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Weird moment at the Grammys! The name “Depeche Mode” came up, and in a sense the Brits won, right? No, another British act instead: the indie duo Wet Leg received the Grammy for “Best Remixed Recording” for their remix of the Depeche Mode song “Wagging Tongue”.
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The original single is track number two on the Depeche Mode album “Memento Mori”, which was released in 2023 and was not nominated this year. The much less prominent colleagues from Wet Leg can now put their remix Grammy on the shelf with the other two. Last year they won in the categories “Best Alternative Music Album” and “Best Alternative Music Performance”.
And Depeche Mode? Martin Gore and Dave Gahan actually haven’t won a Grammy yet. Their last nomination was 14 years ago – since, to be fair, they only released three albums. They have received five nominations over the course of their career, which has been active since 1981, but they have never been on the winner’s podium.
On the official Grammy website, a billboard speaks harsh language: “0:5” it says. 0 wins out of 5 nominations.
At the 52nd Awards in 2010, Depeche Mode received two nominations: for the not-so-popular album “Sounds of the Universe” as “Best Alternative Music Album,” and for the single “Wrong” as “Best Short Form Music Video.”
At the 49th Awards in 2006, the Brits had a chance of winning the “Best Dance Recording” award for “Suffer Well,” composed by Gahan. The song is on the “Playing the Angel” album.
The “Exciter” single “I Feel Loved” was also considered for “Best Dance Recording” at the 44th Grammy Awards in 2002. Nothing came of it either. The Americans prefer to dance to other music.
Depeche Mode received their very first nomination in 1995: “Devotional” received a nomination as “Best Music Video, Long Form”. The VHS concert film shows an almost complete performance filmed by Anton Corbijn, with footage from Barcelona, Lievin and Frankfurt.
So for Americans, Depeche Mode have evolved from a dance act to an alternative act if you follow the logic of their nominations from 1995 to 2011. Recognized masterpieces like “Violator” from 1990 and “Songs of Faith and Devotion” from 1993 were left out. Depeche Mode are certainly a household name in the United States, as demonstrated by sold-out concerts on the “Memento Mori” tour and their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Gahan, Gore, Christian Eigner and Peter Gordeno will be on tour in Germany from February 13th.
