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The
Beginning of Depeche Mode's History
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Composition
of Sound was formed in 1978 in Basildon, Essex,
by guitarists/vocalists Andy Fletcher , Martin
Gore and keyboardists Vince Clarke. In 1980 Dave
Gahan joins the band cause Vince Clarke didn't felt
well as in the role of vocalist .Dave was recruited by singing
the song "Heroes" from David Bowie. After
he joined the band Dave renamed the group
Depeche Mode , a name taken
from a french fashion magazine. The band first believed
that this name meaned "Fast Fashion"
because they wrote it in the early days like Dépêché
Mode , but in fact the name itself Depeche Mode , as
taken from the french magazine means NEWS ABOUT FASHION
They went to different clubs and different
companies to try to promote their songs.
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 It
was quite unsuccessfull except for their particpation
in the "Some Bizzare album" 
and being guests to a group called Fad Gadget.They
are noticed by Daniel Miller , the owner of
a new independant music company  The
legend said that only an oral contract was made between
both of them
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In
October 1981 they release their first album : "Speak
And Spell" with the big hit : "Just Can't Get Enough".
Shortly after they started getting a lot of success
Vince Clarke left the band.Martin is in charge of
writing the songs and all, so they decided to work
on a new album. They recruit, on the melody maker, a musician,
to help them, that's when Alan Wilder came to work
for DM but wasn't already a member .
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In
September 1982 they release the album "A Broken Frame",
which can be considered as a transition album of Depeche
Mode. At the end of 1982 , Alan has been introduced officially
as a member of the band.
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 In
January 1983 they release a single called "Get the
balance right" which only be featured on "The singles
81->85" album.That is at this time that Depeche Mode
starts to release a lot of different remix versions of
their songs.This album contains really good tracks as
the famous "Everything Counts" or the 'metallic'
"Pipeline", all really in the line of the german
industrial
Music of the moment.
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September
1984 : a very good year to Depeche Mode and the release
of a good album: Some Great Reward , which will help
them to really get in the american charts , where they will
start to have a lot of success., with such titles as "People
are People", the really contested "Master and
Servant" and the beautifull "Blasphemous Rumours".
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In
1985, after making a big tour in the USA, DM release a
compilation named : "The Singles 81 -> 85"
in which will figure two new tracks: "Shake the disease"
and "It's called a heart" ( which also has a wonderfull
b-side : "Fly on the windscreen") That will be a
calm year for DM ? There is also the release of 2 videos:
"Live in Hamburg" and "Some Great Videos"
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 February
1986 : release of "Stripped" , a really wonderfull
song, which only makes you see
what turn Depeche Mode has taken
on their new album, with a more darker sound and ambient
.On march then is released their new album : "Black
Celebration" (one of my favorite album and song) .With
"A Question of Time" , DM makes their first collaboration
with Anton Corbijn which will help them re-model
their look.. Alan releases a solo project named Recoil
, with a LP named: "1+2".
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 November
1987 : in Paris they record a new album named: "Music
for the masses" and they release some good songs as
"Strangelove" (which has nothing but 14 official
remixes !!! and a good B-side: "Pimpf" , Hey !!!
that's me !!! hehehe ? ) and also my favorite song
of all : "Never let me down again" .Release of
the video "Strange" regrouping all the videos from
the singles of MFTM and some more ?, all directed by Anton
Corbijn, who's in charge of the look of DM now.
Alan under his Recoil project release a new LP
: "Hydrology"
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 1988
: On June 18th DM will make their last concert
(their 101st) for the "Concert for the masses" tour in
the Pasadena Rose Bowl of Los Angeles , and they will
record with more than 70 000 people !!!!
At this time, a video , fimed by
D.A. Pennebaker of this tour will be named "101"
, as also the release of a live album recorded at Pasadena
during this 101st concert, also named: "101".
1989
: release of "Everything counts" live taken
from their Pasadena concert.
Release of Martin's solo project:
the LP: "Counterfeit"
In August there's the release
of "Personal Jesus" , a new single
from their new upcoming album: Violator, with a
video by Anton, which really makes a big success
on MTV !!
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 February
1990 : release of the wonderfull song, and probably the
most known of DM in the world: "Enjoy the silence",
In March release of the new album: Violator. Release
also of a new video made by Anton Corbijn : "Strange
too" with all the singles from the new album .
And the band starts making a big tour
over the world for this album
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| 1991
: end of their tour and some holidays for the whole group.
