Dave Gahan is the lead vocalist and co-songwriter for the Alternative Rock and New Wave band Depeche Mode. He was born in North Wealed, Essex, United Kingdom on 9th May 1962. Depeche Mode was formed in 1980 by Vince Clarke, Andrew Fletcher and Martin Gore. They recruited Gahan later that year. Clarke left in 1981 to pursue other projects and was replaced by Alan Wilder, who left in 1995. Depeche Mode is now comprised of Gahan, Gore, and Fletcher.
Originally an Alternative New Wave Synth-Pop band with their own unique sound - and Gahan's unique baritone vocals - Depeche Mode discovered an instant audience with their first two albums 'Speak & Spell' (1981) and 'A Broken Frame' (1981), both making the top ten in the UK. It was the top ten album and single 'Construction Time Again' and 'Everything Counts' (respectively) in 1983 that would convey a significant shift in the band's sound - a more mature sound - and would catapult Gahan and Depeche Mode into the international arena. The music has often been controversial, especially 'Master and Servant' (and 'Blasphemous Rumours' which is a dark yet wry look at the misery in the world and what part religion plays in this). The single was banned from many American Radio Stations.
The early 1990s saw another shift towards the Alertnative Rock sound, Gahan admitting he was influenced by the Seattle Grunge Scene. He particularly liked the sound of the bands Nirvana and Jane's Addiction. The new Depeche Mode album, 'Songs of Faith and Devotion', was indeed a dark project, at times moody and introspective, with the distorted guitars synonymous with Grunge. The album debuted at number one in America and the United Kingdom.
Gahan has since worked on solo projects, as well as continuing to serve as lead vocalist for Depeche Mode. He has shared in no less than 15 top ten albums and more than 40 top forty singles with Depeche Mode. The band have become one of the biggest alternative acts in music history. Gahan has had additional success with his solo albums 'Paper Monsters' and 'Hourglass'.
