Editing Depeche Mode (section)

==Musical style and influences==
Clarke was turned onto electronic music by the band [[Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark]] (OMD), without whom, he said, Depeche Mode would never have existed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.electronicsound.co.uk/features/long-reads/vince-clarke-game-of-drones/|title=Vince Clarke: Game of Drones|last=Ilic|first=Vel|date=14 September 2023|website=Electronic Sound|access-date=20 April 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.de/omd-im-portraet-zurueck-nach-orleans-1782723/|title=OMD im Porträt: Zurück nach Orléans|last=Niasseri|first=Sassan|date=2 November 2019|language=De|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|access-date=28 March 2023}}</ref> Gore affirmed OMD's influence while they served as [[Opening act|support]] on the Music for the Masses Tour in 1988.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVs4zDA68Gk|title=Depeche Mode Talk Influences (1988)|date=2 August 2023|publisher=[[MTV News]]|access-date=2 August 2023|url-status=unfit|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20230802122740/yVs4zDA68Gk|archive-date=2 August 2023|via=[[Ghost Archive]]}} {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230802135607/https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/yVs4zDA68Gk|date=2 August 2023}}.{{cbignore}}</ref> In a later interview, Gore explained his early objectives for Depeche Mode, saying, "My dream was to combine the emotion of [[Neil Young]] or [[John Lennon]] transmitted by [[Kraftwerk]]'s synthesisers. Soul music played by electronic instruments."<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Emmanuel |last= Tellier |title= Depeche Mode – Pierres qui roulent |magazine= [[Les Inrockuptibles]] |date= 23 September 1998 |access-date= 27 December 2013 |url= http://www.lesinrocks.com/1998/09/23/musique/depeche-mode-pierres-qui-roulent-11230677/ |archive-date= 16 October 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121016040919/http://www.lesinrocks.com/1998/09/23/musique/depeche-mode-pierres-qui-roulent-11230677/ |language= fr}}</ref> Fletcher mentioned influences including the late 1970s [[punk rock]] scene, the [[post-punk]] bands [[Siouxsie and the Banshees]] and [[the Cure]], and electronic group [[the Human League]].<ref>Fletcher cites a number of artists as influential on the early musical endeavours of himself, Clarke and Gore, subsequently noting that this confluence of sounds would "translate" into Depeche Mode:
*{{cite interview|first=Andrew|last=Fletcher|interviewer=Tomas|title=Interview: Andrew Fletcher|website=Modefan.com|date=1 February 2011|access-date=3 March 2021|url=https://modefan.com/interview-andrew-fletcher/}}</ref> Band members have also cited [[David Bowie]], [[the Clash]],<ref>{{cite press release|title= Depeche Mode frontman Dave Gahan gets spiritual |agency= [[CNN]] |date= 8 June 2012 |access-date= 27 December 2013 |url= https://edition.cnn.com/2012/06/07/showbiz/music/dave-gahan-depeche-mode}}</ref> [[Roxy Music]] and [[Brian Eno]],<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Andrew |last= Unterberger |title= Martin Gore on His New Solo Album and No Longer Making Music for the Masses |magazine= Spin |date= 28 April 2015 |access-date= 9 January 2016 |url= http://www.spin.com/2015/04/martin-gore-mg-album-interview/ |quote= I remember buying [Brian Eno's] Music for Airports when it came out, and I think I was so young that it was the Roxy Music connection that made me go and buy it. But I used to listen to that over and over and over again. I know every single note on it.}}</ref> [[Elvis Presley]], [[the Velvet Underground]],<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Mike |last= Whyte |title= Martin L Gore on his own track |magazine= [[Release Magazine]] |date= 28 April 2003 |access-date= 27 December 2013 |url= http://www.releasemagazine.net/Spotlight/spotlightgore.htm}}</ref> [[Fad Gadget]],<ref>{{cite book|first= Jonathan |last= Miller |date= 2009 |title= Stripped: Depeche Mode |publisher= [[Omnibus Press]] |isbn= 9780857120267 |chapter= 32: Exciting Times Ahead |chapter-url= https://books.google.com/books?id=8dlapcBLwu0C&pg=PT718 |quote= Alan Wilder – "As an artist, [Fad Gadget] was hugely underrated, and, without doubt, his influence on – not least – DM will always be fondly remembered by me in the form of regular impersonations – notably 'Ricky's Hand' – as performed with convincing swagger by a certain David Gahan."