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Depeche Mode

The bandmembers of Depeche Mode. From the left: Alan Wilder, Andrew Fletcher, David Gahan, and Martin Gore.

Depeche Mode was originally founded in 1980 as a synth pop band in the town of Basildon, England. They are one of the longest-lived and most successful bands to have emerged during the New Wave/New Romantic era. Depeche Mode had many videos heavily rotated on MTV and MuchMusic. As of 2005, Depeche Mode have sold over 50 million albums worldwide.

The three current members of Depeche Mode are:

  • Martin Gore (songwriting, guitar, keyboards, backing and occasional lead vocals)
  • David Gahan (lead vocals)
  • Andrew Fletcher (keyboards, backing vocals)

Former members include:

  • Vince Clarke (songwriting, keyboards), from 1980-82.
  • Alan Wilder (keyboards, drums, songwriting), from 1983-95.


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. Andrew Fletcher then became part of the band and it was renamed "Composition of Sound." David Gahan 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", translates to "fashion telegram".

The band became part of Daniel Miller's Mute label by verbal contract, and released their first album, Speak and Spell, in 1981. Soon after, Vince Clarke left to form a new band, Yazoo (Yaz in the US) with Alison Moyet, The Assembly with Feargal Sharkey, Dave Clempson and Eric Radcliffe, and later Erasure with Andy Bell.

After Vince's departure, Martin Gore, who had written Tora! Tora! Tora! and Big Muff on their debut album, took over as the band's primary song-writer and in 1982 the album A Broken Frame was released. After this, Alan Wilder joined the band as a permanent replacement for Clarke. He wrote The Landscape is Changing and Two Minute Warning for their 1983 album, Construction Time Again, as well as Fools, the B-side to the Love in Itself single, In Your Memory, the B-side to the People Are People single, and If You Want on the 1984 album Some Great Reward, but his main contribution to Depeche Mode was in the technical and musical production aspects.

In the early 1980s the band's popularity was largely confined to Europe (particularly Germany) and their style was Synth pop. In 1984 Depeche Mode made in-roads into America, which spawned the US-only release of Catching Up With Depeche Mode.

Middle History

In the intervening years between the mid-80s and 90s, the band's popularity in the US grew to massive proportions. The 101 tour culminated in a final concert at the Pasadena Rose Bowl with a sell-out attendance of 80,000 (the highest in 8 years for the venue). The tour was documented in a film by D.A. Pennebaker, recently released on DVD, which is notable for an element of fan interaction.

Depeche Mode had a great influence on the emergence of the techno and electronica music scenes through the late 80s and 90s. Techno pioneers such as Derrick May, Kevin Saunderson and Juan Atkins regularly quoted Depeche Mode as an influence in their development of proto-techno during the Detroit Techno explosion in the late 80s.

One marked change in the style of music throughout the history of this band has been a move away from keyboards and heavily synth pop-influenced sound... indeed, in a CD booklet, Dave Gahan is instead pictured lovingly holding an acoustic guitar - a far cry from the synthpop ideal of 'keyboards with everything'. After the much earlier departure of Vince Clarke, a gradual change away from their roots can hardly have been unexpected.

In June 1995 after the Devotional tour, Alan Wilder left the band citing "unsatisfactory internal working conditions", while continuing to work on his personal project Recoil. It has been suggested that a failure of the band to recognize its own brand appeal in releasing previous records may have played some part in his departure, with other factors including the drug addiction issues of Dave Gahan; Martin Gore's admission of "battling his own demons" at this time; and growing tensions between Wilder and Andrew Fletcher. Wilder himself has stated that he contributed a lion's share of work while receiving the least credit on past albums.

Depeche Mode Today

2003 saw the release of Dave Gahan's solo album, Paper Monsters, followed by a worldwide tour and a DVD taken from it, titled Live Monsters, Martin Gore continued his solo career with the release of Counterfeit 2, and Andrew Fletcher launched his own label, Toast Hawaii.

In August 2004, Mute announced a DVD release of "Devotional" and a new remix completion album Remixes 81-04 that covers some new & unreleased promo mixes of the singles from 1981 to 2004.

