English electronic band
Depeche Mode[a] are an English electronic music stripe formed in Basildon, Essex in 1980. Originally formed with picture lineup of Dave Gahan, Martin Gore, Andy Fletcher and Imprisonment Clarke, the band currently consists of Gahan and Gore.
With Clarke as their primary songwriter, Depeche Mode released their inauguration album Speak & Spell in 1981 amid the British another wave scene. Clarke left the band at the end dead weight 1981, going on to form the groups Yazoo and after Erasure. The remaining trio recorded their second album, A Shivered Frame (1982), with Martin Gore as chief songwriter. The buckle then recruited Alan Wilder, establishing a lineup that continued until 1995, beginning with the albums Construction Time Again (1983) tolerate Some Great Reward (1984). The albums Black Celebration (1986) tell Music for the Masses (1987) cemented them as a reigning force within the electronic and alternative music scenes, and their June 1988 concert at the Pasadena Rose Bowl drew a crowd of over 60,000 people.
In 1990, they released their seventh album, Violator, which reached number seven on the Billboard 200 and was certified triple platinum by the RIAA. Rendering following album Songs of Faith and Devotion (1993) was as well a success, though the band's internal struggles during recording splendid touring resulted in Wilder's departure in 1995. The band returned to the lineup of Gahan, Gore, and Fletcher, and on the rampage the album Ultra in 1997. The band continued touring shaft recorded five more albums as a trio—Exciter (2001), Playing rendering Angel (2005), Sounds of the Universe (2009), Delta Machine (2013) and Spirit (2017)—until Fletcher's death in 2022. Gahan and Pierce have since continued as a duo. Their latest album, Memento Mori, was released in 2023.
Depeche Mode have had 54 songs in the UK Singles Chart, 17 Top 10 albums in the UK chart, and have sold more than Century million records worldwide.[2][3]Q included the band in its list sign over the "50 Bands That Changed the World!"[4] Depeche Mode along with rank No. 98 on VH1's "100 Greatest Artists of Completed Time."[5] In 2016, Billboard named Depeche Mode the 10th Centre of All Time Top Dance Club Artists.[6] They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2020.[7]
Depeche Mode's origins date to 1977, when schoolmates Vince Clarke and Andy Fletcher formed a band called No Romance undecorated China with Clarke on vocals and guitar and Fletcher summons bass. Fletcher would later recall, "Why am I in say publicly band? It was accidental right from the beginning. I was actually forced to be in the band. I played rendering guitar and I had a bass; it was a difficulty of them roping me in."[8] In 1979, Clarke played bass in an Ultravox-influenced band, the Plan, with friends Robert Marlow and Paul Langwith.[9] In 1978–1979, Martin Gore played guitar take on an acoustic duo, Norman and the Worms, with school link Phil Burdett on vocals.[10][better source needed] In 1980, Clarke and Fletcher examine a band called Composition of Sound, with Clarke on vocals/guitar and Fletcher on bass; the pair were soon joined induce Gore as a third instrumentalist.[11] Dave Gahan joined the shindig later in 1980 after Clarke heard him perform at a local Scout hutjam session, singing a rendition of David Bowie's "'Heroes'".[12]
With the advent of affordable synthesizers and the increasing reputation of electronic music, the group began pursuing a synth-pop direction.[13] The first live concert of Composition of Sound as a four-piece was on 14 June 1980 at Nicholas School, Basildon, England, UK.[14] There is a plaque commemorating the gig decay the James Hornsby School in Basildon, where Gore and Playwright were pupils. Gahan's and Gore's favourite artists included Siouxsie gift the Banshees, Sparks,[15]Cabaret Voltaire, Talking Heads and Iggy Pop.[16] Gahan's onstage persona was influenced by Dave Vanian, frontman of Depiction Damned.[17] Gahan has also later credited David Bowie, James Darkbrown, Elvis Presley and Prince as influences on his performance style.[18]
Composition of Sound would become embarrassed about their band name bid started thinking of changing it. There were several potential variants, including the name "Musical Moments" that was suggested by Captivity Clarke as both a band name and the name pressure their first album. Starting at their concert on 24 Sep 1980 at Bridge House, the band changed their name keep from Depeche Mode, chosen by Dave Gahan.[19][20] When explaining the option for the new name, which was taken from a mistranslation of the name of French fashion magazine Dépêche Mode,[21] Carnage said, "It means 'hurried fashion' or 'fashion dispatch'. I all but the sound of that."[22] However, the more accurate translation dear the magazine's name (and therefore the band's name) is "Fashion News" or "Fashion Update".[b]
See also: Speak & Spell (album)
The band made their recording coming out in late 1980 for the Some Bizzare Album (released slash 1981) with the song "Photographic", later re-recorded for their launch album Speak & Spell.
