DEPECHE MODE

Depeche Mode is a rock band from the town of Basildon, England. They have been one of the longest-lived and most successful bands to have emerged during the New Wava/New Romantic era. Depeche Mode has sold over 70 million albums worldwide. They have influenced many of today`s popular artists.

The three current members of Depeche Mode are:

Martin Gore (primary songwriting, vocals, guitars and keyboards)

David Gahan (lead vocals, recent songwriting, and other occasional instruments)

Andrew Fletcher (early keyboards, primary management, and other occasional instruments)

Former members include:

Alan Wilder (production, keyboards, drums, vocals and occasional songwriting) from 1982 to 1995.

Vince Clarke (primary songwriting, and keyboards) from1980 to 1981

Martin Lee Gore has been a member of Depeche Mode since its start in 1980. He is currently the primary song writer, but also does most of the music and guitar. He is also the backup singer and sometimes even the lead singer.

Vince Clarke was responsible for the material on Depeche Mode`s first album, Speak & Spell (1981). The themes were unreguited love and naivete, with a dash of everything from politics to religion. This set a precedent for the darker tones in both the lyrics and melodies for the group.

In 2003, David Gahan released his first solo album, Paper Monsters. The album made Dave and he sometimes personally attacked Martin and Andrew in interviews. In 2004, Gahan said that if did not get to write half of the songs on the new Depeche Mode album, there would not be one. There was a compromise and Dave wrote three songs on 2005`s Playing the Angel-their first album since 2001`s two million-selling Exciter.A sense of optimism and pleasure at what Depeche Mode has achieved can be felt in Playing the Angel.