Depeche Mode: Difference between revisions

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== Formation ==
== Formation ==
Formed in 1980, the group's original line-up consisted of [[Dave Gahan]] (lead vocals), {{MLG}} (primary songwriter after 1981, vocals, keyboards, guitar), [[Andy Fletcher|Andrew "Fletch" Fletcher]] (keyboards), and [[Vince Clarke]] (keyboards, chief songwriter from 1980 until 1981).
Formed in 1980, the group's original line-up consisted of [[Dave Gahan]] (lead vocals), {{MLG}} (primary songwriter after 1981, vocals, keyboards, guitar), [[Andy Fletcher|Andrew  
"Fletch" Fletcher]] (keyboards), and [[Vince Clarke]] (keyboards, chief songwriter from 1980 until 1981).


Depeche Mode, originally formed by the lineup of Gahan, Gore, Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke, released their debut album Speak & Spell in 1981, bringing the band onto the British new wave scene. After founding member Clarke left following the release of the album, they recorded A Broken Frame as a trio. Gore took over as main songwriter and later, in 1982, Alan Wilder replaced Clarke, establishing a lineup that continued for 13 years. The band's last albums of the 1980s, Black Celebration and Music for the Masses, established them as a dominant force within both the electronic and alternative music scenes. A highlight of this era was the band's June 1988 concert at the Pasadena Rose Bowl, where they drew a crowd in excess of 60,000 people. In early 1990, they released Violator, an international mainstream success. The following album Songs of Faith and Devotion, released in 1993, was also a success, though the band's internal struggles during recording and touring resulted in Wilder's departure in 1995. The band continued with the trio lineup of Gahan, Gore, and Fletcher until Fletcher's death in 2022.
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. Fletcher would later recall, "Why am I in the band? It was accidental right from the beginning. I was actually forced to be in the band. I played the guitar and I had a bass; it was a question of them roping me in." In 1979, Clarke played guitar in an Ultravox-influenced band, The Plan, with friends Robert Marlow and Paul Langwith. In 1978–1979, Martin Gore played guitar in an acoustic duo, Norman and the Worms, with school friend Phil Burdett on vocals. In 1980, Clarke and Fletcher formed a band called Composition of Sound, with Clarke on vocals/guitar and Fletcher on bass; the pair were soon joined by Martin Gore as a third instrumentalist.[citation needed] Dave Gahan joined the ensemble later in 1980 after Clarke heard him perform at a local Scout hut jam session, singing a rendition of David Bowie's "'Heroes'".


Depeche Mode have had 54 songs in the UK Singles Chart and 17 Top 10 albums in the UK chart; they have sold more than 100 million records worldwide. Q included the band in its list of the "50 Bands That Changed the World!" Depeche Mode also rank No. 98 on VH1's "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". In December 2016, Billboard named Depeche Mode 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, eventually being inducted in 2020.
With the advent of affordable synthesizers and the increasing popularity of electronic music, the group began pursuing a synth-pop direction. The first live concert of Composition of Sound as a four-piece was on 14 June 1980 at Nicholas School, Basildon, England, UK. There is a plaque commemorating the gig at the James Hornsby School in Basildon, where Gore and Fletcher were pupils. Gahan's and Gore's favourite artists included Siouxsie and the Banshees, Sparks, Cabaret Voltaire, Talking Heads and Iggy Pop. Gahan's onstage persona was influenced by Dave Vanian, frontman of The Damned. Gahan has also credited David Bowie, James Brown, Elvis Presley and Prince as influences on his performance style.
 
Composition of Sound would become embarrassed about their band name and started thinking of changing it. There were several potential variants, including the name "Musical Moments" that was suggested by Vince Clarke as both a band name and the name of their first album. Starting at their concert on 24 September 1980 at Bridge House, the band changed their name to Depeche Mode, chosen by Dave Gahan.When explaining the choice for the new name, which was taken from a mistranslation of the name of French fashion magazine Dépêche Mode, Gore said, "It means 'hurried fashion' or 'fashion dispatch'. I like the sound of that." However, the more accurate translation of the magazine's name (and therefore the band's name) is "Fashion News" or "Fashion Update".


== ''[[Speak & Spell]]'' <small>(1981)</small> ==
== ''[[Speak & Spell]]'' <small>(1981)</small> ==

Revision as of 13:29, 5 April 2023

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Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode Global Spirit Tour 2017-06-03.jpg
From left to right: Andy Fletcher, Martin Gore, and Dave Gahan perform during the 2017-2018 Global Spirit Tour.
Background information
Origin
Basildon, Essex, England
Members
Past members
Works
Labels
Mute Records
Columbia Records
Past labels
Sire Records
Reprise Records
Capitol Records
Virgin Records Ltd.
Online
Years active
1980–present

Depeche Mode are an English electronic rock band formed in Basildon, Essex. Through a constant evolution in their musical output and a consistent touring ethic that saw the band graduate from performing school gigs to playing the legendary concert for the masses at the Pasadena Rose Bowl to an audience in excess of 60,000 people within ten years of their formation, Depeche Mode have built a cult following of devoted fans and metamorphosed into one of the most influential and successful alternative musical acts of all time over the course of their four decade career.

History

Formation

Formed in 1980, the group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan (lead vocals), Martin Gore (primary songwriter after 1981, vocals, keyboards, guitar), Andrew "Fletch" Fletcher (keyboards), and Vince Clarke (keyboards, chief songwriter from 1980 until 1981).