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1992
: Alan releases his third album as Recoil: Bloodline
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  1993
: January , release of a new single: I feel You
, also with a new video made by Anton Corbijn , in which
you can see Dave with a total different look ( wow! what
a change !) In
March release of the new album : Songs of Faith
and Devotion , in which DM shows the new direction
he has taken musically as a group : more acoustic
songs with real drums and real guitar, and also
some gospel singers !!!The group answers to some selected
fans overt the net . There's also the release of
a Live Album: "Songs of Faith and Devotion live"
at the end of the year , and release of the video : "Devotional"
, taken live from their tour. |
1994:
Release of "In your room", followed by some
remixes and some live tracks.
End of their tour, which has exhausted them phisically and
emotionally.
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1995
: Alan leaves the band, cause he feels, his work is not
recognized anymore inside of the band. On October Dave
tries to suicide (hopefully he didn't succeed)
1996
: After an overdose , in which Dave Could have died, he
goes back to rehab in an hospital, to get a cure. The
band is starting to work over a new material for a new
album.
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  1997
: January : release of a new single: Barrel of a gun,
filmed by Anton, in which DM, goes back to what he's done
before SOFAD, with the help of Tim Simenon ( Bomb
the bass) who produces the album 
which is released on April 11th .release also of "It's
No Good" ,a DM-like song, which has a lot of success,
followed by "Home" and finally "Useless".With
Useless ( a wonderfull song ) the band releases their
video on CD-ROM ( actually on the CD single) !! a very
good idea . They don't plan to make any tour, letting
them time to recover from all their own problems
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 1998
: September , release of a new single : "Only when
I lose myself" ( a really beautifull song) which is
part of their new album called : "The Singles 86 ->
98" , which will be followed by a long awaited
tour all over the world. The band has already sold
out quite all his tickets for their concerts in many places
all over the world, which proves they're still the best
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  May
2001 release of their new album : EXCITER , with
the release of their new single Dream On back in
April 2001 , this album shows how Depeche has its place
in the music industry and still show their creativity
and their innovation with songs like "When the
Body speaks" , "I Feel Loved",
"The Dead of Night" a good combination
between acoustic and electronic music, produced by Mark
Bell (LFO , Bjork) probably one of their best albums.
They're now touring for the EXCITER Tour, in which the
performance is at the highest quality and with Mr Corbijn
back at work for stage design and now filming, they will
still give us some surprise on the months to come, and
next year also with David Gahan's solo album.
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| Dave
Gahan |
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David
Gahan is born on May 9th, 1962, in Epping; He's
the singer of Depeche Mode. He becomes part of the group
( once called Composition of Sound) in 1979. After a while
he changed the name of the group to DEPECHE MODE. He always
had a big influence in the group's evolution, and has taken
a more active participation in it through the years.
To know more about David go to check
David Gahan Biography
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| Martin
Gore |
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Martin
Lee Gore is born on July 23th, 1961 in Danegham, near London,
he's the writer/composer of Depeche Mode, when he was young
he was part of some bands as a guitarist , when younger,
and finally turned to synthetiser within Composition of
Sound, that he formed with Vince Clarke and Andrew Feltcher.
He's one of the best writer in the world of music.
To know more about Martin go to check
Martin Gore Biography
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Andy
Fletcher
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Andrew
John Fletcher ( known as "Fletch") , is born on July 8th
1961 in Nothingham, he was part of Composition of Sound,
from the beggining, with Martin who was a school mate. Fletch
has never been a leading musician in the group, but more
a manager, and he's good at it.
To know more about Andy go to check
Andrew Fletcher Biography
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Alan
Wilder
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Alan
Charles Wilder is born on June 1st 1959 in London,
he was part of Depeche Mode from 1983 to 1995. He was the
real musician of the band, the one who spent a lot of time
in studio until he found the perfect sound for the song
they were working in, he had a big influence in the changes
Depeche Mode had through the years in their music.He's now
working on his own, with Recoil (last album: Liquid) and
is actually working over a new album of Recoil.
To know more about Alan go to check
my Recoil
Website |
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Vince
Clarke
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 Vincent
Clarke, original member of the group, as Composition of
Sound and after Depeche Mode, he was the writer/Compositor
of the Band in "Speak
and Spell" ( except 2 songs written
by Martin) he was the leader of the band at that period,
but suddenly left the band at the end of 1981, cause he
didn't accepted the succes the group was having. He went
on working with Alison Moyet on Yazoo and after he went
on to form a group called the Assembly , and finally Erasure
in mid-80's in which he has found his place and he's still
part of it.
To know more about Vince go to check
my Erasure
website |
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