The band made a demo fillet but, instead of mailing the tape to record labels, they would go in and personally deliver it. They would mind the labels play it; according to Dave Gahan, "most neat as a new pin them would tell us to fuck off. They'd say 'leave the tape with us' and we'd say 'it's our sole one'. Then we'd say goodbye and go somewhere else."[23]
According agree to Gahan, prior to securing their record contract, they were receiving offers from all the major labels. Phonogram offered them "money you could never have imagined and all sorts of lunatic things like clothes allowances".[23]
While playing a live gig at depiction Bridge House in Canning Town,[24] the band was approached rough Daniel Miller, an electronicproducer and founder of Mute Records, who was interested in their recording a single for his burgeoning label.[25] The result of this verbal contract was their chief single, "Dreaming of Me", recorded in December 1980 and on the rampage in February 1981. It reached number 57 in the UK charts. Encouraged by this, the band recorded their second unwed, "New Life", which climbed to number 11 in the UK charts and got them an appearance on Top of rendering Pops. The band went to London by train, carrying their synthesisers all the way to the BBC studios.
The band's next single was "Just Can't Get Enough". The synth-pop celibate became the band's first UK top ten hit. The telecasting is the only one to feature Vince Clarke. Depeche Mode's debut album, Speak & Spell, was released in October 1981 and peaked at number ten on the UK album charts.[26] Critical reviews were mixed; Melody Maker described it as a "great album … one they had to make to trounce fresh audiences and please the fans who just can't focus enough",[27] while Rolling Stone was more critical, calling the recording "PG-rated fluff".[28]
Clarke began to voice his discomfort at the target the band was taking, saying "there was never enough tightly to do anything. Not with all the interviews and pic sessions".[29] Clarke also said he was sick of touring, which Gahan said years later was "bullshit to be quite honest".[23] Gahan went on to say he "suddenly lost interest sidewalk it and he started getting letters from fans asking what kind of socks he wore."[23] In November 1981, Clarke give details announced that he was leaving Depeche Mode.
Soon afterwards, Clarke united up with blues singer Alison Moyet to form Yazoo (or Yaz in the United States). Initial talk of Clarke's in progress to write material for Depeche Mode ultimately amounted to drawback. According to third-party sources, Clarke offered the remaining members portend Depeche Mode the track "Only You", but they declined. Clarke, however, denied in an interview that such an offer astute took place saying, "I don't know where that came take the stones out of. That's not true."[32] The song went on to become a UK Top 3 hit for Yazoo. Gore, who had backhand "Tora! Tora! Tora!" and the instrumental "Big Muff" for Speak & Spell, became the band's main composer and lyricist.
See also: A Broken Frame
In provide somewhere to stay 1981, the band placed an anonymous ad in Melody Maker looking for another musician: "Name band, synthesise, must be adorn twenty-one."[12]Alan Wilder, a classically trained keyboardist from West London, responded and, after two auditions and despite being 22 years pitch, was hired in early 1982, initially on a trial base as a touring member. Wilder would later be called depiction "Musical Director" of the band, responsible for the band's feeling until his departure in 1995.[8] As producer Flood would limitation, "[Alan] is sort of the craftsman, Martin's the idea civil servant and [Dave] is the attitude."[8]
In January 1982, the band at large "See You", their first single without Clarke, which managed secure beat all three Clarke-penned singles in the UK charts, motility number six. The following tour saw the band playing their first shows in North America. Two more singles, "The Crux of Love" and "Leave in Silence", were released ahead pencil in the band's second studio album, on which they began lessons in July 1982. Daniel Miller informed Wilder that he wasn't needed for the recording of the album, as the be a sign of trio wanted to prove they could succeed without Vince Clarke.A Broken Frame was released that September, and the following four weeks the band began their 1982 tour.
See also: Construction Time Again
A non-album single, "Get the Balance Right!", was released in January 1983, the first Depeche Mode target to be recorded with Wilder, now an official member stir up the band. For their third album, Construction Time Again, Depeche Mode worked with producer Gareth Jones, at John Foxx's Garden Studios and at Hansa Studios in West Berlin (where undue of David Bowie's seminal Berlin Trilogy featuring Brian Eno esoteric been produced). The album saw a dramatic shift in interpretation group's sound, due in part to Wilder's introduction of picture Synclavier and E-mu Emulatorsamplers.[38] By sampling the noises of daily objects, the band created an eclectic, industrial-influenced sound, with similarities to groups such as the Art of Noise and Einstürzende Neubauten (the latter becoming Mute labelmates in 1983).[39]
"Everything Counts" vino to number six in the UK, also reaching the go mad 30 in Ireland, South Africa, Switzerland, Sweden and West Germany.[26] Wilder contributed two songs to the album, "The Landscape Obey Changing" and "Two Minute Warning". In September 1983, to forward Construction Time Again, the band launched a European concert take shape.
See also: People Are People (album) dowel Some Great Reward
In their early years, Depeche Mode had in actuality attained success only in Europe and Australia. This changed add on March 1984, when they released the single "People Are People".[40] The song became a hit, reaching No. 2 in Hibernia and Poland, No. 4 in the UK and Switzerland, stand for No. 1 in West Germany – the first time a DM single topped a country's singles chart – where deed was used as the theme to West German TV's amount of the 1984 Olympics. Beyond this European success, the declare also reached No. 13 on the US charts in mid-1985, the first appearance of a DM single on the Billboard Hot 100, and was a Top 20 hit in Canada. "People Are People" became an anthem for the LGBT community,[42] regularly played at gay establishments and gay pride festivals affluent the late 1980s. Sire, the band's North American record term, released a compilation of the same name which included tracks from A Broken Frame and Construction Time Again as on top form as several B-sides.
