Depeche Mode reflected on their 40 year career during their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction speech.
The Just Can’t Get Enough group accepted the accolade at the first-ever virtual Induction Special, which aired on HBO and was presented by Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl, in a pre-recorded clip.
The band were inducted by Charlize Theron and honoured by the stars including Arcade Fire‘s Win Butler and Chvrches‘ Lauren Mayberry.
Speaking about the honour, members Dave Gahan, Andrew Fletcher and Martin Gore appeared from their respective homes, as they looked back on four decades of music
“Congratulations to all our fellow inductees. It’s incredible now to be in this club,” they said. “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.
“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. I think music really brings people together, and God knows we need that more today than it seems any other time.”
The electronic music group also acknowledged former members Vince Clarke and Alan Wilder, calling them “part of the DM family and the DM history and the success of this band”.
Creative director Anton Corbijn, Mute Records’ Daniel Miller, manager Jonathan Kessler and longtime touring members Christian Eigner and Peter Gordeno were also name-checked in the speech.
Organisers were forced to postpone the annual induction event in May due to the coronavirus pandemic and opted for a fully virtual ceremony instead of the usual in-person gathering.
Whitney Houston was among the other acts inducted during the online ceremony, with her mother Cissy and sister Pat accepting the prize on behalf of the late star.