}}</ref> [[Suicide (band)|Suicide]],<ref>{{cite book|first= David |last= Nobahkt |date= 2004 |title= Suicide: No Compromise |publisher= SAF Publishing Ltd |page= 166 |isbn= 9780946719716 |quote= Amongst the synth bands that emerged at the start of the eighties was Depeche Mode. Suicide's influence on their sound is indisputable. Martin L Gore of Depeche Mode told The Times newspaper, "The synthesiser before Suicide was always a clean-cut instrument, whereas they brought in a punk element." He went on to say, "That was a very important step in the history of electronic music, they were way before The Prodigy and the whole industrial scene." Alan Wilder, Depeche Mode's music director and keyboard player from '82 to '95, had taken notice of Suicide's sampled and manipulated guitar sounds whilst recording the 1990 album Violator. Wilder later commented on his Shunt Website. "When we recorded the track "Blue Dress" it was based around using washy sounding, drone guitars (a la Suicide) which formed the backbone of the track."}}</ref> and the [[blues]].<ref>{{cite magazine|title= Depeche Mode talk blues influence and unveil 'Heaven' video – watch |magazine= NME |date= 1 February 2013 |access-date= 27 December 2013 |url= https://www.nme.com/news/depeche-mode/68491}}</ref>

Depeche Mode were considered a teen pop group during their early period in the UK, and interviewed in teen pop magazines such as ''[[Smash Hits]]''.<ref>{{cite book|first= Trevor |last= Baker |date= 2013 |title= Depeche Mode – The Early Years 1981–1993 |publisher= John Blake Publishing Ltd |page= 74 |isbn= 9781786061560 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=S4i3DQAAQBAJ&pg=PT74}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title= Depeche Mode |website= [[Rock's Backpages]] |access-date= 26 March 2018 |url= https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Artist/depeche-mode}}</ref> Following the departure of Clarke, their music began to take on a darker tone, establishing a darker sound in the band's music, as Gore assumed lead songwriting duties.<ref name="Stylus"/> Gore's lyrics include themes such as sex, religion, and politics.<ref>{{cite news|first= Jennifer |last= Vineyard |title= Catching up with Depeche Mode |publisher= CNN |date= 24 April 2013 |access-date= 27 December 2013 |url= https://edition.cnn.com/2013/04/23/showbiz/music/martin-gore-depeche-mode/}}</ref> Gore has stated he feels lyrical themes which tackle issues related to solitude and loneliness are a better representation of reality, whereas he finds "happy songs" fake and unrealistic.<ref>{{cite web|title= Martin Gore (Depeche Mode) interview |via= [[YouTube]] |date= 22 February 2013 |access-date= 27 December 2013 |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I27PyhhqGV4 |archive-url= https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/I27PyhhqGV4 |archive-date= 11 December 2021 |url-status= live}} {{cbignore}}</ref> At the same time, he asserts that the group's music contains "an element of hope".<ref>{{cite news|first= Ed |last= Condran |date= 25 May 2006 |title= On That Note: Comeback Mode |newspaper= [[South Philly Review]] |url= http://www.southphillyreview.com/arts-and-entertainment/music/on_that_note-73703507.html |archive-date= 22 July 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150722094324/http://www.southphillyreview.com/arts-and-entertainment/music/on_that_note-73703507.html}}</ref>

Depeche Mode's music has been variously described as [[synth-pop]],<ref name="Quietus">{{cite web|first= John |last= Doran |title= Depeche Mode Interviewed: Universal Truths And Sounds |work= [[The Quietus]] |date= 20 April 2009 |access-date= 5 November 2014 |url= http://thequietus.com/articles/01503-depeche-mode-interviewed-sounds-of-the-universe-martin-gore-dave-gahan-mute}}</ref><ref name="Chart Attack"/><ref name="Bio">{{cite web|first= Jason |last= Ankeny |title= Depeche Mode – Artist Biography |publisher= AllMusic |access-date= 8 April 2014 |url= https://www.allmusic.com/artist/depeche-mode-mn0000239921/biography}}</ref><ref name="Serpick">{{cite book|first= Evan |last= Serpick |title= The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll |date= 2001 |publisher= [[Simon & Schuster]] |chapter= Depeche Mode |access-date= 31 March 2012 |url= https://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/depeche-mode/biography}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first= Dan |last= Cairns |title= Synth pop: Encyclopedia of Modern Music |date= 1 February 2009 |newspaper= [[The Times]] |url= http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article5598850.ece |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110615165528/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article5598850.ece |archive-date= 15 June 2011}}</ref><ref name="Stylus">{{cite web|first= Andrew |last= Unterberger |title= Depeche Mode vs. The Cure |work= [[Stylus Magazine]] |date= 21 March 2007 |access-date= 26 July 2018 |url= http://stylusmagazine.com/articles/vs/depeche-mode-vs-the-cure.htm |archive-date= 11 March 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150311025436/http://stylusmagazine.com/articles/vs/depeche-mode-vs-the-cure.htm}}</ref>{{Excessive citations inline|date=November 2024}} [[electronic rock]],<ref>{{cite news|title= Quick Spins: Reviews of CDs by Depeche Mode, Allen Toussaint and Wussy |first= David |last= Malitz |date= 21 April 2009 |newspaper= [[The Washington Post]] |access-date= 5 November 2014 |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/20/AR2009042003506.