
Depeche Mode are an English electronic band who have recorded over 200 songs across four decades. Originally formed in 1980, the band consisted of Vince Clarke, Martin Gore, Andy Fletcher and Dave Gahan.[1] With Clarke as their primary songwriter, the band released their debut single, "Dreaming of Me", and their first album, Speak & Spell, a synth-pop record featuring the UK top ten hit "Just Can't Get Enough".[2] Clarke departed the band shortly after its release, after which Gore became the band's primary songwriter and the band hired Alan Wilder to replace Clarke.[3] Their second album, A Broken Frame, was released in 1982.[1] The band began incorporating new sounds into their music on 1983's Construction Time Again, including Synclavier and an emulator,[4][5] and by 1984's Some Great Reward, the group incorporated industrial sounds on the chart hit "People Are People", while Gore explored darker lyrics.[1][6] The following album, Black Celebration (1986), marked the end of the band's association with producers Daniel Miller and Gareth Jones.[7]
Music for the Masses (1987), co-produced by the band and David Bascombe,[8] propelled Depeche Mode to mainstream success in the United States,[9] with three hit singles: "Strangelove", "Never Let Me Down Again" and "Behind the Wheel".[1] The album marked a turning point in the band's sound, blending darkly sexual themes with expansive production.[9] For 1990's Violator, the band worked with the producer Flood.[10][11] With major hits "Personal Jesus", "Enjoy the Silence", "Policy of Truth" and "World in My Eyes", the album propelled the band to global superstardom.[1][12] 1993's Songs of Faith and Devotion, also co-produced by Flood, featured religious themes[13] and music inspired by the alternative rock and grunge scenes, spawning the hits "I Feel You" and "Walking in My Shoes".[1][14] Wilder departed the band in 1995.[15][16] Continuing as a trio on 1997's Ultra, the band worked with producer Tim Simenon[17] and moved into a more danceable, electronic direction, away from the harder, rock-oriented sound of Songs of Faith and Devotion,[18] producing the hits "Barrel of a Gun" and "It's No Good".[1]
Exciter (2001), produced by Mark Bell, found the band moving into a more experimental and minimalist electronic sound, evident on the singles "Dream On" and "I Feel Loved".[1] Playing the Angel (2005) was the first Depeche Mode album to feature writing contributions from Gahan.[19] Produced by Ben Hillier, Rolling Stone described the album's sound as featuring "the band's classic blend of synth-pop beats, heavy guitar riffs and dark lyrics".[20] Its singles included "Precious" and "John the Revelator".[1] Hillier continued working with the band, producing their next two albums Sounds of the Universe (2009) and Delta Machine (2013).[1] On 2017's Spirit, produced by James Ford, the band expressed their frustrations with the political climates of the United States and United Kingdom.[21] After Fletcher died in 2022, Gore and Gahan recorded 2023's Memento Mori as a duo. Again produced by Ford,[1] Memento Mori features themes of melancholy and mortality on songs such as "Ghosts Again".[22][23]
Songs
| † | Indicates songs written by others |
|---|
Notes
- Includes a hidden track called "Interlude #3"
- Includes a hidden track called "Interlude #5"
- Includes a hidden track called "Interlude #2 (Crucified)"
- "Everything Counts (Reprise)" is included with "And Then..." as a hidden track on the original UK LP,[28] and as a separate track on subsequent reissues.[49]
- Includes a hidden track called "Interlude #4"
- Included as a hidden track with "Insight" on initial releases. It is separated on US CD and digital releases.
- A longer version appears on the US edition of A Broken Frame.[53]
- Includes a hidden track called "Interlude #1 (Mission Impossible)"
- A "bare" version appears on the iTunes edition of Playing the Angel (2005)[78]
References
- Yeung, Neil Z. "Depeche Mode – Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 April 2026.
- Abebe, Nitsuh (20 July 2006). "Depeche Mode: Speak & Spell / Music for the Masses / Violator". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 27 December 2017. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
- Burmeister & Lange 2017, pp. 41, 49, 52.
- Burmeister & Lange 2017, p. 69.
- Gittins 2018, pp. 71–72.
- Bergstrom, John (8 November 2006). "A Sleek, Sporty European Roadster: Reconsidering Depeche Mode". PopMatters. Archived from the original on 13 November 2013. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
- Miller 2003, p. 323.
- Miller 2003, p. 355.
- Rowe, Felix (10 April 2025). "Making Depeche Mode's Music For The Masses". Classic Pop. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
- Gittins 2018, p. 143.
- Miller 2003, p. 410.
- Partridge, Kenneth (19 March 2015). "Depeche Mode's 'Violator' at 25: Classic Track-by-Track Review". Billboard. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
- Quantick, David (20 March 1993). "That'll Be the Deity". NME. London. p. 32. ISSN 0028-6362.
- Healy, Andy (21 March 2018). "Depeche Mode's 'Songs of Faith and Devotion' Turns 25 | Anniversary Retrospective". Albumism. Archived from the original on 11 July 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
- Burmeister & Lange 2017, p. 223.
- Gittins 2018, p. 178.
- Hallard & Lane 2006.
- Burmeister & Lange 2017, p. 225.
- Quan, Denise (13 May 2009). "A Sobering Interview with Depeche Mode". CNN. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
- Telling, Gillian (6 July 2005). "Depeche Mode Lift Angel". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
- Yeung, Neil Z. "Spirit – Depeche Mode". AllMusic. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- Sullivan, Caroline (11 April 1997). "The Mode test". The Guardian. "Friday Review" section, p. 16. ISSN 0261-3077.
- Grow, Kory (23 March 2023). "Depeche Mode's 'Memento Mori' Is a Bleak Celebration". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 28 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- Depeche Mode (1987). Music for the Masses (CD/cassette notes). UK: Mute Records. CD STUMM47.
