me somebody else saw Priebus' reaction to Bannon trying to touch him. #CPAC2017 pic.twitter.com/oNXGEvgNhv
— Kyle Alvarado (@KJAlvarado124) February 23, 2017
Photos courtesy of Getty.
What an asshole, stop dragging a great group like Depeche Mode into your disgusting mess.
I think maybe he was trolling because Depeche Mode did, in fact, make one of the great equality anthems and it must burn his ass that these white guys believe in *gasp* equality. That was probably the super secret signal for his idiot followers to harass them.
These alt-right neo-Nazis are a strange bunch. Beyond the obvious, they’re very emotionally stunted–like stuck at the 14 year old level. And they awkwardly try to incorporate pop culture memes and “secret” words into their whatever the hell it is they do. It’s bizarre. I don’t know how anyone can look at these people and want to be a part of it. Something has gone horribly wrong in your life if you do. There’s layers to their loserdom and it’s pretty obvious. Not only are they haters, but they’re socially and emotionally dysfunctional.
Actually Martin Gore, the member who writes most of the music and lyrics for Depeche Mode songs, is part black. His father was an African-American G.I. stationed in Britain. Surprisingly, Depeche Mode have not performed “People Are People” live since 1988 because it’s one of their least favourite songs.
That’s what I’m saying. These guys are hateful Nazi nerds rolling their 12 sided die of doom. Where did these basement dwellers come from? Is there a connection to hateful d bag Red Pill Redditors and these mfs because it sure seems like they’re of the same kind. Steve Bannon creeps me out so much.
I like the fact that they actually made it clear that they don’t support or want the support of white supremacists instead of staying silent just to conveniently use equality when it benefits them later.
Thank god, because I love me some Depeche Mode. I was about to renounce the group from my childhood.
Aw, the poor GOP. Why can’t they just get along???
F- that. You can’t have Depeche Mode jerk faces.
When he’s beyond the pale for CPAC, that’s saying something.
Not really. Bannon, for whatever reason, is still mostly undercover. It’s not that he hasn’t been writte about, but he goes incognito compared to Spencer.
Well, he claims CPAC issued his crendentials, then revoked them. That begs the question, why were they issued in the first place? Seems like another Bannon engineered dog and pony show. First Yiannopolous, now Spencer. But yet somehow avowed racist anti-Semite Bannon avoids rebuke? Nah. This is all being done for “optics”. Those two are simply sacrificial lambs to protect the most influential hater, which is Bannon. Very sinister stuff happening.
If Bannon is an anti-Semite what are the dynamics like between him and Jared Kushner?
They invited Milo and only gave him the boot for his pedo views.
If he hadn’t been caught on camera saying “Heil Trump,” Spencer would have been on the VIP list. It’s not that CPAC disagrees with his world view, he’s just too radioactive right now.
The phrase “beyond the pale” is not ok. It is classist, elitist and furthers the idea that people of lower economic status are uneducated “barbarians”
‘The Pale’ is an area of Ireland from the North wall of Dundalk to the South of Dublin City. This has always been (and will continue to be) the most developed an wealthy area of the country. Anybody who comes from outside of this area is said to be from ‘Beyond the Pale’ meaning they are of a lower social class and intellect purely because of their geographical location.’
I did not know this. I appreciate knowing, and I won’t use the phrase again. Also, I agree that CPAC is full of people as despicable as Spencer.
I have never heard this phrase’s history.
Thanks for the heads up, I love this place!
I’m glad to pass the history of the phrase on!
Oh, that’s interesting. Thanks for the info.
Interesting. Thx for the heads up- will not use.
This, and to build on what Bashful said, we can also go back even further–centuries deeper–when it was used against local Irish by recently settled English. The vanquished town walls were “safe”, while the countryside beyond the Pale was the territory of rebels who were, as you said, called Barbarians. That is, Irish vs “civilized” English. It’s a total othering of an Indigenous population, which spoke a different language, by colonizers. So the term has all sorts of layers that work up to this day, as you point out.
Poor Depeche Mode. They don’t deserve this mess.
PS That remix is something special though. I’ll never get tired of seeing that jerk getting punched in the face.
