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Depeche Mode Band History

In 1980 Composition of Sound was formed in Basildon, Essex, by guitarist and vocalists Andy Fletcher and Martin Gore and keyboardist Vince Clarke. David Gahan then joined and the group changed to synthesizers and changed the name, to Depeche Mode. Within a year of their formation, they were signed to Mute Records. The first single "Dreaming of Me" was a small U.K. hit. Followed by "New Life", which charted at No.11, and by "Just Can't Get Enough", which hit the British Top Ten. Speak & Spell, Depeche Mode's debut album, was released in November of 1981.

They got signed to Sire Records in the U.S.. Their major following was with club audiences. "Just Can't Get Enough" became a major dance hit. A tour of England and Europe began, and after Vince Clark left Depeche Mode to form Yazoo. Alan Wilder then joined the band as the group released its fourth single "The Meaning of Love".In 1982 A second hit album titled "A Broken Frame" was released. In 1983, Depeche Mode released "Construction Time Again", which contained the club and dance hit"Everything Counts".
"People Are People" was released in 1984. "People Are People" was Depeche Mode's first North American success, which Depeche Mode built on with their fourth release "Some Great Reward". In the next two years they released "Catching Up With Depeche Mode" and "Black Celebration" years. Sire flipped the "Stripped" single - which Depeche had spend three weeks perfecting - and played it's B-side, "But Not Tonight", a song recorded in a day. Following the Black Celebration Tour, their most successful American tour to that date, the band followed it up with "Music for the Masses". During the tour the began the filming of "A Question Of Time" which was filmed in the streets of L.A. with new photographer Anton Corbign.

Music For the Masses was Released in 1987, with their new producer David Bascombe "Strangelove", the album's first single, had no less than 14 different remixes. "Music for the Masses" itself had trouble reach the UK Top Ten. "Little 15", released in Germany, scraped no higher than number 60. Their record sales still were no match for their concert sales. After an extensive world tour, Depeche Mode played at a sold out Pasadena Rose Bowl in front of 70,000 fans. After this a video and album were released entitled 101, a live recording of the concert at the Rose Bowl.

Violator was released witht the first singel "Personal Jesus". It was a huge success, becoming one of the largest selling CD singles in U.S. history. Then followed "Enjoy the Silence", a massive hit. Later that year, they attended a record signing on March 20th at the La Cienega Boulevard record store to an amazing 17,ooo fans. A riot broke loose and the signing was canceled. $25,000 in repairs was needed after the riot. A while later, they commenced their Violator World Tour. In New York and L.A. they sold over 40,000 tickets in a matter of hours. The demand was in for tickets to the shows. At the end of the tour Dave decided he wanted to move. He did so and moved to L.A. Dave was now concerned of steering away from their normal dance albums and trying a new alternative blues album.

In 1993 Depeche Mode released "Songs of Faith and Devotion", a much more rock oriented album. This albumwas the first to use live drums, as well as outside musicians. "I Feel You" was the first to be released. SOFAD debuted at #1 on Billboard's Top 100 and on the British charts as well. It was the first "alternative" album to ever achieve this distinguished double. It remained on top for just one week.

Still, Depeche set out on a 14 month world tour, places it had never been. Depeche Mode continued to sell out shows in North America and Europe. In 1995 Alan Wilder, Depeche Mode's Drummer and Keyboardist decided to leave the band, due unsatisfaction with internal working. The three band members decided to still continue the band. Martin now wrote and programmed the song into the keyboards.
Not long after Depeche Mode finished recording Ultra with thier new producer Tim Simenon. They released "Barrel of A Gun" in 1997. 9 months after the release of Barrel of a Gun Depeche Mode officially released Ultra which debuted at #5 of the U.S. Billboards. In Spain, Germany, France, and the U.K. the album gained Platinum status. In Italy, Hong Kong and Canada it reached gold status. They promoted this by giving over 250 interviews and playing shows such as Jay Leno and later David Letterman.

In September of 1998 Depeche Mode started working on a few new tracks. They recorded a new song entitled "Only When I Lose Myself" which accompanied an album of all the Depeche Mode singles from Black Celebration. After the release The band started The "Singles Tour" which Lasted for 4 months countries they had never been to. They also played at the Kroq Almost Acoustic X-mas show to screaming fans. There they finished the show with "Never Let Me Down Again" with help from Smashing Pumpkin's lead singer Billy Corigan. They then played on David Letterman and ended in Anahiem. Recently they were voted by the fans in a KROQ poll, The Best Band of All Time. They received over 70,000 votes. They are now currently on vacation and it is looking good for a new album.

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