Depeche Mode are an influential
English electronic
music band, formed in 1980 in
Basildon,
Essex. They are
one of the longest-lived and most successful bands to have emerged from the New Wave and New Romantic
era, but were actually part of the "futurist" scene, alongside the likes of
Soft Cell,
Gary Numan and The Human League. Many of their
videos have been in heavy rotation on
MTV. As of 2006, it was estimated that Depeche Mode have sold over 73 million albums worldwide and have had forty-four songs in the
UK Singles Chart. They have had more top 40 hits in the UK without a #1
hit than any other artist. They have
influenced many of today's
popular recording artists, in part
due to their recording techniques and use of sampling. Though very influential in
the modern electronic
dance scene, they generally remain classified in the
alternative genre. Depeche Mode were founded in 1980 by
David Gahan (
lead vocals),
Martin Gore (keyboards, guitar, vocals, chief songwriter after 1981),
Andrew Fletcher (backing keyboards) and
Vince Clarke (keyboards, chief songwriter 1980�81). Vince Clarke left
the band after the release of their 1981 debut album; soon replaced by
Alan Wilder (lead keyboards) who played with the band from 1982 to 1995. After
Wilder's departure, Gahan,
Gore, and
Fletcher continue to perform as a
trio.