The result of this verbal contract was their first single " Dreaming of Me", recorded in December 1980 and released in February 1981, reaching number 57 in the UK charts. While playing a live gig at the Bridge House in Canning Town, the band were approached by Daniel Miller (an electronic musician and founder of Mute Records), who was interested in them recording a single for his burgeoning label. The band made their recording debut in 1980 on the Some Bizzare Album with the song "Photographic", which was later re-recorded for their debut album Speak & Spell. I like the sound of that." Gore recollects that the first time the band played as Depeche Mode was a school gig in May 1980. When explaining the choice for the new name (taken from a French fashion magazine, Dépêche mode) Martin Gore said, "It means hurried fashion or fashion dispatch. Dave Gahan joined the band in 1980 after Clarke heard him perform at a local scout hut jam session, singing to a rendition of David Bowie's " Heroes", and Depeche Mode were born. Soon after the formation of Composition of Sound, Clarke and Fletcher switched to synthesisers, working odd jobs including carpentry to buy or borrow them from friends. In March 1980, Clarke, Gore and Fletcher formed a band called Composition of Sound, with Clarke on vocals/guitar, Gore on keyboards and Fletcher on bass. In 1979, Marlow, Gore, and friend Paul Redmond formed a band called The French Look with Marlow on vocals/keyboards, Gore on guitar and Redmond on keyboards. In 1978–79, Martin Gore played guitar in an acoustic duo Norman and The Worms with school friend Philip Burdett on vocals. 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 rip-off band", The Plan, with friends Robert Marlow and Paul Langwith. Fletcher would later recall, "Why am I in the band? It was accidental right from the beginning. History Formation and debut album (1977–1981)ĭepeche Mode's origins date back to 1977, when schoolmates Vince Clarke and Andy Fletcher formed a The Cure-influenced band called No Romance in China, with Clarke on vocals and guitar and Fletcher on bass. 1.12 Sounds of the Universe (2008–present).1.8 Songs of Faith and Devotion and Wilder's departure (1992–1995).Q magazine calls Depeche Mode "The most popular electronic band the world has ever known". According to EMI, Depeche Mode have sold over 100 million albums and singles worldwide, making them the most successful electronic band in music history. Wilder left the band in 1995 and since then Gahan, Gore, and Fletcher have continued as a trio.ĭepeche Mode have had forty-eight songs in the UK Singles Chart and twelve top 10 albums in the UK charts, two of which debuted at #1. Vince Clarke left the band after the release of their 1981 debut album, Speak & Spell, and was replaced by Alan Wilder (keyboards, drums) with Gore taking over songwriting.
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The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan (lead vocals), Martin Gore (keyboards, guitar, vocals, chief songwriter after 1981), Andy Fletcher (keyboards) and Vince Clarke (keyboards, chief songwriter 1980–81). Depeche Mode live at the 2006 O 2 Wireless Festivalĭepeche Mode ( pronounced /dɨˈpɛʃ/ də- pesh) are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex.