Depeche Mode - Stripped (1986)

"Stripped" is a song by British electronic music band Depeche Mode. It was released as the lead single from their fifth ...

"Stripped" is a song by British electronic music band Depeche Mode. It was released as the lead single from their fifth studio album, Black Celebration (1986), on 10 February 1986, through Mute Records. Written by the band's lead songwriter Martin Gore, "Stripped" has been described as an "ominous and intriguing pop song". It incorporates different samples into its instrumental; most notably, the sound of an idling motorcycle engine was taken, altered slightly, then used as a percussive element.

It was the band's sixth consecutive single to enter the UK Top 20, peaking at number 15. Elsewhere, it peaked at number 4 in Germany and reached the top 10 in Finland, Sweden, and Switzerland. German metal band Rammstein later covered the song for the 1998 Depeche Mode tribute album For the Masses. Despite having a controversial music video, it would go on to peak at number 14 in Germany and receive praise from Depeche Mode band members.

Music videos

The music video for "Stripped" was the last Depeche Mode video to be directed by Peter Care and was filmed outside Hansa Studios in Berlin. A music video was also shot for the B-side "But Not Tonight" and was directed by Tamra Davis. Two differently cut versions of both "Stripped" and "But Not Tonight" are available on "Video Singles Collection".