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title= New Music Report: Asher Roth and Depeche Mode's Albums |magazine= [[Rolling Stone]] |url= https://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/04/22/new-music-report-asher-roth-and-depeche-modes-albums |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090426074015/http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/04/22/new-music-report-asher-roth-and-depeche-modes-albums |archive-date= 26 April 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first= Karen |last= Bliss |title= Electro-rockers Depeche Mode touring the Universe |newspaper= [[Toronto Star]] |date= 19 July 2009 |access-date= 5 November 2014 |url= https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/2009/07/19/electrorockers_depeche_mode_touring_the_universe.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|first= Phil |last= Sutcliffe |title= Depeche Mode |magazine= [[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]] |publisher= [[Rock's Backpages]] |date= June 2009 |access-date= 5 November 2014 |url= http://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/depeche-mode-3}}</ref> [[New wave music|new wave]],<ref name="CoS"/><ref>{{cite web|first= Tom |last= Breihan |title= Watch Depeche Mode Play "Heaven" Live |website= [[Stereogum]] |date= 14 February 2013 |access-date= 5 November 2014 |url= https://www.stereogum.com/1261132/watch-depeche-mode-play-heaven-live/video/}}</ref> [[dark wave]],<ref name="Elferen">Isabella van Elferen, Jeffrey Andrew Weinstock: ''Goth Music: From Sound to Subculture''. Routledge Studies in Popular Music, 2015, p. 25. {{ISBN|0-415-72004-4}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hochgesand |first=Stefan |date=2023-03-24 |title=Im Nachtclub der Todesengel: Depeche Mode und ihr neues Album 'Memento Mori' |url=https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/kultur-vergnuegen/musik/berlin-dark-wave-im-nachtclub-der-todesengel-depeche-mode-und-ihr-neues-album-memento-mori-li.331232 |access-date=2023-12-30 |website=[[Berliner Zeitung]] |language=de}}</ref> [[dance-rock]],<ref>{{cite magazine |first= Leah |last= Greenblatt |title= Sounds of the Universe (2009) |magazine= [[Entertainment Weekly]] |date= 15 April 2009 |access-date= 5 November 2014 |url= https://ew.com/article/2009/04/15/sounds-universe/ |archive-date= 6 November 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141106020944/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20272271,00.html |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first= Mikael |last= Wood |title= Depeche Mode, 'Sounds of the Universe' (Mute/Capitol/Virgin) |magazine= [[Spin (magazine)|Spin]] |date= 17 April 2009 |access-date= 5 November 2014 |url= http://www.spin.com/reviews/depeche-mode-sounds-universe-mutecapitolvirgin/}}</ref> [[post-punk]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/at-29-depeche-mode-is-now-post-post-punk/ |title=At 29, Depeche Mode is now post-post-punk |last=Horowitz |first=Joanna |date=August 7, 2009 |publisher=Seattle Times |access-date= |quote=One of the most influential post-punk outfits, Depeche Mode has endured long after many of their electro-synth compatriots have faded into oblivion. }}</ref> [[alternative rock]],<ref name="Stylus"/> and [[pop rock]].<ref>{{cite book|first= Richard |last= Allan |date= 2003 |title= The Rough Guide to Rock |editor-first= Peter |editor-last= Buckley |edition= 3rd |publisher= [[Rough Guides]] |isbn= 1-85828-457-0 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=Fie47qSuTsoC&pg=RA1-PA1819 |quote= 1992 saw the release of an EP, Broken, produced by Flood, better known for his work with British pop-rock band Depeche Mode.}}</ref> The band have also experimented with other genres throughout their career, including [[Avant-garde music|avant-garde]], [[electronica]], [[Pop music|pop]], [[Soul music|soul]], [[techno]], [[industrial rock]] and [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]].<ref>{{cite web |first= Dom |last= Gourlay |title= Depeche Mode – Delta Machine Album Review |website= [[Contactmusic.com]] |date= 4 April 2013 |access-date= 8 April 2014 |url= http://www.contactmusic.com/album-review/depeche-mode-delta-machine |quote= Over the course of their previous twelve albums, they've embraced any number of genres from avant-garde electronica, pop, soul, techno, industrial rock and even metal. |archive-date= 8 April 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140408214132/http://www.contactmusic.com/album-review/depeche-mode-delta-machine |url-status= dead }}</ref>