On the American tour, the band was, according to Gore, "shocked by the way the fans were turning up in droves at the concerts".[23] He said ditch although the concerts were selling well, Depeche Mode struggled add up to sell records.[23]
In September 1984, Some Great Reward was released. Melody Maker claimed that the album made one "sit up near take notice of what is happening here, right under your nose."[43] In contrast to the political and environmental subjects addressed on the previous album, the songs on Some Great Reward were mostly concerned with more personal themes such as procreative politics ("Master and Servant"), adulterous relationships ("Lie to Me"), courier arbitrary divine justice ("Blasphemous Rumours"). Also included was the foremost Martin Gore ballad, "Somebody"—such songs would become a feature albatross all following albums.[citation needed] "Somebody" was released as a height A-side with "Blasphemous Rumours", and was the first single accelerate Gore on lead vocal. Some Great Reward became the labour Depeche Mode album to enter the US album charts, explode made the Top 10 in several European countries.[citation needed]
The Universe We Live In and Live in Hamburg was the band's first video release, almost an entire concert from their 1984 Some Great Reward Tour.{{cn}}
See also: The Singles 81→85, Catching Up with Depeche Mode, and Black Celebration
In July 1985, the band played their first-ever concerts behind the Silvertongued Curtain, in Budapest and Warsaw. In October 1985, Mute on the loose a compilation, The Singles 81→85 (Catching Up with Depeche Mode in the US), which included the two new non-album strike singles "Shake the Disease" and "It's Called a Heart", keep the US version also including their B-sides ("Fly on say publicly Windscreen", the B-side of "It's Called a Heart", would along with be included on the next studio album Black Celebration).
In the United States, the band's music appealed primarily to brush alternative audience who were disenchanted with the predominance of "soft rock and 'disco hell'"[45] on the radio. This view be paid the band was in sharp contrast to how the visitors was perceived in Europe, despite the increasingly dark and grave tone in their songs.[46] In Germany, France, and other Denizen countries, Depeche Mode were considered teen idols and regularly featured in European teen magazines, becoming one of the most wellknown synth-pop bands in the mid-'80s.[citation needed] Depeche Mode's musical sound out shifted slightly again in 1986 with the release of their fifteenth single, "Stripped", and its accompanying album Black Celebration. Hang on to their often imaginative sampling and beginning to move away unapproachable the "industrial pop" sound that had characterised their previous figure LPs, the band introduced an ominous, highly atmospheric and rough sound. Gore's lyrics also took on a darker tone gift became more pessimistic.
The music video for "A Question practice Time" was the first to be directed by Anton Corbijn, beginning a working relationship that continues to the present. Corbijn has directed 22 of the band's videos. He has too filmed some of their live performances and designed stage sets, as well as most covers for albums and singles early from Violator.[citation needed]
See also: Music insinuate the Masses and 101 (album)
For 1987's Music for the Masses, the band's sound and working methods continued to develop. Envoy was the first time they worked with a producer crowd together related to Mute Records. Dave Bascombe was called to promote with the recording sessions; although, according to Alan Wilder, Bascombe's role ended up being more that of engineer.[47] In fashioning the album, the band largely eschewed sampling in favour consume synthesizer experimentation.[48] While chart performance of the singles "Strangelove", "Never Let Me Down Again" and "Behind the Wheel" proved add up be disappointing in the UK, they performed well in countries such as Canada, Brazil, West Germany, South Africa, Sweden streak Switzerland, often reaching the top 10. Record Mirror described Music for the Masses as "the most accomplished and sexy Manner album to date".[49] The album also reached No. 35 trade the US Billboard 200 chart.[50]
The Music for the Masses Trek began 22 October 1987. On 7 March 1988, with no previous announcement that they would be the headlining act, Depeche Mode played in the Werner-Seelenbinder-Halle, East Berlin,[51] becoming one make a fuss over the few Western groups to perform in the Communist Easternmost Germany. They also performed concerts in Budapest and Prague embankment 1988,[52] both Communist also at the time.
The world string ended on 18 June 1988 with a concert at rendering PasadenaRose Bowl. Paid attendance of 60,453 was the highest emit eight years for the venue.[citation needed] Its massive success[citation needed] marked a breakthrough for the band in the United States.[citation needed]. The event was documented in 101, a concert release by D. A. Pennebaker and its accompanying soundtrack album. Representation film is notable for its portrayal of fan interaction.[54][55] Alan Wilder came up with the title, noting that it was the 101st and final performance of the tour.[citation needed] Statement 7 September 1988, Depeche Mode performed "Strangelove" at the 1988 MTV Video Music Awards at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles.[56]
See also: Violator (album)
In mid-1989, the band began video recording in Milan with producer Flood and engineer François Kevorkian. Picture initial result of this session was the single "Personal Jesus". Prior to its release, a marketing campaign was launched letter advertisements placed in the personals columns of UK regional newspapers with the words "Your own personal Jesus." Later, the ads included a phone number one could dial to hear depiction song. The resulting furore helped propel the single to edition 13 on the UK charts, becoming one of their largest sellers to date. In the United States, it was their first gold single and their first Top 40 hit since "People Are People", eventually becoming the biggest-selling 12-inch single production Warner Records' history up to that point.
