Depeche Mode have been around for over 36 years. The former teen synth band has become one of the world's most successful electronic music acts.10 facts that only the most die-hard fans are likely to know.
The name Depeche Mode
The name Depeche Mode is borrowed from the title of a French fashion magazine and translates as "fashion novelties". The band members didn't know what it meant at the time, but they thought the name was cool and modern. However, the band's roots go back to 1976, when Martin Gore and Vince Clarke founded the band NoRomance in China in their home town of Basildon (UK). They later called themselves Composition of Sound . Incidentally, all Depeche Mode members were born in Basildon, as was their co-founder Vince Clarke.
Their greatest role models
Depeche Mode name the German band Kraftwerk as their biggest role models. A few years ago, however, they refused to have Kraftwerk play as their opening act because only Ralf Hütter was still with them from their legendary original line-up in the seventies.
Video shoot with a mistake
During the video shoot for "Get The Balance Right", the ill-informed director mistook Alan Wilder for the band's singer. For this reason, Alan is seen lip-synching to Dave's voice in the opening scene. Nobody dared to clear up the mistake.
The beginnings were modest
The beginnings were modest: The production costs for the album "Speak & Spell", named after an electronic toy, amounted to 8,000 pounds. The boys traveled to their first appearance on the TV show "Top of the Pops" by public transport with all their equipment.
Piquant song
The song "Only You" by the band Yazoo was first offered to Depeche Mode and rejected by the band. A juicy fact: this mega-hit was written by Vince Clarke after he left the band and eventually reached number 2 in the British charts in the Yazoo version released together with Allison Moyet. In 1983, the Flying Pickets covered the song and reached number 1 in the UK.
Covered by Johnny Cash
According to Martin Gore, the song "Personal Jesus" is about the relationship between Elvis and Priscilla Presley; Martin Gore was inspired by her autobiography "Elvis and me". The song was later covered by country star Johnny Cash. He had not asked the band for permission. "A legend like him doesn't need to do that either," said Dave Gahan when he heard about it. "We feel honored."
A harmonium version
The Depeche Mode hit "Enjoy The Silence" (1990) was first released in a much slower version with Martin Gore singing to a harmonium. Alan Wilder then had the idea of making the song faster. It became their biggest hit in the nineties. But the harmonium version was also released.
Filming in Switzerland
In the video clip for "Enjoy the Silence" by Anton Corbijn, Dave Gahan runs through the mountains wearing a royal cloak, crown and deckchair. During filming in Switzerland, Dave caught a cold, left the set and was therefore doubled by video producer Richard Bell in the final scene.
Cover with hidden clues
The cover of their 1993 single "I Feel You" contains hidden clues to the dates of birth of the four band members at the time: Dave Gahan, Martin Gore, Alan Wilder and Andy Fletcher.
How they managed to stay together for so many years
In an interview, Depeche Mode revealed how they managed to stay together for so many years: "After a tour, we split up and hardly speak to each other - sometimes not for four to six months."
