Vince Clarke

Vincent Clarke began his career in 1979 by forming a band with schoolmates Martin Gore and Andrew Fletcher. The original band, named Composition of Sound, focused primarily on guitar-based music. By 1980, the group decided to switch to synthesizers, believing they would offer greater musical possibilities. At that time, Clarke provided the vocals but was not comfortable in the frontman role. They sought a new lead singer and discovered Dave Gahan, a fellow Basildonian, performing David Bowie covers in a nightclub. After a brief conversation, they decided Gahan was the right choice, and the band later changed its name to Depeche Mode after seeing the name in a fashion magazine. In 1980, Clarke met Daniel Miller, founder of the independent label Mute Records. The band had released the song "Photographic" on the "Some Bizarre" compilation and were approached by several major labels, but Clarke convinced the others to sign with Mute. Their first single, "Dreaming of Me," and the debut album were not successful, nor was the follow-up single "New Life." The band achieved their first major success with the third single, "Just Can't Get Enough," which led to a performance on Top of the Pops in 1981. Clarke left Depeche Mode soon after, feeling the band was moving in a different musical direction. He offered them two songs, "Only You" and "Don't Go," but the band declined them. A few months later, Clarke responded to an ad placed by Alison Moyet, a former punk and R&B performer, who was seeking a "Rootsy blues musician." Clarke, though neither rootsy nor blues-oriented, humorously answered the ad, and the duo Yazoo was formed. They recorded "Only You," which became a chart-topper. Their first album, "Upstairs At Eric's," was followed by several successful singles, and they were hailed as one of the most original acts in music. However, after recording their second album, "You and Me Both," Yazoo disbanded. Clarke then formed The Assembly with producer Eric Radcliffe, releasing the single "Never Never" with Feargal Sharkey. He later worked with Paul Quinn on the 1985 single "One Day" and, with producer Flood, auditioned vocalists for a new project. The 42nd audition was by Andy Bell, a butcher, and the two formed Erasure. Their first album was not commercially successful, but they continued and achieved success with their second album, which topped the charts. Erasure went on to release 31 singles and 11 albums, becoming one of the most influential and successful electronic bands in history. In 2000, they released the experimental album "Loveboat." Clarke has also been involved in other projects, including Family Fantastic, The Clarke And Ware Experiment, and The Radioactivators. He co-founded The Illustrious Company with Martin Ware, which provides ambient soundscapes for various events. In 2001, Erasure released the single "Moon & The Sky" from the "Loveboat" album and two box sets. The band is currently recording a follow-up album consisting of cover songs in a "Chorus" era style with a contemporary sound.