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. Fletcher would later recall, "Why am I in the band? It was accidental right from the beginning. I was actually forced to be in the band. I played the guitar and I had a bass; it was a question of them roping me in." In 1979, Clarke played guitar in an Ultravox-influenced band, The Plan, with friends Robert Marlow and Paul Langwith. In 1978–1979, Martin Gore played guitar in an acoustic duo, Norman and the Worms, with school friend Phil Burdett on vocals. In 1980, Clarke and Fletcher formed a band called Composition of Sound, with Clarke on vocals/guitar and Fletcher on bass; the pair were soon joined by Martin Gore as a third instrumentalist.[citation needed] Dave Gahan joined the ensemble later in 1980 after Clarke heard him perform at a local Scout hut jam session, singing a rendition of David Bowie's "'Heroes'".

With the advent of affordable synthesizers and the increasing popularity of electronic music, the group began pursuing a synth-pop direction. The first live concert of Composition of Sound as a four-piece was on 14 June 1980 at Nicholas School, Basildon, England, UK. There is a plaque commemorating the gig at the James Hornsby School in Basildon, where Gore and Fletcher were pupils. Gahan's and Gore's favourite artists included Siouxsie and the Banshees, Sparks, Cabaret Voltaire, Talking Heads and Iggy Pop. Gahan's onstage persona was influenced by Dave Vanian, frontman of The Damned. Gahan has also credited David Bowie, James Brown, Elvis Presley and Prince as influences on his performance style.

Composition of Sound would become embarrassed about their band name and started thinking of changing it. There were several potential variants, including the name "Musical Moments" that was suggested by Vince Clarke as both a band name and the name of their first album. Starting at their concert on 24 September 1980 at Bridge House, the band changed their name to Depeche Mode, chosen by Dave Gahan.When explaining the choice for the new name, which was taken from a mistranslation of the name of French fashion magazine Dépêche Mode, Gore said, "It means 'hurried fashion' or 'fashion dispatch'. I like the sound of that." However, the more accurate translation of the magazine's name (and therefore the band's name) is "Fashion News" or "Fashion Update".

Speak & Spell (1981)

Vince Clarke departure (1981)

A Broken Frame (1982)

Alan Wilder joins (1982)

Construction Time Again (1983)

Some Great Reward (1984)

The Singles 81→85 (1985)

Black Celebration (1986)

Music For The Masses (1987)

Violator (1990)

Songs Of Faith And Devotion (1993)

Alan Wilder departure (1995)

Ultra (1997)

The Singles 86>98 (1998)

Exciter (2001)

Playing The Angel (2005)

Sounds Of The Universe (2009)

Delta Machine (2013)

Spirit (2017)

Andrew Fletcher's death (2022)

Memento Mori (2023)

Legacy

Discography


Studio albums Speak & SpellA Broken FrameConstruction Time AgainSome Great RewardBlack CelebrationMusic For The MassesViolatorSongs Of Faith And DevotionUltraExciterPlaying The AngelSounds Of The UniverseDelta MachineSpiritMemento Mori
Compilation albums People Are PeopleThe Singles 81→85Catching Up With Depeche ModeGreatest HitsThe Singles 86>98The Singles 81>98Remixes 81–04The Best Of Depeche Mode Volume 1The Complete Depeche ModeRemixes 2: 81–11
Live albums 101Songs Of Faith And Devotion LiveRecording The AngelTouring The Angel: Live In MilanRecording The UniverseTour Of The Universe: Barcelona 20/21.11.09Live In BerlinLive Spirits Soundtrack
Singles "Dreaming Of Me" • "New Life" • "Just Can't Get Enough" • "See You" • "The Meaning Of Love" • "Leave In Silence" • "Get The Balance Right" • "Everything Counts" • "Love In Itself" • "People Are People" • "Master And Servant" • "Blasphemous Rumours" / "Somebody" • "Shake The Disease" • "It's Called A Heart" • "Stripped" / "But Not Tonight" • "A Question Of Lust" • "A Question Of Time" • "Strangelove" • "Never Let Me Down Again" • "Behind The Wheel" • "Little 15" • "Route 66" • "Personal Jesus" • "Enjoy The Silence" • "Policy Of Truth" • "World In My Eyes" • "I Feel You" • "Walking In My Shoes" • "Condemnation" • "In Your Room" • "Barrel Of A Gun" • "It's No Good" • "Home" • "Useless" • "Only When I Lose Myself" • "Dream On" • "I Feel Loved" • "Freelove" • "Goodnight Lovers" • "Precious" • "A Pain That I'm Used To" • "Suffer Well" • "John The Revelator" / "Lilian" • "Martyr" • "Wrong" • "Peace" • "Fragile Tension" / "Hole To Feed" • "Heaven" • "Soothe My Soul" • "Should Be Higher" • "Where's The Revolution" • "Going Backwards" • "Cover Me" • "Ghosts Again" • "My Cosmos Is Mine" • "Wagging Tongue" • "Speak To Me" • "My Favourite Stranger"
Video albums The World We Live In and Live In HamburgSome Great VideosStrange101Strange TooDevotionalThe Videos 86>98Some Great Videos 81>85One Night In ParisVideos 86>98 +Touring The Angel: Live In MilanThe Best Of Depeche Mode Volume 1Tour Of The Universe: Barcelona 20/21.11.09Live In BerlinVideo Singles CollectionSpirits In The Forest
Tours and concerts 1980 Tour1981 TourSee You TourA Broken Frame TourConstruction Time Again TourSome Great Reward TourBlack Celebration TourMusic For The Masses TourWorld Violation TourDevotional TourExotic TourUltra PartiesThe Singles TourExciter TourTouring The AngelTour Of The UniverseDelta Machine TourGlobal Spirit TourMemento Mori Tour
Related articles Awards and nominationsDiscographySongsCovers of Depeche Mode songsRecoilMute RecordsDaniel MillerJonathan KesslerFor The Masses


References