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Depeche Mode [a] are an English electronic music band formed in Basildon, Essex in 1980. Originally formed with the lineup of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke , the band currently consists of Gahan and Gore.
- 4 min
- Matthew Horton
- ‘Violator’ (1990) After their awesome 1989 live album ‘101’ (not listed here because, well, it’s a live album), everyone knew Depeche Mode were a big deal.
- ‘Black Celebration’ (1986) But first, an equally important notch on the ‘Mode trajectory. Coming directly after the story-so-far of ‘Singles 81-85’, ‘Black Celebration’ sounded like relief, as if the teen-pop era (however twisted it was getting) was over and they could now get down to the serious business of singing, “You’re only 15 and you look good / I’ll take you under my wing / Somebody should.”
- ‘Music For The Masses’ (1987) ‘Music For The Masses’ is so good that ‘Behind The Wheel’ can start off like Tiffany’s ‘I Think We’re Alone Now’ and Depeche Mode still lose none of their black-garbed punch.
- ‘Songs Of Faith And Devotion’ (1993) In which Basildon Man turned into Baritone Jesus. Utterly off his gourd, Gahan became the bedraggled rock dude, mustering all the righteousness at his disposal to growl over the obscene riffs of ‘I Feel You’, break down before his Lord on the mighty gospel of ‘Condemnation’ and poke about for a morsel of redemption on ‘Higher Love’. ‘
Mar 10, 2023 · Depeche Mode could have come to an end so many times before. Of course there are Gahan’s multiple heroin-induced near-misses with death (he once earned the nickname ‘The Cat’ from LA ...
- Andrew Trendell
- Music for the Masses (1987) The popular opinion is that either of the two albums that bookend Music for the Masses could be considered the artistic high-point or the definitive statement of Depeche Mode’s career.
- Violator (1990) The big, blockbuster album of Depeche Mode's career, maybe their finest in the eyes of many, but it takes the silver medal here. There’s no doubt that Violator is a fantastic record, featuring as it does some of the band’s biggest songs in Policy of Truth, Personal Jesus and, the definitive song of their career, Enjoy the Silence.
- Black Celebration (1986) It’s no exaggeration to say that this may be the most influential album Depeche Mode have ever released. Black Celebration is the point where they stopped beating around the bush and dived headfirst into the squalid depths of darkness that so fascinated them.
- Songs of Faith and Devotion (1993) When the alternative rock boom of the early 90’s happened, it ended the careers of many of the 80’s biggest stars.
- Depeche Mode Got Their Name from A French Fashion Magazine.
- Martin Gore Got in The Band Because He Owned The Right Gear.
- Depeche Mode Underwent A Major Lineup Change After Their First Album.
- Vince Clarke Had A Pretty Good Second (and Third) Act.
- It Took America A Long Time to Catch on to Depeche mode.
- Everyone in Depeche Mode Has A Specific Job—Sort of.
- Depeche Mode Sold Out The Rose Bowl Before A Lot of People Knew Who They were.
- Depeche Mode's Signature Song Was Inspired by Elvis and His missus.
- Dave Gahan Nearly Became A Rock ‘N’ Roll Casualty.
- Depeche Mode Are Huge in Eastern Europe.
The name Depeche Mode carries a mysterious air of artsy European sophistication. But it’s not as exotic as you may think. Lead singer Dave Gahan cribbed the moniker from a French fashion magazine. Many fans believe Depeche Mode translates to “fast fashion,” but it’s apparently closer to "fashion news" or "fashion update."
There was a simple reason Vince Clark tapped Martin Gore to join Composition of Sound, the group that would become Depeche Mode: Gore owned a Yamaha CS5 synthesizer. “That’s why we got him in—because he had a synth, not for any other reason; certainly not for his outgoing personality!” Clarke said.
The original Depeche Mode lineup featured Dave Gahan, Martin Gore, Andy Fletcher, and Vince Clarke, the group’s primary songwriter. Clarke penned nine of the 11 songs on 1981's Speak & Spell, the band's debut album, including the international hit “Just Can’t Get Enough.” Clarke quit that same year, leaving Gore to carry the songwriting burden.
After leaving Depeche Mode in 1981, Clarke teamed up with powerhouse singer Alison Moyet to form Yazoo (or Yaz, as they were known in America). That soulful synth-pop duo released two albums and scored three top 5 hits in the UK including “Only You,” a song Clarke reportedly offered to Depeche Mode. In 1985, Clarke linked up with Andy Bell to form ...
Depeche Mode scored a number of U.S. dance hits in the early ‘80s, but it wasn’t until 1985’s “People Are People” that mainstream American audiences finally warmed to these leather-clad synth-popsters. The anthemic plea for tolerance reached #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remained the band's biggest American pop hit until “Personal Jesus” in 1989...
In the 1989 documentary 101, keyboardist Andy Fletcher sums up the band like this: “Martin’s the songwriter, Alan’s the good musician, Dave’s the vocalist, and I bum around.” Fletcher may have been selling himself short—he apparently handles a lot of behind-the-scenes managerial duties—but from 1982 through 1995, that was the basic division of labo...
On June 18, 1988, Depeche Mode wrapped up their Music for the Masses Tour with sold-out performance at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. Paid attendance was 60,453. It was a major moment in the band’s career, especially since they’d only scored one Top 40 hit in America up to that point. Much of Depeche Mode's popularity in Southern California...
“Personal Jesus” isn’t Depeche Mode’s biggest American hit. That would be “Enjoy the Silence,” also off the Violator album. But thanks to covers by Johnny Cash and Marilyn Manson, “Personal Jesus” is arguably their most famous. Gore’s lyrics were inspired by Priscilla Presley’s 1985 memoir Elvis and Me. “It’s about how Elvis was her man and her men...
In the mid-’90s, Dave Gahan became enamored of the burgeoning alternative rock scene in L.A. He grew his hair long and developed a serious drug problem that nearly claimed his life on more than one occasion. In 1995, he attempted suicide by slashing his wrists, and the following year, he overdosed on a speedball—cocaine and heroin—at the Sunset Mar...
From their first shows in Hungary and Poland in 1985, Depeche Mode has enjoyed a special relationship with Eastern Europe. Before the collapse of the Soviet Union, when it was illegal to own Western music, fans behind the Iron Curtain somehow got their hands on Depeche Mode tapes and even copied the band’s fashions. According to some, the appeal li...
- Kenneth Partridge
Jun 2, 2022 · Depeche Mode might seem cool, edgy, and aloof (or at least their music gives off that vibe), but the members of the band have usually been willing to do what it takes to market their records, engaging in traditional promotional activities like concert tours, TV spots, interviews with major music magazines, and in-store appearances.
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Sep 20, 2017 · Depeche Mode translates from French to mean “fast fashion,” but disposable is the last word to describe its sound. The band has released a staggering 14 albums, and each one is a step forward.