In November 2004, it was announced on http://www.depechemode.com that the band was planning on going into the studio to record an album in early 2005 with producer Ben Hillier. As of January 2005, the album is currently being recorded.

Discography

Albums

  • Speak & Spell (1981)
  • A Broken Frame (1982)
  • Construction Time Again (1983)
  • People Are People (1984)
  • Some Great Reward (1984)
  • The Singles (81-85) (1985)
  • Catching Up With Depeche Mode [North America only] (1985)
  • Black Celebration (1986)
  • Music for the Masses (1987)
  • 101 (live) (1989)
  • Violator (1990)
  • Songs of Faith and Devotion (1993)
  • Songs of Faith and Devotion Live (1993)
  • Ultra (1997)
  • The Singles (86-98) (1998)
  • The Singles (81-85) Re-released/Repackaged (1998)
  • Exciter (2001)
  • Remixes 81 - 04 (2004)

Singles/EPs



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. (*) radio-only single; did not have a music video. As of January 2005, the album is currently being recorded. Only included here are records Elliott did not write or produce on; singles upon which she did songwriting/production work in addiiton to providing guest vocals are notabed below in the Selected songwriting/production credits section. In November 2004, it was announced on http://www.depechemode.com that the band was planning on going into the studio to record an album in early 2005 with producer Ben Hillier. Although she is not credited, Lil Mo sings guest leads and background vocals on the single, and appears in the video as well. In August 2004, Mute announced a DVD release of "Devotional" and a new remix completion album Remixes 81-04 that covers some new & unreleased promo mixes of the singles from 1981 to 2004. (***) Q-Tip appears on the radio version of the “Hot Boyz” remix, but not the video version.

2003 saw the release of Dave Gahan's solo album, Paper Monsters, followed by a worldwide tour and a DVD taken from it, titled Live Monsters, Martin Gore continued his solo career with the release of Counterfeit 2, and Andrew Fletcher launched his own label, Toast Hawaii. (**) "Lick Shots" had no unique music video, but a snippet of the song was included at the end of the "Get Ur Freak On" video; "4 My People" was similarly a "mini-video" at the end of the "Take Away" video. Wilder himself has stated that he contributed a lion's share of work while receiving the least credit on past albums. (*) radio-only single; did not have a music video. It has been suggested that a failure of the band to recognize its own brand appeal in releasing previous records may have played some part in his departure, with other factors including the drug addiction issues of Dave Gahan; Martin Gore's admission of "battling his own demons" at this time; and growing tensions between Wilder and Andrew Fletcher. Over a decade after she first began offering songwriting and production services, Missy Elliott is still as widely recognized and respected by her peers as ever. In June 1995 after the Devotional tour, Alan Wilder left the band citing "unsatisfactory internal working conditions", while continuing to work on his personal project Recoil. The same year, Elliott was featured on Wyclef Jean's "Party To Damascus" and Ghostface Killah's "Tush, Tush, Tush" singles, and had a pivitol role in the motion picture Honey, starring Jessica Alba.

After the much earlier departure of Vince Clarke, a gradual change away from their roots can hardly have been unexpected. However, neither caught on at pop radio as well as her previous efforts have. indeed, in a CD booklet, Dave Gahan is instead pictured lovingly holding an acoustic guitar - a far cry from the synthpop ideal of 'keyboards with everything'. Elliott's newest singles, "Pass The Dutch" and "I'm Really Hot", from her fifth album, This Is Not A Test! (released November 2003), both rose the urban charts. One marked change in the style of music throughout the history of this band has been a move away from keyboards and heavily synth pop-influenced sound.. In the summer of 2003, Elliott was the featured rapper on Timbaland and Magoo's long-awaited return single, "Cop That Disc"; the song was a modest hit at urban radio. Techno pioneers such as Derrick May, Kevin Saunderson and Juan Atkins regularly quoted Depeche Mode as an influence in their development of proto-techno during the Detroit Techno explosion in the late 80s. Under Construction also included "Back in the Day (2002 song)", a nostalgic ode to old school hip hop music and fashion that featured Jay-Z and Tweet.