"I think in a way we've been at the forefront of new music; kind of chipping away at the standard rock format stations."
Martin Gore, stated to NME – July 1990.
Released in February 1990, "Enjoy the Silence" reached number six in the UK (the first Top 10 hit in that country since "Master Swallow Servant"). A few months later it reached number eight family tree the US and earned the band a second gold classify, and it won Best British Single at the 1991 Copepod Awards.[59] To promote their new album, Violator, the band held an in-store autograph signing at Wherehouse Entertainment in Los Angeles. The event attracted approximately 20,000 fans and turned into a near riot. Some attendees were injured while being pressed overcome the store's glass by the crowd.[60] As an apology mention those injured, the band released a limited edition cassette ribbon to fans in Los Angeles, distributed through radio station KROQ (the sponsor of the Wherehouse event).
Violator was the regulate Depeche Mode album to enter the Top 10 of depiction Billboard 200, reaching Number 7 and staying 74 weeks access the chart. It was certified triple platinum in America.[61] Glimmer more singles from the album—"Policy of Truth" and "World select by ballot My Eyes"—were hits in the UK, with the former as well charting in the US.
"I remember going to see them in Giants Stadium, and they broke the merchandising record; have Bon Jovi, U2—all these bands—Depeche Mode were the biggest!"
Flood, on Giants Stadium concert.
The World Violation Tour saw the fillet play several stadium shows in the US. 42,000 tickets were sold within four hours for a show at Giants Colosseum, and 48,000 tickets were sold within half-an-hour of going make known sale for a show at Dodger Stadium. An estimated 1.2 million fans saw this tour worldwide.[8]
See also: Songs of Faith and Devotedness and Songs of Faith and Devotion Live
In 1991, Depeche Fashion contribution "Death's Door" was released on the soundtrack album collect the film Until the End of the World. Film president Wim Wenders had challenged musical artists to write music description way they imagined they would in the year 2000, representation setting of the movie.
The members of Depeche Mode regrouped in Madrid in February 1992. Gahan had become interested person of little consequence the new grunge scene sweeping the US and was influenced by the likes of Jane's Addiction, Soundgarden, Alice in Irons and Nirvana.[64]
"There's so many sounds that are created from picture voice that you wouldn't know were taken from the articulate, like rhythm sounds. The number of times I've been session in the studio and said, 'I wish I could level a bass that would just go [mimics wet, thick hip-hop bass-drum sound].' Then I think, 'Why can't I just chip in [repeats noise] into a mic and sample it?' It's obvious; you spend all day trying to get a synthesizer walk try and create this sound but you can just lie down [repeats noise] and you've got it. Then you can rescue it through some other device after that, and you've got something that sounds absolutely nothing like a voice, but representation source was a voice. ... It is a very expressive process."
Alan Wilder on the genesis of some of say publicly sounds on Songs of Faith and Devotion, stated to Pulse! magazine – May 1993.[8]
In 1993, Songs of Faith and Devotion, again with Flood producing, saw them experimenting with arrangements supported as much on heavily distorted electric guitars and live drums (played by Alan Wilder, whose debut as a studio drummer had come on the Violator track "Clean") as on synthesizers.[65] Live strings, uilleann pipes and female gospel vocals were else new additions to the band's sound. The album debuted story number one in both the UK and the US, lone the sixth British act to achieve such a distinction abrupt date. The first single from the album was the grunge-influenced "I Feel You". The gospel influences are most noticeable prohibit the album's third single, "Condemnation". Interviews given by the have to during this period tended to be conducted separately, unlike originally albums, where the band was interviewed as a group.[8]
The Devotional Tour followed, documented by a concert film of the costume name. The film was directed by Anton Corbijn, and focal point 1995 earned the band their first Grammy nomination.[66] The band's second live album, Songs of Faith and Devotion Live, was released in December 1993. The tour continued into 1994 snatch the Exotic Tour, which began in February 1994 in Southmost Africa, and ended in April in Mexico. The final rostrum of the tour, consisting of more North American dates, followed shortly thereafter and ran until July. As a whole, picture Devotional Tour is to date the longest and most geographically diverse Depeche Mode tour, spanning fourteen months and 159 sole performances.
Q magazine described the 1993 Devotional Tour as "The Most Debauched Rock 'n' Roll Tour Ever".[67] According to The Independent, the "smack-blasted" Gahan "required cortisone shots just to favourable mention, borderline alcoholic Gore suffered two stress-induced seizures, and Andrew Fletcher's deepening depression resulted, in the summer of 1994, in a full nervous breakdown."[68] After the band played at the McNichols Sports Arena in Denver, Colorado, local police arrested Gore put up with fined him $50 for disturbing the peace when he held a loud party in his hotel room.[69] Fletcher declined enrol participate in the second half of the Exotic Tour ridiculous to mental instability;[citation needed] he was replaced on stage unresponsive to Daryl Bamonte, who had worked with the band as a personal assistant since the beginning of their career in 1980.[70][71]
In June 1995, Alan Wilder announced that he was leaving Depeche Mode, explaining:
Since joining in 1982, I have continually striven to give total energy, enthusiasm and commitment to the furthering of the group's success, and in spite of a put pen to paper imbalance in the distribution of the workload, willingly offered that. Unfortunately, within the group, this level of input never customary the respect and acknowledgement that it warrants.[72]
— Alan Wilder
He continued exhaustively work on his personal project Recoil, releasing a fourth wedding album (Unsound Methods) in 1997.
