Depeche Mode, a British electronic music band, originated in Basildon, Essex back in 1980. The original members were Dave Gahan, Martin Gore, Andy Fletcher, and Vince Clarke. Presently, the band consists of Gahan and Gore.
Initially, Vince Clarke was the band’s primary songwriter. They launched their first album, “Speak & Spell,” in 1981, during the rise of British new wave music. Clarke left the group by the end of 1981 to form Yazoo and later Erasure.
Martin Gore took over songwriting duties, a role he’s held since, and as a trio, they produced their second album, “A Broken Frame,” in 1982. Alan Wilder joined the group, forming the lineup that continued until 1995. During this period, they released albums like “Construction Time Again” (1983) and “Some Great Reward” (1984). Their albums “Black Celebration” (1986) and “Music for the Masses” (1987) solidified their position as a major force in electronic and alternative music. Their 1988 concert at the Pasadena Rose Bowl drew over 60,000 attendees.
In 1990, they achieved international success with their seventh album, “Violator.” Their subsequent album, “Songs of Faith and Devotion” (1993), was also well-received. However, internal conflicts during recording and touring led to Alan Wilder’s departure in 1995.
The band continued as a trio with Gahan, Gore, and Fletcher, releasing “Ultra” in 1997. They continued to create music and tour in this formation until Fletcher’s passing in 2022. Since then, Gahan and Gore have carried on as a duo.
Depeche Mode boasts an impressive track record, with 54 songs in the UK Singles Chart, 17 Top 10 albums in the UK chart, and over 100 million records sold globally. They have been recognized as one of the “50 Bands That Changed the World!” by Q magazine and are ranked 98th on VH1’s “100 Greatest Artists of All Time.”
In 2016, Billboard honored Depeche Mode as the 10th Greatest of All Time Top Dance Club Artists. They were nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017 and 2018, ultimately being inducted in 2020.
