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. 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". 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. Their second album, A Broken Frame, was released in 1982. The band began incorporating new sounds into their music on 1983's Construction Time Again, including Synclavier and an emulator, and by 1984's Some Great Reward, the group incorporated industrial sounds on the chart hit "People Are People", while Gore explored darker lyrics. The following album, Black Celebration (1986), marked the end of the band's association with producers Daniel Miller and Gareth Jones.
Music for the Masses (1987), co-produced by the band and David Bascombe, propelled Depeche Mode to mainstream success in the United States, with three hit singles: "Strangelove", "Never Let Me Down Again" and "Behind the Wheel". The album marked a turning point in the band's sound, blending darkly sexual themes with expansive production. For 1990's Violator, the band worked with the producer Flood. With major hits "Personal Jesus", "Enjoy the Silence", "Policy of Truth" and "World in My Eyes", the album propelled the band to global superstardom. 1993's Songs of Faith and Devotion, also co-produced by Flood, featured religious themes and music inspired by the alternative rock and grunge scenes, spawning the hits "I Feel You" and "Walking in My Shoes". Wilder departed the band in 1995. Continuing as a trio on 1997's Ultra, the band worked with producer Tim Simenon and moved into a more danceable, electronic direction, away from the harder, rock-oriented sound of Songs of Faith and Devotion, producing the hits "Barrel of a Gun" and "It's No Good".
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". Playing the Angel (2005) was the first Depeche Mode album to feature writing contributions from Gahan. 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". Its singles included "Precious" and "John the Revelator". Hillier continued working with the band, producing their next two albums Sounds of the Universe (2009) and Delta Machine (2013). On 2017's Spirit, produced by James Ford, the band expressed their frustrations with the political climates of the United States and United Kingdom. After Fletcher died in 2022, Gore and Gahan recorded 2023's Memento Mori as a duo. Again produced by Ford, Memento Mori features themes of melancholy and mortality on songs such as "Ghosts Again".
Songs
+Key Indicates songs written by others