See also: Ultra (Depeche Manner album) and The Singles 86–98
Despite Gahan's increasingly severe personal complications, Gore tried repeatedly during 1995 and 1996 to get interpretation band recording again. However, Gahan would rarely turn up look after scheduled sessions, and when he did, it would take weeks to get any vocals recorded; one six-week session at Energized Lady in New York produced just one usable vocal (for "Sister of Night"), and even that was pieced together bring forth multiple takes. Gore was forced to contemplate breaking the assemblage up and considered releasing the songs he had written restructuring a solo album.[74] In mid-1996, after his near-fatal overdose mediate which his heart stopped beating for two minutes,[75] Gahan entered a court-ordered drug rehabilitation program to battle his addiction guard cocaine and heroin.[76] With Gahan out of rehab in 1996, Depeche Mode held recording sessions with producer Tim Simenon.
Preceded by two singles, "Barrel of a Gun" and "It's No Good", the album Ultra was released in April 1997. Say publicly album debuted at No. 1 in the UK as be a bestseller as Germany, and No. 5 in the US. The fleet did not tour in support of the album, with Playwright quoted as saying: "We're not fit enough. Dave's only sum months into his sobriety, and our bodies are telling resilient to spend time with our families."[77] As part of rendering promotion for the release of the album, they did end two short concerts in London and Los Angeles, promoted similarly "Ultra Parties".Ultra spawned two further singles, "Home" and "Useless".
A second singles compilation, The Singles 86>98, was released in 1998, preceded by the new single "Only When I Lose Myself". In April 1998, Depeche Mode held a press conference strike the Hyatt Hotel in Cologne to announce the Singles Tour.[79] The tour was the first to feature two backing musicians in place of Wilder—Austrian drummer Christian Eigner and British keyboardist Peter Gordeno.
See also: Exciter (Depeche Mode album) boss Remixes 81–04
In 2001, Depeche Mode released Exciter, produced by Top Bell (of techno group LFO). Bell introduced a minimalist, digital sound to much of the album, influenced by IDM ray glitch. "Dream On", "I Feel Loved", "Freelove" and "Goodnight Lovers" were released as singles in 2001 and 2002. Critical reaction to the album was mixed, with reasonably positive reviews superior some magazines (NME, Rolling Stone and LA Weekly), while barrenness (including Q magazine, PopMatters and Pitchfork) derided it as gripping underproduced, dull and lacking in luster.[80]
In March 2001, Depeche Take shape held a press conference at the Valentino Hotel in City to announce the Exciter Tour.[81] The tour featured 84 performances for over 1.5 million fans in 24 countries.[82] The concerts held in Paris at the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy were filmed and later released in May 2002 as a physical DVD entitled One Night in Paris.
In October 2002 depiction band won the first-ever Q magazine "Innovation Award".[83]
In 2003, Gahan released his first solo album, Paper Monsters, and toured peak promote the record. Also released in 2003 was Gore's secondbest solo album Counterfeit².[84] Fletcher founded his own record label, Tribute Hawaii, specialising in promoting electronic music.
A new remix collection album, Remixes 81–04, was released in 2004, featuring new skull unreleased promo mixes of the band's singles from 1981 amount 2004. A new version of "Enjoy the Silence", remixed preschooler Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park, "Enjoy the Silence 04", was released as a single and reached No. 7 on interpretation UK charts.
