Depeche Mode

United Kingdom, 1980–now

English band formed in Basildon in 1980. They moved from light synth-pop to a darker, sample-based sound, and Violator (1990) brought electronic music to arena audiences.

MusicRoots documents 1 artist who influenced Depeche Mode and 15 artists Depeche Mode influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced Depeche Mode?

• Kraftwerk — Martin Gore has named Kraftwerk the band that showed them pop could be made entirely of synthesizers.

Which artists did Depeche Mode influence?

• Linkin Park — Depeche Mode's dark synth-pop feeds the electronic, melodic side of Linkin Park's sound.
• Rammstein — Founder Richard Kruspe has named Depeche Mode among his loves; their synth-pop shaped the electronic sheen of Rammstein's debut Herzeleid, and the band recorded a well-known cover of 'Stripped' in 1998.
• The Cranberries — Depeche Mode were a stated favourite — O'Riordan named Violator among her three favourite albums.
• Tears for Fears — Depeche Mode were among the synth-pop acts that assured Tears for Fears' electronic direction.
• Nine Inch Nails — Reznor is a documented Depeche Mode devotee who has repeatedly cited them among the electronic acts that shaped his path — NIN and Depeche Mode were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame together in the synth-led 2020 class.
• The Killers — Depeche Mode's synth-pop was in the cassettes Flowers's brother passed down — part of the electronic DNA of Hot Fuss.
• GusGus — The members who turned the film collective into a band came to techno through Depeche Mode.
• Metric — Metric's synth-driven new wave connects straight back to '80s synth-pop like Depeche Mode.
• The Bravery — Depeche Mode's synth-pop is part of the '80s electronic palette behind the Bravery's hooks.
• The Postal Service — The Postal Service's warm electropop descends from Depeche Mode's synth-pop — melodic songs over programmed electronic beats.
• The Knife — Depeche Mode's dark synth-pop is part of the electronic lineage behind the Knife's Swedish synth-pop.
• Röyksopp — Depeche Mode's synth-pop songcraft is part of the melodic electronic lineage behind Röyksopp.
• Iris — Iris grew out of a love of '80s synthpop — Depeche Mode's dark, melodic electronic pop is a core influence on their sound.
• CHVRCHES — Depeche Mode's dark, melodic synth-pop is a core influence on CHVRCHES' gleaming electropop.
• Placebo — Among Placebo's documented influences, with the Cure, Sonic Youth and Pixies.