Depeche Mode had a great influence on the emergence of the techno and electronica music scenes through the late 80s and 90s. As the "Work It" video had done during 2002, "Gossip Folks" became one of the most-played music videos on MTV, MTV2, MTV Jams, and BET in 2003, and was also extremely successful on VH1 and VH1 Soul. Pennebaker, recently released on DVD, which is notable for an element of fan interaction. Elliott's fourth album, 2002's Under Construction (see 2002 in music), included "Work It", arguably Elliott's biggest hit to date, and the successful duet with Ludacris, "Gossip Folks," which let Elliott's critics know what she thought of what they had to say about her, namely her amazingly rapid weight loss that had taken place during 2002. The tour was documented in a film by D.A. The single was a Top Ten hit, thanks partially to Elliott's songwriting and guest rap, and also Timbaland's funky production. The 101 tour culminated in a final concert at the Pasadena Rose Bowl with a sell-out attendance of 80,000 (the highest in 8 years for the venue). Tweet's own debut single, "Oops (Oh My)", was written by Elliott and relased through Goldmind in February 2002.

In the intervening years between the mid-80s and 90s, the band's popularity in the US grew to massive proportions. The remix performed just as successfully as the original and was the version which was heard both in the Tomb Raider movie that year and on its soundtrack. In 1984 Depeche Mode made in-roads into America, which spawned the US-only release of Catching Up With Depeche Mode. For "Get Ur Freak On", an usual remix was also released, which combined scat-singing from Nelly Furtado with Elliott's original rapping. In the early 1980s the band's popularity was largely confined to Europe (particularly Germany) and their style was Synth pop. That album produced the massive singles, "One Minute Man," featuring Ludacris, Trina, and Jay-Z and "Get Ur Freak On," as well as the less successful single "Take Away," which featured soulful melodies from Ginuwine and a returning Tweet, and whose video was made into a loving tribute for their late friend, Aaliyah. He wrote The Landscape is Changing and Two Minute Warning for their 1983 album, Construction Time Again, as well as Fools, the B-side to the Love in Itself single, In Your Memory, the B-side to the People Are People single, and If You Want on the 1984 album Some Great Reward, but his main contribution to Depeche Mode was in the technical and musical production aspects. So Addictive in (2001, see 2001 in music).

After Vince's departure, Martin Gore, who had written Tora! Tora! Tora! and Big Muff on their debut album, took over as the band's primary song-writer and in 1982 the album A Broken Frame was released. After this, Alan Wilder joined the band as a permanent replacement for Clarke. Elliott next released Miss E.. Soon after, Vince Clarke left to form a new band, Yazoo (Yaz in the US) with Alison Moyet, The Assembly with Feargal Sharkey, Dave Clempson and Eric Radcliffe, and later Erasure with Andy Bell. Da Real World (1999, see 1999 in music) included the singles "All N My Grill," a collaboration with Nicole and Big Boi (from OutKast); "Hot Boyz;" and "She's A Bitch". The band became part of Daniel Miller's Mute label by verbal contract, and released their first album, Speak and Spell, in 1981. Elliott's second album was just as successful as the first. The new name was taken from a French fashion magazine, "Dépêche-mode", translates to "fashion telegram". The same year, Elliott produced and contributed background vocals and some rhymes to former Spice Girl, Mel B's, debut single, "I Want You Back".

Andrew Fletcher then became part of the band and it was renamed "Composition of Sound." David Gahan joined the band in 1980 after Vince Clarke heard him perform at a local gig, and "Depeche Mode" was born. In 1998, Elliott continued her successful music career by writing and producing Total's single "Trippin'", as well as working with several others in the hip-hop and R&B communities. 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. 1997 also saw Elliott perform on Lil Kim's girl-power anthem, a hit remix of her song, "Not Tonite". The song's remix also featured Da Brat, Angie Martinez, and Left Eye, in addition to Kim and Elliott; and the five women performed it at the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards show.
. The critical acceptance of Supa Dupa Fly was mixed, though generally positive; many critics commented that the album tracks, some of which sampled Elliott/ Mosley hits such as "Can We" and "One in a Million", were far inferior to the singles. Former members include:. Other singles included "Beep Me 911," which featured 702, Timbaland, and Magoo; "Hit 'Em Wit Da Hee," featuring rapper Mocha and Timbaland; and "Sock It 2 Me," a decent-sized hit which featured rhymes from Da Brat and a cameos by her and Lil Kim in the Mega Man-inspired music video.