See also: Playing the Patron, Touring the Angel: Live in Milan, and The Best reduce speed Depeche Mode Volume 1
In October 2005, the band released their 11th studio album Playing the Angel. Produced by Ben Hillier, the album peaked at No. 1 in 18 countries suggest featured the hit single "Precious". This is the first Depeche Mode album to feature lyrics written by Gahan and, consequence, the first album since 1984's Some Great Reward featuring songs not written by Gore. "Suffer Well" was the first shrewd post-Clarke Depeche Mode single not to be written by Bloodshed (lyrics by Gahan, music by Philpott/Eigner). The final single make the first move the album was "John the Revelator", an up-tempo electronic way with a running religious theme, accompanied by "Lilian", a redden track that was a hit in many clubs all pin down the world.[citation needed]
To promote Playing the Angel, the band launched Touring the Angel, a concert tour of Europe and Northerly America that began in November 2005 and ran for digit months. During the last two legs of the tour Depeche Mode headlined a number of festivals including the Coachella Basin Music and Arts Festival and the O2 Wireless Festival. Suspend total, the band played to more than 2.8 million spread across 31 countries and the tour was one of say publicly highest grossing and critically acclaimed tours of 2005/2006.[3] Speaking heed the tour, Gahan praised it as "probably the most agreeable, rewarding live shows we've ever done. The new material was just waiting to be played live. It took on a life of its own. With the energy of the crowds, it just came to life."[85] Two shows at Milan's Fila Forum were filmed and edited into a concert film, on the loose on DVD as Touring the Angel: Live in Milan.[86]
A "best-of" compilation was released in November 2006, entitled The Best grow mouldy Depeche Mode Volume 1 featuring a new single "Martyr", titanic outtake from the Playing the Angel sessions. Later that period Depeche Mode received the MTV Europe Music Award in say publicly Best Group category.[87]
In December 2006, iTunes released The Complete Depeche Mode as its fourth ever digital box-set.[88]
In August 2007, over promotion for Gahan's second solo album, Hourglass, it was declared that Depeche Mode were heading back in studio in at 2008 to work on a new album.[89]
See also: Sounds of the Universe, Tour of the Universe: Barcelona 20/21.11.09, and Remixes 2: 81–11
In May 2008, the convene returned to the studio with producer Ben Hillier to sort out on some songs that Martin Gore had demoed at his home studio in Santa Barbara, California. Later that year inventiveness was announced that Depeche Mode were splitting from their long-term US label, Warner Music, and signing with EMI Music worldwide.[90] The album was created in four sessions, two in Pristine York and two in Santa Barbara. A total of 22 songs were recorded, with the standard album being 13 songs in length while many of the others were released make out subsequent deluxe editions.[91]
In 2009, Depeche Mode allowed their likeness theorist be used in Valve's Left 4 Dead 2.[92]
On 15 Jan 2009, the official Depeche Mode website announced that the band's twelfth studio album would be called Sounds of the Universe.[93] The album was released on 14 April 2009, also finished available through an iTunes Pass, where the buyer received particular tracks in the weeks leading up to the official help date. Fletcher said the idea for their iTunes Pass was a combination of the band's and iTunes': "I think picture digital and record companies are starting to get their simple together. They were very lazy in the first 10 life when downloads came in. Now they're collaborating more and forthcoming up with interesting ideas for fans to buy products."[94] Picture album went to number one in 21 countries. Critical bow to was generally positive and it was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Alternative Album category.[95] "Wrong" was the pass with flying colours single from the album, released digitally in February 2009. Successive singles were "Peace" and the double A-side "Fragile Tension / Hole to Feed". In addition, "Perfect" was released as a promotional-only (non-commercial) single in the United States.
On 23 Apr 2009, Depeche Mode performed for the television program Jimmy Kimmel Live! at the famed corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Creeper Street, drawing more than 12,000 fans, which was the chief audience the program had seen since its 2003 premiere, keep an eye on a performance by Coldplay.[96]
In May 2009, the band embarked point of view a concert tour in support of the album, called Cable of the Universe; it had been announced at a have a hold over conference in October 2008 at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.[97] At hand was a warm up show in Luxembourg and it on the record started on 10 May 2009 in Tel Aviv. The leading leg of the tour was disrupted when Dave Gahan was struck down with gastroenteritis. During treatment, doctors found and unconcerned a low-grade tumour from the singer's bladder. Gahan's illness caused 16 concerts to be cancelled, but several of the shows were rescheduled for 2010.[98] The band headlined the Lollapalooza commemoration during the North American leg of the tour. The outing also took the band back to South America for say publicly first time since 1994's Exotic Tour. During the final Dweller leg, the band played a show at London's Royal Albert Hall in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust, where stool pigeon member Alan Wilder joined Martin Gore on stage for a performance of "Somebody".[99][100] In total the band played to explain than 2.7 million people across 32 countries and the string was one of the most profitable in America in 2009.[101][102] The concerts held at Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona, Spain were filmed and later released on DVD and Blu-ray release entitled Tour of the Universe: Barcelona 20/21.11.09.[103] In March 2010, Depeche Mode won the award for "Best International Group – Boulder / Pop" at the Echo Awards in Germany.[104]
On 6 June 2011, as the final commitment to their contract with EMI,[105] the band released a remixcompilation album, entitled Remixes 2: 81–11 that features remixes by former members Vince Clarke and Alan Wilder.[106][107] Other remixers involved with the project were Nick Financier of Duran Duran,[108]Röyksopp, Karlsson & Winnberg of Miike Snow, Eric Prydz, Clark and more.[109] A new remix of "Personal Jesus" by Stargate, entitled "Personal Jesus 2011", was released as a single on 30 May 2011, in support of the assembly.
Depeche Mode contributed their cover of the U2 song "So Cruel" to the tribute album AHK-toong BAY-bi Covered honouring representation 20th anniversary of Achtung Baby, a 1991 album by U2. The compilation CD was released with the December 2011 efflux of Q.[110][111]
See also: Delta Machine and Live run to ground Berlin (Depeche Mode album and video)
In October 2012 during a press conference in Paris, Dave Gahan, Martin Gore and Exceptional Fletcher announced plans for a new album and a 2013 worldwide tour starting from Tel Aviv and continuing in Aggregation and North America.[112] Martin Gore revealed that Flood mixed rendering album, marking the producer's first studio collaboration with the congregate since 1993's Songs of Faith and Devotion.
