We R Paparazzi

Depeche Mode forgives an actress’ $50,000 debt

It was an innocent enough mistake. Actress Veronica Grey was visiting the Philippines in February for her sister Candice’s wedding when Depeche Mode launched a charity auction to benefit Teenage Cancer Trust, a UK organization helping teenagers fight cancer. For this special auction commemorated with Depeche Mode’s first ever performance at Royal Albert Hall with a reunion with former bandmate Alan Wilder, Depeche Mode commissioned 12 elegant one of a kind watches, each face bearing one of Depeche Mode’s 12 albums. These exquisite timepieces were put up for auction with all proceeds benefitting said charity. Bidding began at $15,000 Swiss Francs. Which, while in the Philippines bidding on said items, Veronica Grey misread for $150 US dollars, as she did all her bidding solely using her iPhone. So, she was shocked and thrilled when no one else bid against her. She could not believe that out of the millions of Depeche Mode fans in the world, she was the only one who would want such a luxurious watch for a “measly” $150.

However, on the final day of the auction, others finally threw their hat in the ring and Veronica was in a bidding war, emerging victorious on “Sounds of the Universe” and “Some Great Reward.” She was like, “Awesome! Two watches totalling about $500.”When she got the invoice a few days later, she nearly collapsed that it was more like $50,000.She had to contact the auction house and beg for mercy because it was an innocent yet extremely stupid mistake. Aside from the wedding, she also was in the Philippines visiting her step-mother who just battled cancer, so she was definitely sympathetic to the cause. What could be done? The auction was over and the money had been already pledged to the charity. Depeche Mode could not say that Martin Gore’s actress friend committed a collosal act of stupidity, and so, like true gentlemen, the covered the bill for Veronica and made the donation anyway.

Martin and Veronica first came into contact in December 1997 backstage of a Cure concert at Shepherd’s Bush, London.These past 7 months, Veronica was mortified by her error, until last night, she finally came face to face with Martin Gore for the first time since the incident, and this video reveals that all may be forgiven:

Martin chose a city close to Veronica to DJ the afterparty for Alan Wilder’s Recoil tour. It is his first solo performance in years, and if fans wonder why Martin, who is fond of exciting metropoles like Berlin, chose the mild Santa Ana for his first and only gig of the year, they can thank Veronica. Yes, Martin was indeed wearing a watch last night, but, paparazzi could not tell if it was one of those alluring collector’s items or if their muse-musician relationship will indeed, stand the test of time. Or at least, timepieces.

Maybe someday Martin will gift Veronica with the “Some Great Reward” watch she “won” – as if the “Sounds of the Universe” album written for and about her, wasn’t already enough.