Here are some key facts about Martin Gore - Singer, multi-instrumentalist, one of the founding members of "Depeche Mode" and the band's main songwriter:
(Photo: RMV/REX/SHUTTERSTOC)
= Martin Lee Gore was born on July 23, 1961, in Dagenham, Essex, England.
= He was raised by his stepfather David Gore and biological mother Pamela, who both worked at the Ford of Britain motor plant in Dagenham. His biological father was an African-American G.I.
= He grew up in a "normal" and "stable" environment, but was an introverted child who preferred reading alone.
= Gore attended Nicholas Comprehensive School in Basildon, where he shared a class with future bandmate Andy Fletcher.
= He played in a local band called "Norman and the Worms" during school.
= Gore taught himself to play the keyboard in the 1970s, influenced by acts like "Kraftwerk", the "Human League", and "OMD".
= He purchased his first synthesizer, a Yamaha CS5, after borrowing a Korg 700S from a friend.
= He was briefly a member of the synth-pop band "Soft Cell", before joining "Depeche Mode".
= He joined "Composition of Sound" in 1980, which later became "Depeche Mode" after recruiting Dave Gahan as the lead singer.
(Photo: Fanart.TV)
= "Depeche Mode" released their debut album, "Speak & Spell", in 1981. Gore wrote "Tora! Tora! Tora!" and "Big Muff" for the album.
= He became the principal songwriter for "Depeche Mode" after Vince Clarke left the band in 1981.
= He penned over 100 original songs for "Depeche Mode".
= He has an impressive vocal range, adding depth to "Depeche Mode’s" music.
= Although Dave Gahan is the band's lead vocalist, Gore takes the lead in few songs on each album. Here are some examples: "It Doesn't Matter", "Somebody", "A Question Of Lust", "Sometimes", "It Doesn't Matter Two", "Black Day", "The Things You Said", "Sweetest Perfection", "Blue Dress", "Judas", "Breath", "Damaged People", "Jezebel".
= He released 15 albums with "Depeche Mode" including "A Broken Frame" in 1982, "Construction Time Again" in 1983, "Black Celebration" in 1986, "Music for the Masses" in 1987, "Violator" in 1990, "Songs of Faith and Devotion" in 1993, "Ultra" in 1997, "Exciter" in 2001, "Playing the Angel" in 2005, "Sounds of the Universe" in 2009 and more.
= "Depeche Mode" has sold more than 100 million records worldwide.
= He first used the guitar as the main instrument on "Personal Jesus" from the album "
Violator".
= He is a multi-instrumentalist. He plays guitar, keyboard, bass guitar, drums, and accordion.
= As a solo artist he released "Counterfeit" e.p. in 1989, "Counterfeit²" in 2003, "MG" in 2015, and "The Third Chimpanzee" in 2021.
= Gore formed the techno duo "VCMG" with Vince Clarke, releasing the album "Ssss" in 2012.
= He has a personal studio, "Electric Ladyboy", in Santa Monica, where he records solo work and writes music for "Depeche Mode".
= Gore won Ivor Novello Award for "International Achievement" (1999).
= He won Moog Innovation Award for contributions to sound in popular music (2019).
= He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2020 with "Depeche Mode" members Dave Gahan, Andy Fletcher, Vince Clarke, and Alan Wilder.
= Gore became a vegetarian in 1983 for health and moral reasons.
= He experienced stress-induced seizures during the 1993 "Devotional Tour".
= Gore battled with alcohol addiction, leading to a near-fatal overdose in 1994.
= He was arrested in Denver during the Devotional Tour in 1993 for holding a loud party in his hotel room.
= He is known for his flamboyant and androgynous stage persona and unique sense of style.
= Gore supports various charities focused on mental health, human rights, and environmental conservation.
= His favorite Synthesizer is the Roland Jupiter-8 synthesizer.
= He is a supporter of Arsenal Football Club.
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