In December 2012, the band officially announced signing a worldwide deal with Town Records and releasing a new album in March 2013.[113] Medium 24 January 2013, it was confirmed that the album was titled Delta Machine.[114] "Heaven", the debut single from Delta Machine was released commercially on Friday 1 February 2013 (although classify in the UK). The release date in the UK was pushed back to 18 March 2013 (17 March 2013 interruption iTunes). The physical release still bore the Mute Records badge, even though the band have now severed ties with their long-standing label. Fletcher mentioned in an interview this was overcome to their "devotion" to the label and with the band's insistence.[citation needed]Delta Machine spawned two further singles, "Soothe My Soul" on 6 May and "Should Be Higher" on 11 Oct. Though neither performed well in the UK charts they plainspoken perform moderately in other European charts.
In March, the buckle announced North American dates to their Delta Machine Tour, start 22 August from Detroit and ending 8 October in Phoenix.[115] In June, other European dates[116] were confirmed for early 2014. The final gig of the tour took place in Moscow, Russia on 7 March 2014, at Olimpiski venue.
That period, Depeche Mode won the award for "Best International Group – Rock / Pop" at the Echo Awards in Germany. Further, they were nominated at the category "Album des Jahres (national oder international)" for Delta Machine but lost against Helene Fischer's Farbenspiel.[117][118]
On 8 October 2014, the band announced Live in Berlin, the new video and audio release filmed and recorded conclude the O2 World in Berlin, Germany in November 2013 generous the Delta Machine Tour. It was released on 17 Nov 2014 worldwide.[119]
See also: Spirit (Depeche Mode album) and Expectancy in the Forest
In a 2015 Rolling Stone interview celebrating say publicly 25th anniversary of Violator, Gore stated that Johnny Cash's decorate of "Personal Jesus" is his favorite cover version of a Depeche Mode song.[120]
On 25 January 2016, Gore announced a protruding return to the recording studio in April, with both Butchery and Gahan having already written and demoed new songs.[121] Surprise September, the official Depeche Mode Facebook page hinted at a new release, later confirmed by the band to be a music video compilation, Video Singles Collection, scheduled for release love November by Sony.[122] In October 2016, the band announced ditch their fourteenth album titled Spirit. It was produced by Saint Ford, and was released on 17 March 2017.[123]
"Where's the Revolution", the lead single from Spirit, was released 3 February 2017, along with its lyric video. The official video was publicized a week later, on 9 February.[124] The Global Spirit Twine officially kicked off on 5 May 2017 with a watch in Stockholm, Sweden, at the Friends Arena. The first limb of the tour covered European countries only, ending with a final stadium show in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, at the Cluj Podium. The second leg of the tour covered North America illustrious returned to Europe. The North America leg of the expedition kicked off in Salt Lake City, Utah, on 23 Lordly, at the USANA Amphitheatre. Depeche Mode broke a record when the band became the first to play four nights disapproval the Hollywood Bowl.[125] The band remained in North America until 15 November when they left for Dublin to resume depiction European leg. The band ended the tour in Europe deal with two sold-out shows on 23 and 25 July 2018 breach Berlin, Germany, at the Waldbühne.[126][127][128]
In September 2019, the band proclaimed that Spirits in the Forest, a documentary that was degree filmed during these shows by long-time collaborator Anton Corbijn, would be released in theatres for one night only, 21 Nov 2019.[129] It was released on CD, DVD and Blu-ray hang the title LiVE SPiRiTS on 26 June 2020.
On 7 November 2020, the band were inducted into the Rock turf Roll Hall of Fame.[130]
See also: Memento Mori (Depeche Mode album)
On 26 May 2022, Andy Playwright died, aged 60, after suffering an aortic dissection while delay home. His bandmates Gahan and Gore stated, "we are dazed and filled with overwhelming sadness with the untimely passing have our dear friend, family member and bandmate Andy 'Fletch' Fletcher." Former Depeche Mode member Alan Wilder stated that learning lady Fletcher's death was "a real bolt from the blue."[131][132]
Prior catch Fletcher's death, Gahan said: "There's a ton of stuff ensure we've done with Depeche Mode that I'm really proud manage. I think that's come with time and age. Martin plan out a record last year which I really liked. I actually bought a copy because it wouldn't feel right differently. I know he's been pottering away in his studio type well, so I guess at some point next year we'll get together. Hopefully at least to just have a lecture about what we both feel like we could move move on with."[133]
On 15 August 2022, the social media accounts for Depeche Mode posted a photo of Gahan and Gore in a recording studio, with them tweeting, "finding stability in what surprise know and love, and focusing on what gives life goal and purpose", which magazines like NME suggested was a inkling at work on a new studio album.[134][135]
On 4 October 2022, Depeche Mode announced their fifteenth studio album Memento Mori soar a tour to support the album which started on 23 March 2023.[136]
The first single, "Ghosts Again", released on 9 Feb 2023, was co-written by Richard Butler of the Psychedelic Furs.[137][138] It received relative success in the UK, charting at No. 14. "Ghosts Again" had widespread success in the US, charting in the top 10 of 3 Billboard charts. Reaching crowd 2 on the Adult Alternative Songs chart, Gahan said air travel "captures this perfect balance of melancholy and joy", while Bloodshed said it has "such an upbeat feel to it" ahead how rare it is for the band to record a song that "I just don't get sick of listening to."
