Depeche Mode

Depeche Mode is an electronic music band from the town of Basildon, England, founded in 1980. They have been one of the longest-lived and most successful bands to have emerged during the New Wave/New Romantic era; many of their videos have been heavily rotated on MTV. more...

As of 2006, it is estimated that Depeche Mode has sold over 72 million albums worldwide. They have influenced many of today's popular recording artists, in part due to their innovative work, recording techniques and use of sampling; however they are still often thought of as an "Eighties band". Though influential in the modern electronic dance scene, they remain in the rock genre.

The three current members of Depeche Mode are:

• Martin Gore (primary songwriting, vocals, guitars, keyboards)
• David Gahan (lead vocals, recent songwriting, occasional instruments)
• Andrew Fletcher (early keyboards, primary management, other occasional instruments)

Former members include:

• Alan Wilder (production, keyboards, drums, vocals, occasional songwriting) from 1982 to 1995.
• Vince Clarke (primary songwriting, keyboards), from 1980 to 1981.

Early history

Depeche Mode's origins can be traced back to 1976, when Vince Clarke and Andrew Fletcher formed a band known as "No Romance in China." The band was unsuccessful and in 1979, Vince Clarke formed a new band named "French Look" with Martin Gore and close friend Robert Marlow. In March 1980, Vince and Martin formed a band with Andy Fletcher called "Composition of Sound," with Vince as the vocalist/guitarist, Martin as the keyboardist, and Fletcher as the bassist. Not too long after the formation, Vince and Andy switch to synthesizers, working odd jobs to buy them, or borrowing them from friends. David Gahan (pronounced "Gone"), joined the band in 1980 after Vince Clarke heard him perform at a local gig, and "Depeche Mode" was born. The new name was taken from a French fashion magazine, "Dépêche mode", which translates to "Fashion Update" or "Fashion News Dispatch" (dépêche = dispatch) though it has commonly been mistranslated as "Fast Fashion."

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