Depeche Mode

Depeche Mode emerged in Basildon, England, in 1980, and made its recording debut with Speak & Spell, still with Vince Clarke, who left soon after. With Martin Gore leading the songwriting, the band moved from synthpop to darker arrangements on records like Black Celebration and Music for the Masses.

Violator widened its audience in 1990; Songs of Faith and Devotion brought guitars and gospel into the group’s sound. Alan Wilder left in 1995, and the band carried on as a trio.