I know, I cant stop laughing and watching that video.
It’s like it gets better every time.
that needs to happen everyday. not that i condone violence, but, you know….
So the Bannon Preibus gif is probably our first visual proof that they are among the principles in the establishment/alt right power struggle for the party. Dear Preibus, Pence and company, when you invite hyenas to your party, disinviting them isnt going to be as easy as evicting Spencer and Milo from a conference. The GOP is in for a crazy ride, its a shame they have to take the rest of the country along on that ride.
That gif is pure gold, I can’t believe that happened on TV. This entire sh*tshow is just so confusing. What is their endgame? As in, what do established Republicans think they gain long-term from bending over for Bannon et al.? This is a stain you can’t wash off and it looks like Preibus knows it. I can only imagine that their plan b is to move on to some think tank afterwards.
Their endgame is ending democracy.
It sure looks like that. But if history tells us anything it’s to be careful when trying to install an autocrat/dictator. First order of business is always to purge the inner circle.
Well said, Merry!
I’ve been crazed about this ALL WEEK. Why make a show about kicking out this little nazi putz, but ALLOW BANNON TO PREACH ON THE NATIONAL STAGE. BANNON is the bloated pod from which all nazi’s pop- so why didn’t’ bannon get booted? help me to understand
I wish I could help but I’m just as bewildered as you are. The normalization of Bannon is the most frightening part of this whole Trumpian nightmare to me.
Optics. They’re booting the most obvious neonazis and keeping the worse fascists. Bannon is a snake – make no mistake. They only care about appearances.
Also: poor, poor Caitlyn Jenner. She has a lot to learn.
Poor Depeche Mode! I’d be furious if some neo-Nazi try to incorporate my band into their hate.
How very hypocritical though that the CPAC kick this guy out citing those reasons and welcomed Bannon. If they want to remove bigotry and racism from their party, they need to start at the top.
They were pretty touchy feely at the start of the interview. I guess Reince felt they had done enough to sell their “bromance” and was done playing along.
ETA I meant to reply to Merry. But I totally agree with you on both points, Lucy.
Adolf Hitler will comeback from the deep circle of Hell he is in it just to make those people stop.
I literally yelled “NO!” when I read the headline, startling my son, and that’s something considering how many awful headlines there are these days.
I’m so glad DM immediately denounced him. How awful for them. They don’t deserve to be tainted by such ugliness, even mistakenly.
Some Great Reward might be the album I have listened to the most in this world.
The Bannon/Priebus physical exchange was weird. Someone posted a video on Twitter that showed Kellyanne doing basically the same thing, swatting Bannon’s hand away when he tried to touch her on Inauguration Day.
Well, I too would be scared that whatever he has is contagious. Then again, they all suffer from the same disease so…meh.
I reckon he’s just a bit thick and got his bands muddled. It was Joy Division and/or New Order that had a thing for fascist tropes and imagery that got the neo-Nazis of the 1980s all excited, even though they themselves were the opposite of Nazis.
Yes Sixer I thought the same. Even my husband (who granted was born in 1953 and didn’t keep up with ’80’s music) once asked how I could listen to “New Order” because he had taken as gospel that their music was Far Right because of the Nazi adoption despite their music not validating said adoption.
Yep. I had an older cousin who was deep into New Order (and also involved with antifa stuff) and I remember all the furious discussions between the Sister Mafia (my aunts) and he and his friends about whether they meant it or not and whether it was acceptable to like them. The parental units just didn’t understand the irony, apparently, is what I took from it, aged not-very-much!
It wasn’t just those bands. Wasn’t the Sex Pistols dragged into that mess because of their anti establishment music? Also, I was too young at the time but wasn’t there controversy over Pink Floyds The Wall imagery? Even tho both bands were anti nazi.
Yes, but New Order were VERY specific about it. That’s why they got fetishised by the 80s neo-Nazis. Both band names can be interpreted as inspired by Nazism, for instance. I mean, they weren’t Skrewdriver or anything but there were a lot of idiots who genuinely believed they were.
