Depeche Mode have been confirmed as the latest additions to the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. The trio’s induction took place last night (November 7th), and due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the ceremony was a virtual one.
A socially distanced induction, of course, Depeche Mode members Martin Gore, Andrew Fletcher, and Dave Gahan accepted the inductions via some heartfelt speeches streamed via HBO Max from their respective homes. David Gahan took the time to convey his utmost gratitude at the honourary recognition.
During the speech, Gahan gave his congratulations towards Nine Inch Nails and other artists recently added to the Hall of Fame, stating: “Congratulations to all our fellow inductees. It’s incredible to be in this club!”
Depeche Mode were inducted into the Hall of Fame by none other than Charlize Theron. Theron, who herself is a huge fan, deemed Depeche Mode as “the soundtrack to my life”.
The world-class actor spoke on how the band affected during her most formative experiences. Theron explained that “Depeche Mode is the soundtrack of my adolescence…I’m not kidding — there was literally a song for every occasion of my life: my first date, my first time leaving South Africa, and of course the first time I got my heartbroken.”
Theron then got personal about her lifelong passion for the group, saying: “when I finally got to see them live a couple of years ago, it was like this epic slap in the face of nostalgia. When I was at the show I realized what else I loved about their music: They celebrate the outsider. Their music brings people together from all different walks of life and makes them feel like it’s OK to be different.”
At the end of her induction speech, Theron explained that “That really hit me watching the videos at the concert. I was moved to tears. I came home, I told my daughters about it, and I was also really fucking pissed because I don’t usually go to rock concerts to bawl my eyes out.”
As his speech progressed, Gahan acknowledged some of the Hall of Fame’s long-standing members, who Depeche Mode grew up listening to and idolising: “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.”
And when it comes to music, the band Just Can’t Get Enough. The trio relayed how music shaped their lives separately, before drawing them all together to create one of the world’s biggest and best groups. Fletcher relayed that: “You know, growing up, listening to music on the radio and having music, it really kind of helped us to feel normal, feel part of something. That’s what music does for people and I think that’s what Depeche Mode has done for many people.”
In this coronavirus climate, music is one of the only things that creates and sustains human connection. Fletcher recognised this strange truth, saying “I think music really brings people together, and God knows we need that more today than it seems any other time.”
Depeche Mode gave their thanks to their longtime touring partners Peter Gordeno and Christian Eigner, and their beloved manager, Jonathan Kessler. The band also thanked creative director Anton Corbijn, who the trio say is responsible for “making them look cool”, and Daniel Miller of their record label, Mute Records.
Depeche Mode did not forget to mention Alan Wilder and Vince Clarke, former members of the group, and two individuals the band says are “part of the DM family and the DM history and the success of this band”.
The most recent record from Depeche Mode is Spirit, their fourteenth studio album that came out in March of 2017.
