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Artist
Dave Gahan
12+ albums
electronicsynthpopnew wavealternativerock
about
David Gahan (born David Callcott on 9 May 1962) is an English singer best known as the lead vocalist of the electronic music band Depeche Mode, which he joined in 1980. He is recognized for his baritone voice and stage presence, and has been ranked among the greatest singers and frontmen by Q magazine. As a member of Depeche Mode, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2020. Gahan was born in Epping, Essex, to working-class parents. His mother, Sylvia, was a London bus conductor, and his biological father, Len Callcott, was a bus driver of Malaysian descent. His parents separated when he was young, and he was later adopted by his mother’s second husband, Jack Gahan. Gahan grew up in Basildon, Essex, and had a troubled youth, including legal issues and periods in juvenile court. He has stated that music played a significant role in his personal development. In 1980, Gahan joined the band Composition of Sound, later renamed Depeche Mode, after performing David Bowie's "'Heroes'". He suggested the band's name after seeing a fashion magazine titled Dépêche-mode. Depeche Mode became a leading new wave and synth-pop act, releasing 15 studio albums, four greatest hits compilations, and two remix albums, with global sales exceeding 100 million records. Several of the band's singles reached number one on Billboard's Alternative Songs chart, including "Enjoy the Silence", "Policy of Truth", "I Feel You", and "Walking in My Shoes". Gahan contributed to Depeche Mode as
