Although Clarke was the lead singer at the time, he was not happy, and
they were looking for another.  In 1980 they asked David Gahan, who 
they had heard sing David Bowie's song "Heroes".  When he join they
switched to synthesizers only and took on a new name, and were now known
as Depeche Mode.  The name was actually taken from a French mag-
azine and it means "fast fashion".  The magazine still exist today.

Their first release was the song "Photographic" on the independent rec-
ored company Some Bizarre compilation "Some Bizarre Album" in
1980.  It wasn't until Mute Record's Daniel Miller found them that they
actually had there own record label.  In February of 1987 they released 
their first single "Dreaming of Me" which became number 57 on the top
UK music Charts.  Unfortunately "New Life", their second attempt was 
not a hit either, in fact it wasn't until they released "Just Can't Get Enough"
that they reached the Top 10.  With stardom now in reach the young band
released the album "Speak and Spell" perhaps one of their best known 
early albums.

Vince Clarke wrote all their songs, except for two, which were written by
Martin Gore.  After the release of "Speak and Spell" Vince Clarke, who 
had now lost the feeling of comfort and the passion for touring, left the
band.  With one member down Martin Gore took charge of the song 
writing and they advertised for a new band member.  In January of 1982 
the three remaining band members released the single "See You."
 
 

Depeche Mode's advertisement for a new member read something like
this:  "Synthesizer Player wanted, Maximum age 21 years."  Alan Wilder
was 22 at the time he read it, but answered it anyway.  Wilder played 
his first concert with the band in the United States on the "See You" tour,
but was not allowed into the studio or considered a inducted member
until after their second album "A Broken Frame."

By the time the single "Get the Balance Right" in 1983 Alan Wilder was
considered a fully functional member of the band.  Wilder ever wrote two
songs for their third album "Constructions Time Again", and one for their
fourth "Some Great Reward."

"Everything Counts", "People are People", and "Master and Servant" 
rocketed this start studded band into the lime light not only in the UK
but also in the United States.  With the release of "Black Celebration" 
and "Music For The Masses" their music suddenly shifted from the early
light hearted Depeche Mode, to a more dark and melancholic.  In 1989
the band switched again from he synthetic sounds of the keyboard to the
rich tones of the guitar evident in the recording of their first live album
"101" recorded in San Francisco. 

Perhaps the most popular of albums ever released in America was
"Violator", in 1990.  The songs "Enjoy the Silence", "Policy of Truth", and
"Personal Jesus" are still heard on popular radio channels.  "Songs of
Faith and Devotion", a heavily gospel style album, was released in 1993
and shortly there after followed by its compliment live version.  The album
sold quite a lot of copies, but came to a disappointment to the older fans.
Martin Gore had been writing songs for a solo record called "Counterfeit
EP" in  1989, and Wilder had released a few albums himself under Recoil's
label.

In June of 1995 Alan Wilder announced that he would be leaving Depeche
Mode "Due to increasing dissatisfaction with the internal relations and 
working practices of the group."  After what was said and done the band
fell hopelessly into a pool of depression and failed to release another album
until April of 1997 with "Ultra".  The tone for this album was set in a very
dark depressed state evident in "Barrel of A Gun", "It's No Good", 
"Home", and "Useless."  David Gahan had begun a loosing battle with
Drugs and the band showed signs of failure.  Headlines of paper attacked
Gahan for his out of control behavior and addictions.

When all seemed but lost for this band, they released the Singles Tour 86-
98 headlining their new hit "Only When I Lose Myself."  The band began a
aggressive touring campaign through out Europe, Asia, and the United States.
With this rebirth the band promises fame once again with perhaps the release
of a new album?  There's No Doubt I Am One of The Devout.