@sixer. Ah thanks for the info. I was too young to really pay attention to the news etc at the time but now that u point it out the name New Order is very much a term that was used in the 30s/40s to describe Germany at the time. Weren’t they heavily influenced by Kraftwerk?
It’s scary that history seems to repeat itself.
I think – although also too young to remember more deeply than being a little one impressed by what older cousins liked and said – they were motivated by the dourness of the times, like the Pistols in a way, and so that’s why they were looking at all the dark stuff and using the motifs.
I honestly bet this stupid fascist got the bands mixed up.
Yep he prob did. Fascist are not the brightest bulbs in the lamp.
Dourness, now there a word I don’t hear often. Reminds me of home.
Not sure what “heavily influenced by Kraftwerk” has to do with anything. A ton of music was heavily influenced by Kraftwerk. (And Giorgio Moroder, if you want to go after early electronic music producers with ties to Germany, haha.) Not all Germans are fascists, yo. Kraftwerk is not fascist music, not by a long shot. Nor is Giorgio.
If you want to hear disgusting dance music, you can check out Combichrist or any number of others. But leave Kraftwerk out of it.
Yeah… The headline really got me for a moment. I love Depeche Mode.
I’m not a violent person,but I enjoy watching this asswipe being punched in the face!
Same here. It’s so rare you see one of these assholes get exactly what they deserve. And so satisfying.
Live by the sword, die by the sword.
I’m just in awe that the person who punched him managed such perfect execution and has *still* maintained their anonymity. Perfect punch + getting away with = amazing.
Do we know where Captain America was during the punching episode?
Too bad Hulk wasn’t there to “Hulk SMASH!!!!!”
Oh good ! I was wondering if the guy got in trouble.
If I threw the punch, which I would not (too peacey), I would own it and do a little time for assault. Worth it.
Good for Depeche for shutting the little boy down. Hope he disappears like Milo. Ffs
Reince Priebus is so in over his head. He is going to be chewed up and spit out like cheap tobacco by this administration. That said, if Bannon thinks he can take on the press and win, he is sadly, sadly mistaken. #dumbledore’sarmy #wandsup
Dumbledore’s Army is coming for them. Here are the instructions for spell casting tonight.
http://www.someecards.com/news/weird-news/witches-donald-trump-spell-curse-hex-ritual/
Or you can call your representative.
I’m doing both to make sure I have covered all my bases.
Haha! Great Point, Betsy 🙂 Been calling every day.
Might want to keep the witchy stuff on the DL…
I can’t believe women who are standing up and protesting aren’t being called witches.
Yeah! Pagan for an evening! Honestly with what a bunch of religious nutters some of these guys are, they will probably find out about this and be spooked. Hahahahaha
Good thing they denounced them and told them to keep their names out of it.
Also love the punching Nazi video edits. They make me laugh so hard
I feel like your headline is unfair to Depeche Mode. If people don’t read the article, what are they going to take away from the headline?
My first instinct was that DM had played at the conference or something.
That’s kind of the problem though isn’t it? People read a catchy headline and run with it instead of taking the time to actually READ the article.
Salon did an interesting piece encouraging journalists/subs not to amplify misinformation from the Alt-Right in the manner in which they frame headlines and articles.
http://www.salon.com/2017/02/15/can-journalists-debunk-trumps-lies-without-amplifying-them-its-challenging-but-not-impossible/
Their new album coming out in March is called Spirit. It’s the exact opposite of what these alt-right creeps believe. It’s addressing the fears regarding what’s happening around the world and in America and ultimately our humanity.
I guess they never listened to Sounds of the Universe with songs like Peace.
DM have a new song out, called Where’s The Revolution.
Seems like Richard Nazi Spencer hasn’t heard it yet.
The lyrics point out what’s wrong with things today:
… Who’s making your decisions
You or your religion
Your government, your countries…
… They manipulate and threaten
With terror as a weapon
Scare you till you’re stupefied
Wear you down until you’re on their side…
Question from over the pond: what is going on between Stevie Bannon and Reince Priebus?
(Wait.. I get the popcorn..ready!) Can anyone please brief me?
BTW, looove Depeche Mode too and didn’t expect anything else then a quick dissociation note from their spokesperson.