- Depeche Mode (2013). Delta Machine (Deluxe Edition) (CD notes). Europe: Columbia Records/Mute Records. 88765460632.
- Depeche Mode (2013). Delta Machine (CD notes). Europe: Columbia Records/Mute Records. 88765 46062 2.
- Depeche Mode (2023). Memento Mori (CD notes). US: Columbia Records. 19658784202.
- Depeche Mode (1983). Construction Time Again (LP liner notes). UK: Mute Records. STUMM13.
- Depeche Mode (1981). Speak & Spell (LP liner notes). UK: Mute Records. STUMM5.
- Depeche Mode (1997). Ultra (CD notes). UK: Mute Records. STUMM148.
- Depeche Mode (1987). Music for the Masses (LP liner notes). UK: Mute Records. STUMM47.
- Depeche Mode (2006). "Suffer Well" (CD single). UK: Mute Records. CDBONG37.
- Depeche Mode (1986). Black Celebration (LP liner notes). UK: Mute Records. STUMM26.
- Depeche Mode (1986). "Stripped" (12" single liner notes). UK: Mute Records. 12 BONG 10.
- Depeche Mode (1984). Some Great Reward (LP liner notes). UK: Mute Records. STUMM19.
- Depeche Mode (1990). Violator (LP liner notes). UK: Mute Records. STUMM64.
- Depeche Mode (2001). Exciter (CD notes). UK: Mute Records. CDSTUMM190.
- Burmeister & Lange 2017, pp. 149–150.
- Burmeister & Lange 2017, pp. 141–148.
- Depeche Mode (2009). Sounds of the Universe (CD notes). UK: Mute Records. CDSTUMM300.
- Depeche Mode (1993). Songs of Faith and Devotion (LP liner notes). UK: Mute Records. STUMM106.
- Depeche Mode (2017). Spirit (CD notes). Europe: Columbia Records/Mute Records. 88985411682.
- Depeche Mode (2005). Playing the Angel (CD notes). UK: Mute Records. CDSTUMM260.
- Burmeister & Lange 2017, p. 186.
- Miller 2003, pp. 471–472.
- Depeche Mode (2001). "I Feel Loved" (CD single). UK: Mute Records. CDBONG31.
- Burmeister & Lange 2017, pp. 21, 33.
- Depeche Mode (2009). Sounds of the Universe ('Bonus Tracks & Remixes' CD notes). Europe: Mute Records. BXSTUMM300.
- "Depeche Mode: The Archives – Construction Time Again". Depeche Mode Archives. Retrieved 14 April 2026.
- Burmeister & Lange 2017, pp. 110–120.
- Burmeister & Lange 2017, p. 120.
- Depeche Mode (2005). "Precious" (CD single). UK: Mute Records. LCDBONG35.
- Depeche Mode (1982). A Broken Frame (LP liner notes). US: Sire Records. 9 23751-1.
- Burmeister & Lange 2017, pp. 64–66.
- Burmeister & Lange 2017, pp. 198–199.
- Miller 2003, p. 447.
- Depeche Mode (1998). "Only When I Lose Myself" (CD single). UK: Mute Records. CDBONG29.
- Burmeister & Lange 2017, pp. 16, 21, 33.
- Burmeister & Lange 2017, p. 93.
- Depeche Mode (1985). The Singles 81→85 (LP liner notes). UK: Mute Records. MUTEL1.
- Burmeister & Lange 2017, p. 194.
- Depeche Mode (1982). A Broken Frame (LP liner notes). UK: Mute Records. STUMM9.
- Depeche Mode (2006). The Best of Depeche Mode Volume 1 (CD notes). UK: Mute Records. CDMUTEL15.
- Burmeister & Lange 2017, pp. 188–189.
- Miller 2003, p. 521.
- Depeche Mode (2005). "A Pain That I'm Used To" (CD single). Europe: Mute Records. CDBONG36.
- Burmeister & Lange 2017, pp. 49–66.
- Miller 2008.
- Depeche Mode (2009). Sounds of the Universe (CD notes). Japan: Mute Records. TOCP-66877.
- Depeche Mode (1998). The Singles 86>98 (CD notes). UK: Mute Records. MUTEL5.
- Depeche Mode (1997). "Barrel of a Gun" (CD single). UK: Mute Records. CDBONG25.
- Burmeister & Lange 2017, p. 158.
- Burmeister & Lange 2017, p. 167.
- Burmeister & Lange 2017, pp. 100–103.
- Burmeister & Lange 2017, pp. 21–24, 26.
- Depeche Mode (1997). "It's No Good" (CD single). UK: Mute Records. CDBONG26.
- Burmeister & Lange 2017, p. 174.
- Depeche Mode (2005). Playing the Angel (Digital media notes). US: Sire Records. none.
- Burmeister & Lange 2017, pp. 73–74.
- Depeche Mode (2001). "Zenstation" (CD single). UK: Mute Records. CDBONG32.
Sources
- Burmeister, Dennis; Lange, Sascha (2017). Depeche Mode: Monument. New York: Akashic Books. ISBN 978-1-61775-593-4.
- Gittins, Ian (2018). Depeche Mode: Faith and Devotion. London: Palazzo Editions. ISBN 978-1-78675-064-8.
- Hallard, Ross (director); Lane, Phil Michael (director) (2006). Depeche Mode: 1995–98 (Oh, well, that's the end of the band...) (DVD). Mute Records.
- Miller, Jonathan (2003). Stripped: The True Story of Depeche Mode. Omnibus Press. ISBN 1-84449-415-2.
- Miller, Jonathan (2008). Stripped: Depeche Mode (3rd ed.). London: Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-1-84772-444-1.