Depeche Mode - Did You Know?
April 11, 2018Music facts, music trivia, interesting stories and much more. Introducing the "Did You Know" page about English electronic band, Depeche Mode.
Enjoy!
Depeche Mode are an English electronic band that was formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The band currently consists of Dave Gahan (lead vocals, co-songwriting), Martin Gore (keyboards, guitar, chief songwriting), and Andy Fletcher (keyboards).
Original band member Vince Clarke, decided to leave Depeche Mode after the release of the band's debut album, Speak & Spell, which left the band as a trio to record their next album, A Broken Frame, which was released in 1982.
With Vince Clarke leaving, and being the songwriter of the band, Martin Gore had to take over the lead songwriting duties and later on that year in 1982, musician Alan Wilder officially joined Depeche Mode and filled Vince Clarke's spot. From that moment on until 1995, this was the line up of the band that released successful albums and hit songs.
Our interesting fact of the day comes from their 1993 Devotional Tour. During the band's 1993 Devotional Tour, Depeche Mode reached unbelievable heights of hedonism and self-destruction, as they decided to bring along with them on tour a drug dealer and a psychiatrist.
During their show on October 8 in New Orleans, Dave Gahan got so wrecked on heroin, that he collapsed backstage before the encore and had to be rushed to the hospital. Gahan suffered a minor heart attack and the band had to cancel their next show. The doctor ordered Gahan to perform while seated in order not to strain his heart. Depeche Mode with Dave Gahan finished the tour eventually.
Depeche Mode have sold more than 100 million records all over the world, and have had 50 songs in the UK Singles Chart and 17 top 10 albums in the UK chart. Q magazine included them in their list of the "50 Bands That Changed the World!" and they are also ranked on the No. 98 spot on VH1's list of "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". In December 2016, Billboard magazine named the band the 10th most successful dance club artist of all time.
In 2018, Depeche Mode were nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
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At first, the song "Enjoy The Silence" by Depeche Mode was a ballad played on an organ. It was Alan Wilder who got the idea to speed up the song. However, the other band members did not like the idea, but after some time, became convinced.
The original demo of the song was very slow and minimal, just Martin Gore and a harmonium, and that was when Alan Wilder came up with the idea of putting a beat to it.
The band members than added the choir chords and Martin came up with the famous guitar riff. When everything was done and ready, all band members looked at each other and agreed that they might have a hit.
The song reached the No.8 spot on the US chart and the No.6 spot on the UK chart.
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The song "Personal Jesus" by Depeche Mode was inspired by Priscilla Presley's book, Elvis And Me, where Priscilla described her relationship with Elvis.
Martin Gore said that the song is about being a Jesus for somebody else, someone to give you hope and care. It's about how Elvis was Priscilla's man and her mentor, and how often that happens in love relationships, how everybody's heart is like a God in some way.
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