The three current members of Depeche Mode are:. Her debut album, released in mid-1997, was Supa Dupa Fly, which included "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)", a blockbuster hit that established Elliott as a major force in popular music. As of 2005, Depeche Mode have sold over 50 million albums worldwide. Timbaland was again recruited as her production partner, a role he would hold for every Elliott solo release. Depeche Mode had many videos heavily rotated on MTV and MuchMusic. She instead signed a deal with Elektra Records in 1996 to create her own imprint, Goldmind, for which she would record as a solo artist. They are one of the longest-lived and most successful bands to have emerged during the New Wave/New Romantic era. Elliott also appeared as a guest rapper and background vocalist on MC Lyte's 1996 single "Cold Rock A Party", produced by Sean "Puffy" Combs, who hoped to sign her to Bad Boy Records.

Depeche Mode was originally founded in 1980 as a synth pop band in the town of Basildon, England. Elliott and Timbaland would continue to work together for other artists, and later created hits for artists such as Total ("What About Us"), Nicole Wray ("Make it Hot"), and Destiny's Child ("Get On the Bus"), and one final hit for Aaliyah before her 2001 death ("I Care 4 U"). Remixes 81 - 04 (2004). One in a Million went double-platinum and made stars out of the production duo. Exciter (2001). Elliott also contributing background vocals and/or guest raps to nearly all of the tracks she and Timbaland worked on. The Singles (81-85) Re-released/Repackaged (1998). Elliott and Timbaland wrote and produced nine tracks for Aaliyah's second album, One In A Million (1996), among them the hit singles "If Your Girl Only Knew", "One in a Million", "Hot Like Fire", and "4-Page Letter".

The Singles (86-98) (1998). Among these acts were SWV ("Can We?") and 702 ("Steelo" and its remix), but the most notable of them was Aaliyah. Ultra (1997). After leaving Swing Mob, Elliott and Timbaland began working together as an independent songwriting/production team, and the two of them crafted hit singles for a number of artists between 1995 to 1997. Songs of Faith and Devotion Live (1993). By 1995, Swing Mob had folded and many of its members dispersed; Elliott, Timbaland, Magoo, Ginuwine, and Playa remained together, and would collaborate on each others' records for the rest of the decade. Songs of Faith and Devotion (1993). Timbaland and DeVante produced a Sista LP, 4 All the Sistas Around the World, which was completed in 1994, but shelved and never released.

Violator (1990). Elliott contributed songwriting duties, both credited and uncredited, to the final two Jodeci albums: 1993's Diary of a Mad Band and 1995's The Show, The After Party, The Hotel. 101 (live) (1989). All 20-plus members of the Swing Mob, among them future stars such as Ginuwine, Playa, and Tweet, all lived in a single two-story house in New York, and were often at work on material both for Jodeci and for their own projects. Music for the Masses (1987). Elliott took along with her Mosley, whom DeVante re-christened Timbaland, and their friend Melvin "Magoo" Barcliff. Black Celebration (1986). In short order, Sista moved to New York City, now signed to Elektra Records through DeVante's Swing Mob imprint.

Catching Up With Depeche Mode [North America only] (1985). In 1991, Sista caught the attention of Jodeci member/producer DeVante Swing by performing Jodeci songs acapella for him backstage after one of his group's concerts. The Singles (81-85) (1985). She recruited her neighborhood friend Timothy "DJ TImmy Tim" Mosley as the group's producer, and began making demo tracks. Some Great Reward (1984). In the late-1980s, Elliott, LaShawn Shellman, Chonita Coleman, and Radiah Scott formed an R&B group called Sista, for which Elloitt served as a singer and songwriter. People Are People (1984). In addition, she has recieved recognition as one of the most successful songwriters of the modern music era, having crafted a number of hit records for artists such as Aaliyah, 702, Total, Nicole Wray, and Tweet, often with production partner and childhood friend Timbaland.

