 As one of the most successful electro-synth groups in music history, Depeche Mode was a dominant and groundbreaking musical force during the '80s and continues to hold much clout in the neo-synth pop '90s.
The seeds for Depeche Mode were planted as far back as 1976 when keyboardists Vince Clarke and Andrew Fletcher formed the group No Romance in China. Relying exclusively on their synthesizers, they quickly gained a following in the post-punk London club scene with their single "Photographic," and were soon signed to Daniel Miller's Mute Records.
Following several new singles of up-tempo dance tracks, the band released their debut album, Speak and Spell, in 1981. The album was a success, but the departure of principal songwriter Clarke shortly after its release seemed like it might kill their chances of a worthy follow-up. To the contrary, with replacement keyboardist Alan Wilder, and Gore emerging as the chief musical force, Depeche Mode continued to build their popularity. Their fourth album, 1984's Some Great Reward, broke through to mainstream audiences in both the U.S. and the U.K. A darker work than their previous efforts, Reward was highlighted by synth-pop classics like the scathing "Blasphemous Rumours" and the sadomasochistic "Master and Servant."
The industrial flavored "People are People" also became a worldwide smash. Things held together through 1993's Songs of Faith and Devotion, which featured a more guitar-oriented sound and the singles "I Feel You" and "Walking In My Shoes," but by 1995 Wilder had left the group. The situation got worse when Gahan was hospitalized, reportedly because of a drug overdose, and only a few months later attempted suicide. He entered a rehab clinic for heroin addiction and the band took a year-long hiatus.
Amazingly enough, Depeche Mode stayed together and Gahan, Gore and Fletcher released Ultra in 1997, proving they still had what it took with songs like "Barrel of a Gun," and "It's No Good." In 1998, Depeche Mode released the double-disc greatest hits compilation Singles '86-'98 and followed it with an extensive worldwide tour.
The band's 2001 release, Exciter, was followed by another world tour, this one lasting five months and covering over twenty countries.
~ Joe Hauler
|
