Martin Gore (born Martin Lee Gore, 23 July 1961, Dagenham, East London, England) is an English songwriter, lyricist, singer, guitarist and keyboardist. He is a founding member of Depeche Mode. His work now spans three decades, but he is best known as the composer of hits such as "Personal Jesus" and "Enjoy the Silence".
Gore left St. Nicholas's Comprehensive School in 1977 and took a job as a bank teller. During evenings, weekends and any other spare time, he was involved with the local band 'Norman and the Worms'. In 1980, Gore met Andrew "Fletch" Fletcher at the Van Gogh club. Fletcher recruited Gore into his band with Vince Clarke, Composition of Sound. Soon the band drafted David Gahan to be the lead singer after hearing him sing "Heroes" by David Bowie. Gahan is credited with the name "Depeche Mode" after seeing the phrase as a title of a French fashion magazine, which considered taking them to court, but thought it would be good publicity for the magazine to let the band have the name. Clarke left Depeche Mode in 1981 shortly after the release of the debut album Speak & Spell. Gore then became the band's main songwriter. Gore sings lead vocals on several of the band's songs, notably ballads, his tenor voice providing a contrast to David Gahan's dramatic baritone. Clarke wrote most of Depeche Mode's first album, Speak & Spell (1981). Gore contributed two tracks, "Tora! Tora! Tora!" and the instrumental "Big Muff". "Any Second Now (voices)" features Gore's first lead vocals for the band. When Clarke announced his departure from Depeche Mode in 1981, citing the pressures of fame and creative differences, Gore took over songwriting. Gore had been writing material since the age of twelve. Songs Gore wrote for Depeche Mode's second album, A Broken Frame (1982) differed musically and lyrically from Clarke's. Gore's writing became gradually darker and more political on subsequent Depeche Mode albums. Gore remains the primary songwriter for Depeche Mode. He has written every song on seven out of the eleven studio albums released thus far - A Broken Frame, Black Celebration, Music for the Masses, Violator, Songs of Faith and Devotion, Ultra, and Exciter.
Personal life
Gore's biological father was an African-American GI stationed in the UK. Gore was raised by his stepfather and biological mother. Miller quotes childhood friends and Gore himself. According to Miller's source, Gore is of mixed ethnicity, and, as an adult, met his father in the American South. Gore responds to the source's information & is quoted in Miller's book saying "It brings up family traumas" and "It's one of those things I'd rather not talk about." Martin currently lives in Santa Barbara, California. He is now divorced from his wife of 12 years, lingerie designer and model Suzanne Boisvert-Gore. He has 3 children: two daughters Viva Lee Gore (born June 6, 1991) and Ava Lee Gore (born August 21, 1995) & a son Calo Leon Gore (born July 27, 2002).
Remixes
* 1994 Spirit Feel – "Rejoice" (Mystic Span Mix)
* 1995 Garbage – "Queer" (The Most Beautiful Woman in Town Mix)
* 1999 ON – "Soluble Words" (Sublingual Remix)
* 2003 Señor Coconut And His Orchestra – "Smooth Operator" (In-Disguise Remix)
Duet
These are songs where Gahan and Gore have around equal singing time, in chronological order. In some instances, both sing at the same time (ex: "Behind the Wheel"), and in others, Gahan sings the verses while Gore sings the chorus (ex: "Everything Counts").
Note that the songs listed here are based on judgement of the Wikipedia users editing this site, and may not officially be called "duets" by the band or some other Wikipedia users.
* Shouldn't Have Done That [A Broken Frame]
* Everything Counts [Construction Time Again]
* Something to Do [Some Great Reward] (the 2004 Black Strobe remix completely loses Gahan's voice)
* People Are People [Some Great Reward]
* Shake the Disease [Catching Up with Depeche Mode]
* Here is the House [Black Celebration]
* Never Let Me Down Again [Music for the Masses], in some live versions Gore even sings Gahan verses.
* Behind the Wheel [Music for the Masses]
* Pleasure, Little Treasure [B-side to "Never Let Me Down Again"]
* Waiting for the Night [Violator]
* Insight [Ultra]
* Surrender [B-side to "Only When I Lose Myself"], albeit only towards the end of the track
* Dream On [Exciter]
* The Sinner In Me [Playing the Angel]
* Nothing's Impossible [Playing the Angel]
* Newborn [B-side to "A Pain That I'm Used To"]
* Peace [Sounds of the Universe]
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