Depeche Mode
Written by Jason on May 10, 2023
Depeche Mode are an English electronic band formed in Basildon in 1980. The band currently consists of Dave Gahan (lead vocals, co-songwriting) and Martin Gore (keyboards, guitar, co-lead vocals, primary songwriting). They have sold more than 100 million records worldwide and have won numerous awards, including a Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Music in 2019.
Depeche Mode’s origins date to 1977, when schoolmates Vince Clarke and Andy Fletcher formed a band called “No Romance in China” with Clarke on vocals and guitar and Fletcher on bass. With the advent of affordable synthesizers and the increasing popularity of electronic music, the group began pursuing a synth-pop direction. They changed their name to Composition of Sound in 1980 and added Gore on keyboards and vocals.
In 1981, Clarke left Composition of Sound to form Yazoo with Alison Moyet. Gahan was recruited as the new lead singer, and the band was renamed Depeche Mode. They released their debut album, Speak & Spell, in 1981. The album was a commercial success, and it spawned the hit singles “New Life” and “Just Can’t Get Enough.”
Depeche Mode followed up Speak & Spell with A Broken Frame in 1982. The album was less successful than its predecessor, but it did produce the hit single “The Meaning of Love.” In 1983, the band released Construction Time Again. The album was a critical and commercial success, and it featured the hit singles “Everything Counts” and “People Are People.”
In 1984, Depeche Mode released Some Great Reward. The album was another critical and commercial success, and it spawned the hit singles “Master and Servant,” “Blasphemous Rumours,” and “Just Like Heaven.” In 1986, the band released Black Celebration. The album was a darker and more atmospheric album than their previous work, and it featured the hit singles “Stripped” and “A Question of Time.”
In 1987, Depeche Mode released Music for the Masses. The album was their most successful album to date, and it spawned the hit singles “Personal Jesus,” “Enjoy the Silence,” and “Strangelove.” In 1990, the band released Violator. The album was their most critically acclaimed album, and it featured the hit singles “Enjoy the Silence,” “Personal Jesus,” and “Policy of Truth.”
In 1993, Depeche Mode released Songs of Faith and Devotion. The album was a departure from their previous work, and it featured a more organic sound. The album spawned the hit singles “I Feel You,” “Walking in My Shoes,” and “Condemnation.” In 1997, the band released Ultra. The album was a return to their electronic roots, and it spawned the hit singles “Home,” “It’s No Good,” and “Freelove.”
In 2001, Depeche Mode released Exciter. The album was a commercial success, and it spawned the hit singles “Dream On,” “Freelove,” and “Only When I Lose Myself.” In 2005, the band released Playing the Angel. The album was a critical and commercial success, and it spawned the hit singles “Precious,” “Suffer Well,” and “John the Revelator.”
In 2009, Depeche Mode released Sounds of the Universe. The album was a critical and commercial success, and it spawned the hit singles “Wrong,” “Peace,” and “Fragile Tension.” In 2013, the band released Delta Machine. The album was a critical and commercial success, and it spawned the hit singles “Heaven,” “Soothe My Soul,” and “Should Be Higher.”
In 2017, Depeche Mode released Spirit. The album was a critical and commercial success, and it spawned the hit singles “Where’s the Revolution,” “Cover Me,” and “Eternal.” In 2023, the band released Memento Mori. The album was a critical and commercial success, and it spawned the hit singles “The Bridge,” “Let’s Go,” and “Happy Birthday.”
Depeche Mode have toured extensively throughout their career, and they have played to millions of fans around the world. They have headlined major festivals such as Glastonbury, Coachella, and Lollapalooza. They have also performed at numerous awards shows, including the Grammy Awards and the Brit Awards.
Depeche Mode are one of the most successful and influential electronic bands of all time. They have sold over 100 million records worldwide, and they have won numerous