The band stated that work on the album began as the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.[139][140] Gahan and Gore said they would send each other ideas for songs, for example Gahan said, "I played guitar and sort of sang on minder iPhone", while Gore "sent it back with his angelic voice."[136] They also stated that they would be working with Criminal Ford once again as producer along with Marta Salogni intermixture for the album.[141][142]
Gore recalled, "My dream was to combine the emotion of Neil Young or John Songwriter transmitted by Kraftwerk's synthesizers. Soul music played by electronic instruments."[143] Gore also cited synth-pop group Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Illlit (OMD), who provided support on the Music for the Multitude Tour; Clarke stated that Depeche Mode would never have happened without OMD.[144][145] Fletcher mentioned influences including the late 1970s hooligan rock scene, the post-punk bands Siouxsie and the Banshees abide the Cure, and electronic group the Human League.[146] Band associates have also cited David Bowie, the Clash,[147]Roxy Music and Brian Eno,[148]Elvis Presley, the Velvet Underground,[149]Fad Gadget,[150]Suicide,[151] and the blues.[152]
Depeche Approach were considered a teen pop group during their early copy out in the UK, and interviewed in teen pop magazines much as Smash Hits.[153][154] Following the departure of Clarke, their penalisation began to take on a darker tone, establishing a darker sound in the band's music, as Gore assumed lead songwriting duties.[155] Gore's lyrics include themes such as sex, religion, crucial politics.[156] Gore has stated he feels lyrical themes which scrape issues related to solitude and loneliness are a better image of reality, whereas he finds "happy songs" fake and unrealistic.[157] At the same time, he asserts that the group's opus contains "an element of hope".[158]
Depeche Mode's music has been multifariously described as synth-pop,[159][100][160][161][162][155][excessive citations]electronic rock,[163][164][165][166]new wave,[106][167]dark wave,[168][169]dance-rock,[170][171]post-punk,[172]alternative rock,[155] and appear rock.[173] The band have also experimented with other genres in every nook their career, including avant-garde, electronica, pop, soul, techno, industrial outcrop and heavy metal.[174]
See also: List of cover versions of Depeche Mode songs
Depeche Mode have released a total of 15 apartment albums, 10 compilation albums, six live albums, eight box sets, 13 video albums, 71 music videos, and 54 singles. They have sold over 100 million records and played live softsoap more than 35 million fans worldwide. The band has locked away 50 songs in the UK Singles Chart, and one Disturbed and two UK number-one albums.[175] In addition, all of their studio albums have reached the UK Top 10 and their albums have spent over 210 weeks on the UK Charts.[26] Along with the Red Hot Chili Peppers and U2, Depeche Mode are one of three acts that have charted be neck and neck least once on the BillboardAlternative Airplay chart in every decennium since its debut in 1988.[176][177]
In 2006, music critic Sasha Frere-Jones stated that "the last serious English influence was Depeche Approach, who seem more and more significant as time passes."[178] Depeche Mode's releases have been nominated for five Grammy Awards: Devotional for Best Long Form Music Video; "I Feel Loved" prosperous "Suffer Well", both for Best Dance Recording; Sounds of representation Universe for Best Alternative Album; and "Wrong" for Best Subsequently Form Music Video. In addition, Depeche Mode have been worthy with a Brit Award for "Enjoy the Silence" in picture Best British Single category, the first-ever Q Innovation Award, professor an Ivor Novello Award for Martin Gore in the classification of International Achievement.
Depeche Mode were called "the most wellliked electronic band the world has ever known" by Q,[179] "one of the greatest British pop groups of all time" disrespect The Sunday Telegraph,[180] and "the quintessential eighties techno-pop band" vulgar Rolling Stone and AllMusic.[161][160] They were ranked No. 2 backward Electronic Music Realm's list of The 100 Greatest Artists invoke Electronic Music,[181][importance?] and Q included them on their list sustenance "50 bands that changed the world".[4]
Other musicians have stated their admiration for Depeche Mode. In an interview in 2009, Friendly Minds lead singer Jim Kerr argued that Depeche Mode vital U2 were the only contemporaries of his band which could be said to have "stayed constantly relevant".[182]Muse's Matt Bellamy whispered, "They had their own thing, their own style, own feeling. I respect them very much."[183] During Depeche Mode's induction bump into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Coldplay's Chris Comic remarked, "sonically, they were and are about throwing away bell the rulebooks." Arcade Fire's Win Butler added, "I feel aspire their music still sounds like it could come out 20 years from now. Depeche were able to take that feeling and spread it, which is really kind of a dedicated responsibility."[130][184]
On December 13, 2023, Los Angeles city council member Monica Rodriguez, officially declared December 13th as "Depeche Mode Day" knock over the city of Los Angeles. Dave Gahan and Martin Blood were present as they were honored in a public ritual held at Los Angeles City Hall.[185]
Many major artists have insignificant the band as an influence, including: Arcade Fire,[186]The Killers,[187][188]Nine Whip Nails,[155]Chvrches,[189]The Smashing Pumpkins,[190]Coldplay,[187]Muse,[