Shake the Disease


"Shake the Disease" is a song by English electronic music band Depeche Mode. Recorded at the Hansa Mischraum in Berlin, it was released as a single on 29 April 1985. "Shake the Disease" was one of two new songs on the 1985 compilation albums The Singles 81→85 and Catching Up with Depeche Mode, along with the band's subsequent single "It's Called a Heart".

Song information

Band member Alan Wilder felt this song captured the essence of the band, saying that "there's a certain edge to what we do that can make people think twice about things. If we've got a choice between calling a song 'Understand Me' or 'Shake the Disease', we'll call it 'Shake the Disease'. There's a lot of perversity and innuendo in our lyrics, but nothing direct."

Music video

The music video is the first Depeche Mode video directed by Peter Care, and features an innovative camera trick to make it appear as though the band members are falling. It was shot in the town of Hounslow in London.

Chart performance

The track reached the top 40 on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart in November 1985. It reached number 18 in the UK singles chart but did better in several other countries, entering the Top 10 in Ireland, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, and it reached the number 1 spot in Poland, where the band was very popular at that time. In France, "Shake the Disease" peaked at number 13, remaining in the top 50 for six months.
It reached #1 on the influential KROQ Top 106.7 Countdown of 1985.

Formats and track listings

7": Mute / 7Bong8 (UK)

  1. "Shake the Disease" – 4:48
  2. "Flexible" – 3:11

    7": Sire / 7-28835 (US)

  3. "Shake the Disease " – 3:59
  4. "Flexible" – 3:11

    12": Mute / 12Bong8 (UK)

  5. "Shake the Disease " – 8:45
  6. "Flexible " – 6:13

    12": Mute / L12Bong8 (UK) / Vogue (France)

  7. "Shake the Disease " – 7:10
  8. "Master and Servant " – 5:38
  9. "Flexible " – 4:40
  10. "Something to Do " – 7:25
  1. "Shake the Disease" – 4:48
  2. "Flexible" – 3:11
  3. "Shake the Disease " – 8:43
  4. "Flexible " – 6:15
  5. "Shake the Disease " – 7:11
  6. "Something to Do " – 7:26
  1. "Shake the Disease " – 7:10
  2. "Master and Servant " – 5:38
  3. "Flexible " – 4:40
  4. "Something to Do " – 7:25

    CD: Virgin / 30135 (France)

  5. "Shake the Disease " – 7:10
  6. "Master and Servant " – 5:38
  7. "Flexible " – 4:40
  8. "Something to Do " – 7:25
  9. "Shake the Disease" – 4:48
All songs written by Martin Gore.

Notable cover versions