I don’t know but I read the transcript of their presentation somewhere and at one point they talked about how much they liked and respected each other. Like everything else in this administration, it’s not what they say it’s what they do that matters.
I believe their goal was to counter the obvious factionailzism in the White House by pretending to like and respect one another.
Yes, exactly. But Bannon clearly took it took far when he tried to grab Priebus’s hand. That smackdown was might quick!
I saw where you posted this on Twitter! I love how Priebus is all “get the f@ck off me!” 😂😂
I saw Depeche Mode live and they were fantastic ! !! I’m also glad they shut it down quickly .
That twitter remix is everything.
Sometimes I have these daydreams (when I am driving and bored) where the me from, say, 2010 is transported to 2017 current day and reads/sees/experiences headlines, news, the new alt-reality we are living today and I ruefully laugh at how 2010 me would react to this crazy ass shit. I wouldn’t believe it, I don’t think.
The truth really is stranger than fiction.
I don’ believe it and here I am! So, yeah.
@Adele I have been doing the same thing. I still think I may be in a clinical denial phase because there are moments where I really have trouble believing this is happening. I literally have to tell myself out loud that this is real.
Ok, I’ll admit I was holding my breath when I clicked while thinking “say it isn’t so!!!”. Depeche Mode was the first concert I ever attended at the old Colisseum in Richfield, OH. It was AWESOME. I’ve had a crush on Dave Gahan ever since, if I had a list he’d be on it.
Mmmmmm, Dave Gahan….one sexy MF!
Each time Bieber does something stupid, an accompanying photo of him looking like a toddler being restrained by his burly bodyguard is also featured with the story. Now every Richard Spencer post should be required to include that video of him getting punched by a protester. Honestly, I do not remember Spencer’s face. He looks like your typical campus jock villain in 80’s movies.
Whilst “People Are People” is the obvious debunking of this… I think many/most of us feel resonance with “Black Celebration” at the end of every freaking day at the moment because of the likes of RS and his cohorts.
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/depechemode/blackcelebration.html
Please don’t post this dude’s photo again. It’s nightmare inducing. He’s actually creepier than Stephen Miller! And Bannon needs to go too. Trump I can handle. These others…. No please.
🤣🤣🤣 I laughed at both videos with such glee…that’s not evil of me, right?
No, it’s the best reaction! God was that satisfying to see him get punched over and over again. How does he dare to reach for Depeche Mode with his disgusting dirty nazi fingers??!
Yes! Totally satisfying! I know 💜 DP!
And Priebus omg!!!
Lol Smacked that hand like the bish that he is 😩😂🤣
Bullcrap Spencer was just one bad egg. All the conservatives at CPAC think like him, they just want to keep it under the radar.
Well, sorry, but when you elect a blatant white supremacist for president, the cat is out of the bag. You can’t make an example out of men like Spencer any more because we all know you ARE him.
Serious question: how is Bannon still around? He’s like – the biggest threat to our national security and way of life since Bin Laden. Where is the CIA?
Depeche Mode is also loved by people of a, er, less than mentally stable condition who believe their lyrics represent the prophecies of Nostradamus. See Markuze, Dennis.
(Poor Depeche Mode, what did they do to deserve any of this!)
A little message from Depeche Mode to Richard Spencer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dgrMSTalZ0
I’m reading the comments and I’m scratching my head. If anyone thought, just from the headline alone, that DM would side with Neo-Nazis then you must not be listening to same songs I am. That or the gas-lighting effect is starting to take hold.
I completely agree with you.
As a teenager in the 80s, can I just say NO YOU CANNOT HAVE DEPECHE MODE, STOP LISTENING TO THEM RIGHT NOW, YOU SCUM.
I can’t take Reince Priebus seriously. His name sounds like he should be a Death Eater.
LOL! It sure does. That said, Depeche Mode is a huge part of the soundtrack of my youth, glad to hear the boys shut this sh*tstain down.
Maybe the president and his team of snowflakes should take an example from a pop group. The orange one says that he is like the least racist and anti-semitic person like EVER then he should copy paste that statement and release it as his morning tweet every single f**king day.