Construction Time Again (1983). Elliott is the first female hip hop superstar, known for a long series of hits including "The Rain", "She's A Bitch", "Get Ur Freak On", and "Work It". A Broken Frame (1982). Formerly known as Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott, Elliott dropped the "Misdemeanor" part of her name in 2003 and now goes by simply "Missy Elliott". Speak & Spell (1981). Missy Elliott (born Melissa Arnette Elliott on July 1, 1971 in Portsmouth, Virginia) is an African_American singer, rapper, songwriter, and record producer. Alan Wilder (keyboards, drums, songwriting), from 1983-95. 2004: "1, 2, Step" by Ciara (also guested).

Vince Clarke (songwriting, keyboards), from 1980-82. 2003: ”(My Love is Like) Wo” by Mya. Andrew Fletcher (keyboards, backing vocals). 2003: ”So Gone” by Monica (also guested). David Gahan (lead vocals). 2002: "Oops! (Oh My!)" by Tweet (also guested). Martin Gore (songwriting, guitar, keyboards, backing and occasional lead vocals). 2002: ”I Care 4 U” by Aaliyah.

2001: "Bootylicious [Rockwilder Remix]" by Destiny's Child (also guested). 2001: ”Lady Marmalade” by Mya, Pink, Christina Aguilera, and Lil Kim. 2000: ”Take That” by Torrey Carter (also guested). 1999: "Heartbreaker [Remix]" by Mariah Carey featuring Da Brat (also guested).

(also guested). 1998: "I Want You Back" by Mel B. 1998: "Make It Hot" by Nicole Wray (also guested). 1998: "Trippin'" by Total (also guested).

1997: ”What About Us?” by Total. 1997: ”I’ll Do Anything/I’m Sorry” by Ginuwine. 1997: "Can We" by SWV (also guested). 1996: ”One in a Million” by Aaliyah.

1996: ”If Your Girl Only Knew” by Aaliyah. 1996: ”Steelo” by 702 (also guested). 2004: "Car Wash" by Christina Aguilera. 2003: "Tush, Tush, Tush" by Ghostface Killah.

2003: "Party To Damascus" by Wyclef Jean;. 2003: "Cop That Disc" by Timbaland & Magoo. 2003: "American Life" [remix] by Madonna *. 2002: "Son Of A Gun" [Original Flyte Time Remix] by Janet Jackson.

1997: "Not Tonite (Ladies Night)" [remix] with Lil' Kim, Da Brat, Angie Martinez, and Left Eye. 1997: "Can We" by SWV. 1996: "Cold Rock A Party" by MC Lyte. 2004: "I'm Really Hot".

2003: "Pass The Dutch". 2003: "Pussycat" *. 2003: "Work It" [remix] (featuring 50 Cent). 2002: "Gossip Folks" (featuring Ludacris).

2002: "Work It". 2002: "4 My People" (club single) **. 2001: "Take Away" (featuring Ginuwine and Tweet). 2001: "Lick Shots"**.

2001: "One Minute Man" [remix] (featuring Jay-Z) *. 2001: "One Minute Man" (featuring Ludacris and Trina). 2001: "Get Ur Freak On" [remix] (featuring Nelly Furtado) *. 2001: "Get Ur Freak On".

2000: "Hot Boyz" [remix] (featuring Nas, Eve, and Q-Tip)***. 1999: "All N My Grill" (featuring Nicole Wray and Big Boi of OutKast). 1999: "She's A Bitch". 1998: "Hit 'Em Wit Da Hee" (featuring Timbaland & Mocha).

1998: "Beep Me 911" (featuring 702 and Magoo). 1997: "Sock It 2 Me" (featuring Da Brat). 1997: "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)". 2003: This Is Not A Test!.

2002: Under Construction. 2001: Miss E...So Addictive. 1999: Da Real World. 1997: Supa Dupa Fly.