Formed in Basildon, Essex in the 80’s, Depeche Mode is an electronic band that had more than 50 songs that entered the UK singles chart and a total of seventeen albums that entered the UK chart. Depeche Mode was very popular in the 80’s that they have sold more than 100 million albums worldwide. They are also one of the bands that was included in the “50 Bands That Changed the World” by Q magazine and they also made the 98th spot on VH1’s “100 Greatest Artist of All Time”. Billboard also named them as one of the most successful dance club artists of all time.
Depeche Mode’s hit songs:
Hit Songs
- I Feel You
- Blasphemous Rumors
- Waiting For The Night
- Master and Servant
- A Question of Lust
- Walking In My Shoes
- Where’s The Revolution
- Heaven
- Dream On
- Never Let Me Down Again
- I Feel You
- Shake the Disease
- Just Can’t Get Enough
- Strangelove
- It’s No Good
- Everything Counts
- People are People
- Enjoy The Silence
- Personal Jesus
- Policy of Truth
Formation
It was in 1977 when Vince Clarke and Andy Fletcher formed a band named No Romance in China. Clarke was doing vocals and guitar while Fletcher was playing the bass guitar. The band was short lived and Vince Clarke decided to form another band and called it French Look. He was joined by Martin Gore who played the keyboards and guitar. Soon after, Andy Fletcher also joined the band and they renamed themselves Composition of Sounds. But in 1980, David Gahan joined as their vocalist and from that moment, Depeche Mode was born.
When Depeche Mode started to gain a following on the London club scene in 1980, they released their single “Photogenic”. And after signing into the record label Mute Records, they released their second single “Dreaming of Me” in 1981. Their third single “Just Can’t Get Enough” reached the Top Ten UK Hit charts. And just when Depeche Mode released their LP album “Speak and Spell”, Vince Clarke decided to leave the group and form another band called Yazoo with Alison Moyet. Depeche Mode then decided to bring Alan Wilder into the band to fill in what Vince Clarke left.
Albums
Speak and Spell
Speak and Spell was Depeche Mode’s debut studio album that was released on October 05, 1981. The album reached the number ten spot at the UK Albums Chart. It featured successful singles like “New Life” and “Just Can’t Get Enough”. This was also Depeche Mode’s first and last album to feature Vince Clarke.
A Broken Frame
Released on September 27, 1982, A Broken Frame was Depeche Mode’s second studio album. This album was entirely written by Martin Gore. The album was able to climb up the number eight spot at the UK Albums Charts bearing the successful singles “Leave in Silence”, “See You”, and “The Meaning of Love”. The album reached a gold status and has sold over 100,000 copies in the UK.
Construction Time Again
Depeche Mode’s third studio album Construction Time Again was released on August 22, 1983 under Mute Records. This was Depeche Mode’s first studio album to feature Alan Wilder as their full time band member. Construction Time Again featured singles like “Love, in Itself” and “Everything Counts”. The album scored the number 6 spot in the UK Albums Chart in 1983 and was able to reach a gold status in the UK and Germany.
Some Great Reward
Some Great Reward was Depeche Mode’s fourth studio album. It was released on September 24, 1984 under the record label Mute Records. The album reached the number five spot in the UK and was able to climb up the number 54 spot in the United States. Some Great Reward featured the successful singles like “People are People”, “Somebody”, “Master and Servant”, and “Blasphemous Rumours”. It reached silver status in the UK and surprisingly, with over a million copies sold, Some Great Reward was able to reach a platinum status in the United States.
Black Celebration
Released on March 17, 1986, Black Celebration was Depeche Mode’s fifth studio album under Mute Records. Just a week after its release, Black Celebration entered the number four spot at the UK charts. This album was cited to be one of the 80’s most influential albums. It featured singles like “A Question Lust”, “A Question of Time”, and “Stripped”. Depeche Mode started the Black Celebration Tour to promote their album.
Music for the Masses
Music for the Masses was Depeche Mode’s sixth studio album under Mute Records and was released on September 28, 1987. Depeche Mode embarked on the Music for the Masses tour to promote their album. Music for the Masses gained international success and reached Platinum status in France and the United States.
Violator
Released on March 19, 1990, Violator was Depeche Mode’s sixth studio album. It entered the number two spot on the UK Albums chart. Violator was Depeche Mode’s first album that managed to reached inside the top 10 of the Billboard 200. The album contained famous singles like “Personal Jesus”, and “Enjoy the Silence” which both made it to the top ten in the UK and the United States. Depeche Mode embarked on the World Violation Tour to promote their album. This album reached a three times platinum status in the United States.
Songs of Faith and Devotion
Released on March 22, 1993, Songs of Faith and Devotion reached the number one spot in several countries and it was Depeche Mode’s first album to debut at the top spot in the UK and US charts. Songs of Faith and Devotion featured singles like “I Feel You”, “Walking in My Shoes”, “In Your Room” and “Condemnation”. The album was able to reached a two times platinum status in France. Depeche Mode began the fourteen month long Devotional Tour to promote their album.
Ultra
Ultra was Depeche Mode’s ninth studio album under Mute Records that was released on April 14, 1997. This was their first album without Alan Wilder. Because of Wilder’s departure, the band’s lead singer, Dave Gahan succumbed into his drug problems and had a near fatal overdose. Fans speculated that it was Depeche Mode’s ending. But Ultra still managed to debut at the number one spot on the UK Albums Chart and made it into the top five of the Billboard 200.
Exciter
Exciter was Depeche Mode’s tenth studio album. It was released on May 14, 2001 under Mute Records. This album debut at the number nine spot on the UK Albums Chart and made it into the number eight spot in the Billboard 200. It featured singles like “Dream On”, “Freelove”, “I Feel Loved”, and “Good night Lovers”. It managed to reached gold status in several countries.
Playing the Angel
Playing the Angel was Depeche Mode’s eleventh studio album that was released in October 17, 2005 under Mute Records. This album featured the songs like “The Pain I’m Used To”, “Suffer Well” and “Precious”. Depeche Mode embarked on the Touring the Angel Tour to promote their album. Playing the Angel reached the gold status in several countries.
Sounds of the Universe
Released on April 17, 2009, Sounds of the Universe was Depeche Mode’s twelfth studio album under Mute Records. It featured successful songs like “Wrong”, “Hole to Feed”, “Peace”, and “Fragile Tension”. Depeche Mode embarked on the Tour of the Universe to promote their twelfth album. Just like their past albums, Sounds of the Universe managed to make it into a gold status in several countries.
Delta Machine
Delta Machine was Depeche Mode’s 13th studio album. It was released on March 22, 2013. This album contained songs like “Heaven”, “Should Be Lighter” and “Soothe My Soul”. A deluxe version of Delta Machine was released containing a 28 page hard cover book with the band’s photo taken by Anton Corbijn and a bonus CD with four bonus tracks.
Spirit
Released in March 17, 2017, Spirit was Depeche Mode’s 14th studio album. The album had several successful songs like “Where’s the Revolution”, “Going Backwards”, and “Cover Me”. Spirit debuted at the number five spot on the UK Albums Chart and has sold over twenty-three thousand copies on its first week. It also debuted on the number five spot on the US Billboard 200.
The Depeche Mode’s Legacy
With a total of fourteen studio albums, ten compilation albums, 72 music videos, and 54 successful singles, Depeche Mode has sold over 100 million copies of their records worldwide. Depeche Mode was once called as the most popular electronic band that the world has ever known and one of the greatest British pop groups of all time.