More about: Depeche Mode

On 7 November 2020, Essex electronic icons Depeche Mode were inducted into the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame alongside Whitney Houston, T. Rex, The Notorious B.I.G and Nine Inch Nails.

Appearing by video link, the trio of Dave Gahan, Martin Gore and Andrew Fletcher accepted the honour. See the speech and read what the boys had to say about the moment in DM history:

Dave Gahan: Alright congratulations boys we finally found a way to accept our induction into the rock n roll hall of fame.

Martin Gore: Congratulations; congratulations.

Andrew Fletcher: It’s a shame we’re not doing the concert.

Martin: Aren’t we doing the concert now?

Dave: [laughs] No we’re not doing that. But it is an honour of course to be inducted into the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame - I am reading from notes here by the way.

Congratulations to all our fellow inductees: it’s incredible now to be in this club. There’s so many other musicians, artists that are a part of this that we have grown up listening to. David Bowie, Iggy Pop and the Stooges, The Clash, just to name a few. The Eagles - don’t forget The Eagles; everybody loves The Eagles!

Let’s not forgot we’ve got a big congratulations of course to Vince Clarke and of course to Alan Wilder who are part of the DM family and DM history and the success of this band.

We’ve  been doing this most of our adult lives pretty much. I guess we were 18/19 when we started doing this. Of course I want to thank Martin and Fletch while I’ve got the opportunity because I don’t know what the hell I would have been doing if I didn’t find music to be honest.

Andrew: You’d have been stealing Cars, Dave.

Dave: Maybe I would have been moved on a bit from there. Maybe I would have been stealing larger things than cars but definitely something dodgy. Music saved us in more ways than one.

Martin: Thanks to you as well. We wouldn’t be here either.

Dave: Thanks Mark. You know, growing up listening to music on the radio and having music, it really helped us to feel norma; feel part of something and that’s what music does with people and I think that’s what Depeche Mode has done for many people. Music really brings people together. God knows we need that more today than it seems any other time. Unfortunately we’re not going to be able to perform for you tonight of course because of this situation that we all find ourselves in but I want to thanks some special people here who have supported us and believed in us.

Of course Daniel Miller at Mute Records who found us and believed in us and he continues to be source of guidance to this day. Anton Corbijn who came in at the right time and actually made us look cool.

Jonathan Kessler, our manager and spiritual advisor. All of the promoters across the world who took a chance on a bunch of outsider, eyeliner-wearing weirdos from Essex and all of the wankers that didn’t. 

I also want to thank Peter Gordeno and Christian Eigner who have been such a huge part of this band for the last twenty years. And we’re  still calling them the new blokes. Let’s not forget as well our road crew, tour managers. All of them who have worked tirelessly to bring the Depeche Mode show to life every night. Rob Stringer at Sony who continues to support our artistic vision and of course all of the fans, a lot of which have been with us since day one.

And of course last but not least a big thank you to our families; our wives; our kids; our parents who put up with us and have been with us throughout this journey and I think I speak for all of us when I say we love you and we couldn’t do it without you.

Martin: Yes absolutely: thank you. Well done.

Dave: So Mark: you better get back to your kids and the studio. Flecth it’s opening time. Talk to you guys soon. Love you. Cheers.

More about: Depeche Mode