Strangelove: Why Depeche Mode’s Induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Matters
It’s no secret to my readers that Depeche Mode is one of my all-time favorite bands. I frequently name-drop them any chance I can and l just love them so much. My Depeche fandom knows no limits. I brought the coffee table-sized Monument (2018) on a whim because I saw it on Amazon and had to have it on my book shelf. I went with a good friend to see their latest concert documentary Spirits in the Forest (2019) in a one-night-only screening at a local theatre last November. And I even appeared on Josh Fitzgerald’s Movies that Rock podcast to discuss the classic documentary Depeche Mode: 101 (1989) this past spring. I love to talk about all things Depeche for anyone who wants to listen. But why does Depeche Mode mean so much to me? That’s a loaded question that can’t be answered easily. The best way to understand my Depeche fandom is contextualizing my journey as both a music fan and Rock Hall watcher/blogger. Throughout this piece, I’m gonna work out my inner fandom for Depeche and try to understand their importance to the music industry and why I love this band.
To fully capture why Depeche Mode’s induction is important to me, I must discuss my journey as a music fan. I grew up in a middle-class household where music was constantly played on our record players and radios. My parents, both late baby boomers, tended to play the music of their teen and early adult years. It wasn’t uncommon to hear everything from The Beatles, Diana Ross, Madonna, The Doors, CCR and Elton John on constant rotation. My father, in particular, loves classic rock and that largely shaped my musical tastes throughout my adolescent and teen years. But, like any teenager, I also consumed contemporary pop and rock music during the late 90s and early 00s. Admittedly (almost embarrassed to confess this), I liked extremely poppy music—think Britney Spears, Destiny’s Child and Backstreet Boys—alongside modern rockers—Green Day, The Killers and White Stripes. My finger was all over top 40 radio at the turn of the 21st century.
Ironically, I didn’t care much for 80s music until my adult years. I came to a realization that I didn’t’ like “mainstream” 80s music and instead favored alternative-based music. My parents always preferred more mainstream music so it kinda makes sense very few alternative records made its way into our household (The B-52’s and The Cars were exceptions). When I started my undergraduate studies in the late 00s, my music preferences radically changed. I, of course, followed modern-day music but I kept discovering “older” music. I vividly remember hearing a Depeche song played at a bar and it wasn’t one of their “pop” hits that everyone knows (“Enjoy the Silence,” “People Are People,” etc.). It was “It’s No Good,” a latter-day hit for the band that I didn’t realize was Depeche Mode. I remember sitting there and being mesmerized by the dark lyrics, catchy chorus and irresistible synth sounds. Admittedly I wrote them off as a band with 2-3 hits, but boy was I wrong. It led me down a rabbit hole to further explore more alternative artists from the 80s. This would lead to discovering more about Depeche Mode, something that I would forever change my life. Granted, I’ve heard all their big hits but I never associated them with a specific band for some reason. How could I mistaken Dave Gahan’s baritone voice for anyone else? I dunno what it is about them, but the music always spoke to me on a deeper level and keeps me coming back all these years later.
Shortly after completing my undergraduate studies in 2012, I became more interested in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. As I described in greater detail on Hall Watchers earlier this spring, I knew the Rock Hall existed on some level but never gave it much thought. Donna Summer, who was my mother’s favorite singer, was nominated 4 times and rejected by the larger voting body and she passed away shortly after the 2012 ceremony. I kept seeing news stories about Summer’s death and how she was nominated several times for induction yet couldn’t get enough votes. I then became intrigued by the Rock Hall and asked—who else is missing from the Rock Hall? Not surprisingly, many of my musical heroes were never nominated, let alone inducted and this frustrated me to no end. I discovered Future Rock Legends (FRL), which for many Rock Hall watchers, is their gateway to introducing themselves to the controversies and politics of the Cleveland-based institution. I discovered that there was a community of like-minded fans and critics of the Rock Hall. Although there are definitely questionable posts in the comments section, I did make some great friends along the way—some that I keep in contact with to this very day. More importantly, FRL’s various ongoing projects (song and album in particular) allowed me to discover music I’ve never heard for the first time. From that perspective, I am forever grateful for FRL.
After Donna Summer earned her rightful place in the Rock Hall a year after her death in 2013, the next artist I absolutely wanted to get inducted was Depeche Mode. Eligible since 2006 (for the class of 2007), Depeche Mode is the definitive 80s new wave band who should’ve been a no-brainer in their first year of eligibility but of course the Rock Hall waited a decade to even put them on a ballot. Their career arc is fascinating and essential to the development of new wave’s popularity. As new wave turned darker as the 80s progressed, Depeche Mode were on the vanguard of “what’s next” in popular music and remained relevant throughout their entire existence. They’re one of the very few bands can take artistic risks and succeed, both commercially and critically.
