Depeche Mode original line-up, 1981
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original lineup consisted of Dave Gahan (lead vocals, occasional songwriter since 2005), Martin Gore (keyboards, guitar, vocals, chief songwriter after 1981), Andy Fletcher (keyboards) and Vince Clarke (keyboards, chief songwriter 1980-1981), who later on formed Yazoo (whose song Only You reached #12 on the 1982 Festive Fifty), Assembly (whose song Never Never at #23 on the 1983 Festive Fifty ) and Erasure. Clarke left the band after the release of their 1981 debut album, Speak & Spell, and was eventually replaced by Alan Wilder (keyboards, drums and occasional songwriter) with Gore taking over songwriting. Wilder left the band in 1995. Gahan, Gore and Fletcher have since continued as a trio.
Fletcher's death was announced on 26 May 2022. He was aged 60.
Links to Peel[]
Peel played some of Depeche Mode's early songs in 1981 on his show, but seemed to have lost interest in them after their debut album. Depeche Mode were never invited to do a session for JP and the only session they did for BBC Radio One was for Richard Skinner's show, broadcast on 1981-06-11. However, in 1986 Peel saw them live and thought they were much harder edged than expected and was sufficiently impressed by their performance of Christmas Island to play it on the show.
Sessions[]
- None
Festive Fifty Entries[]
- Post Peel
- 2023 Festive Fifty: Ghosts Again #37
Other Shows Played[]
The list below is compiled from the database of this site and the John Peel Papers and is therefore incomplete. Please add further information if known.
- 1981
Depeche Mode - Photographic (Some Bizarre Version)
- 26 January 1981: Photographic (v/a album - Some Bizzare Album) Some Bizzare BZ LP 1
- 05 February 1981 (BFBS): Photographic (v/a album - Some Bizzare Album) Some Bizzare BZ LP 1
- 09 February 1981: Photographic (v/a album - Some Bizzare Album) Some Bizzare BZ LP 1
- 23 February 1981: Dreaming Of Me (7") Mute MUTE 013
- 16 July 1981 (BBC World Service): New Life (7") Mute
- 22 October 1981: Sometimes I Wish I Was Dead (7" Flexipop 011)
- 1984
- U.K. Buzz: People Are People
- U.K. Buzz: Blasphemous Rumors
- 24 September 1984 (BBC World Service): Master And Servant (An ON-USound Science Fiction Dance Hall Classic) (12") Mute L12 BONG 6
- 1986
- 21 April 1986: Christmas Island (b/w 7" - A Question Of Lust) Mute 7 BONG 11
- 1993
- 05 April 1993 (John Peel Is Jakki Brambles): Condemnation (LP - Songs Of Faith And Devotion)
- 2001
- 04 April 2001: Dream On (Dave Clarke Club Mix)
Top Of The Pops[]
- 25 December 1981 (TOTP): Just Can’t Get Enough
- 23 September 1982 (TOTP): Leave In Silence
- 06 October 1983 (TOTP): Love In Itself
Covered[]
From the Cover Versions page of this site.
- Samurai Seven: See You (session) 24 November 1998
- Swinghufvuds: Personal Jesus 21 January 1994
See Also[]
- Synth Britannia
- Gigography 1986
- Flexipop
- Nouvelle Vague
- Songs About Places
- UK Albums Chart Number Ones
- Electronic Music Compilations
External Links[]
- Wikipedia
- Official Site
- Depeche Mode International (Official Fan Club on Smule)