by Lesley Aeschliman

Created on: August 31, 2009

One of the greatest bands to come out of the 1980's is still recording today and influencing a new generation of electronic music artists. That band is none other than Depeche Mode. They first hit the music scene in 1981, and have weathered losing two different members, as well as the near-fatal drug overdose of lead singer Dave Gahan.

When Depeche Mode released their debut album Speak & Spell in 1981, many would have written off the band and their music as poppy fluff. However, when songwriter Vince Clarke left the band after the first album, Depeche Mode's sound began to evolve. That evolution continued after Alan Wilder joined the band. It wasn't until 1986, when Depeche Mode released Black Celebration, that the band really started to sound like the "Depressed Mode" stereotype they have acquired over the years.

The first real big hit Depeche Mode had in the United States was "People Are People," and a song from their 1984 album, Some Great Reward. This has been one of my favorite Depeche Mode albums over the years, and not simply due to the fact that "People Are People" is on it. Another highlight is the song "Blasphemous Rumours," a song that has been rather controversial within the Depeche Mode fanbase for years. The song tells the story of a 16-year-old girl who tries to commit suicide, but is able to be saved. She gets older, finds God and happiness in her life, then is hit by a car and dies. The most controversial part of the song is the chorus: "I don't want to start any blasphemous rumours / But I think that God's got a sick sense of humour / And when I die I expect to find Him laughing." When you think about the situation presented in the song, it's a sentiment that could be expected from the girl's family (the idea that she tried to kill herself but survived, and after finding God she loses her life). However, there are some people who think the chorus of this song is rather "blasphemous." Personally, I have to admire Depeche Mode for having the guts to write and record this song. I also enjoy all of the other songs on Some Great Reward, and feel it's the strongest album they've released during their career.

Besides Speak & Spell, Some Great Reward, and Black Celebration, Depeche Mode also released three other albums during the 1980s: A Broken Frame, Construction Time Again, and Music for the Masses. In the 1990s, the band released Violator (which includes "Enjoy the Silence," the band's biggest pop hit to date), Songs of Faith and Devotion, and Ultra. However, it should be noted that between Songs of Faith and Devotion and Ultra, Alan Wilder left the band and Dave Gahan had his near-fatal drug overdose. Since Ultra, Depeche Mode have released three more albums: Exciter, Playing the Angel, and Sounds of the Universe.

While Depeche Mode may not be as popular as they once were, the fact that the band is still together after nearly thirty years and continuing to record and release music is a testament to their career.

Learn more about this author, Lesley Aeschliman.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.