Depeche Mode, the pioneering English electronic band formed in 1980, reshaped synth-pop with dark, emotive songwriting and layered production. Known for hit albums like Violator and Songs of Faith and Devotion, Depeche Mode continue to influence electronic music and global tours.
Alan Wilder, who joined in 1982 and became the band’s chief studio-arranger, quietly reshaped their sound for over a decade before leaving in 1995; his production work is a big reason their records grew darker and more textured.