But what makes Depeche so special? For starters, their live shows are legendary. For almost their entire career, Depeche have served as headliners and played to millions of concert goers. Their concerts are epic and they’ve grown a reputation as one of the best live acts in modern rock. I cannot recommend watching the D.A. Pennebaker documentary Depeche Mode: 101 (1989) enough. Although there’s a rather silly “be in a Depeche Mode contest” that takes a good portion of the screen time, the concert footage of the band playing at the Rose Bowl is incredible. There’s fewer examples on celluloid film that captures an artist at the peak of their popularity and greatness and 101 is one them. Look at how the audience is hanging on every word and action from singer Dave Gahan. Even a simple gesture like waving his hands back-and-forth prompted the crowd to mimic his actions. Rock music, more broadly, should provoke a reaction and often against the will or consciousness of the listener. Gahan had the audience in the palms of his hands and the impromptu gesture became a trademark of the band’s concerts ever since.
Depeche’s fans are also what’s kept their legacy strong and alive over the years. These super fans often referred to as devotees are hardcore in every sense of the word. Not only do they often own every single recording the band has ever released, but they own rare memorabilia and collectibles that would make any museum employee blush. Devotees are a special breed, a community with demographics all over the place. As shown in last year’s Spirits in the Forest, Depeche Mode are global superstars who resonate with listeners across all walks of life. Yes, devotees will argue amongst one other what is their favorite song and they rarely agree with one another. But it’s their love of the music that connects them.
But Depeche’s legacy will be the timeless music they’ve created over the last four decades. They are journeymen who experienced the highest of highs and lowest of lows. After Vince Clarke left after Speak & Spell in 1981, Depeche Mode were destined—like so many of their New Wave and Alternative contemporaries—to become one-hit wonders. It took some time and a few album to get their stride, but they ultimately proved their naysayers wrong. As their music took cue from harder and industrial influences, Depeche Mode’s sound and image became darker and more cynical. Their songs have universal themes of sex, religion, anxiety and social and political unrest. They had one foot in the underground and the other on the mainstream charts. They took the sounds of the dance floor and turned them into radio staples that would be played on stations for decades to follow. Sure, they could still belt out a synth-pop hit every now and then, but they were on the pathway to superstardom by the end of the 1980s. They became the unlikeliness of stadium rockers, but they would play to huge crowds in packed stadiums and arenas and would become legends.
After two unsuccessful attempts for induction into the Rock Hall (for the Classes of 2017 and 2018), I correctly predicted Depeche Mode’s return for the Class of 2020. On the heels of The Cure’s induction, I was one of the few to predict they would get enough votes for induction. And guess what…I was right. They were announced as one of the six artists selected for the Performers Category and I literally could not be more excited. Given last year’s nominees, I quite frankly unsure if I would attend the ceremony unless Depeche Mode were inducted that year. Much to my surprise, they were chosen and immediately made plans to attend the show with a friend. This is a band i’ve been waiting to see get inducted as long as I’ve been a Rock Hall watcher. Additionally I would finally meet some of the friends I made through the Rock Hall watching universe over the years. Cleveland certainly wouldn’t have been the same. I was looking forward to this event perhaps more than anything in recent memory.
But, as everyone knows, the COVID-19 pandemic changed everything and cancelled virtually every major event planned for the foreseeable future. Originally scheduled to take place on May 2, the 2020 ceremony was moved to November but a live show was ultimately cancelled by July. The Rock Hall then announced a telecast for the 2020 class, but kept much of the details mum until recently. I will say…I was beyond disappointed the way everything turned out. But health and public safety should be everyone’s number goal, so I can’t get that upset over the cancelation. I mean, with things going the way they are, it’s uncertain there will even be a ceremony next year. It’s scary out there folks, so please stay safe out there! At least I can enjoy the HBO telecast from the comfort of my couch this coming Saturday night. And for the record, I really don’t care if Charlize Theron is the person inducting Depeche Mode. Oprah, Chris Rock and David Letterman served as inductors at past ceremonies and they gave fine speeches. Sometimes it’s the ones you least suspect that leave the strongest impressions. I’m open-minded to Theron inducting Depeche as she’s apparently a devotee.
I feel everyone has that one band that speaks to them on a deeper level. That band has always been Depeche Mode. On Saturday night, devotees and fans from around the globe will rise to pay respect to one of the most popular, inventive and acclaimed bands of the last four decades. They will earn their rightful place into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and I cannot wait to watch the telecast, even if I secretly wish the ceremony was still happening and I could attend their induction live in-person. But it is what it is. I’m just happy one of my musical heroes is finally inducted and that’s all that really counts. A Depeche Mode Rock Hall induction is all I ever wanted and needed. Thank you Depeche Mode for providing me years of musical enjoyment and helping me get through the best and worst times of my life. Your music has never let me down when I needed it the most.
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