Martin Gore facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Martin Gore
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Gore in 2022
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| Birth name | Martin Lee Gore |
| Born | 23 July 1961 London, England |
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Martin Lee Gore (born 23 July 1961) is an English musician and songwriter. He is a founding member of the electronic music band Depeche Mode. He is also the band's main songwriter. Gore plays guitar and keyboards for the band. Sometimes, he sings lead vocals. His singing voice is a tenor, which is higher than lead vocalist Dave Gahan's deeper baritone voice.
Gore's songs often explore themes like loneliness and real-life issues. He has said that "happy songs" can feel fake. However, he believes his band's music always includes "an element of hope."
In 1999, he won the Ivor Novello Award for "International Achievement." This award is given by the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors. In 2019, he received the Moog Innovation Award. This was for his important contributions to exploring sound in popular music. In 2020, he became a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He was inducted with other Depeche Mode members. After Andy Fletcher passed away in 2022, Gore became the longest-serving member of the band.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Martin Lee Gore was born in London, England. He was raised by his mother, Pamela, and stepfather, David. Both worked at the Ford of Britain car factory. Martin learned about his biological father when he was 13. Later, as an adult, he met his biological father in the United States.
Gore describes his childhood as normal and stable. He was an introvert and enjoyed reading alone. He also liked school and went on foreign exchange trips.
Learning Music and First Bands
In the 1970s, Gore taught himself to play the keyboard. He never had formal music lessons. He learned to play popular songs by studying their structure in a magazine called Disco 45.
He attended Nicholas Comprehensive School in Basildon. There, he played guitar in a local band called Norman and the Worms. He was in the same class as Andy "Fletch" Fletcher. After finishing school in 1979, Gore worked as a bank cashier. In his free time, he continued playing with Norman and the Worms.
Gore became interested in electronic music. He listened to bands like Kraftwerk and the Human League. He borrowed a Korg 700S from a friend. Then, he bought his first synthesizer, a Yamaha CS5.
Depeche Mode: Songwriter and Musician
In 1980, Gore met his classmate Andy Fletcher again. Fletcher asked him to join his band, Composition of Sound. Vince Clarke was also in the band. Soon, they asked Dave Gahan to be their lead singer. They heard him sing "Heroes" by David Bowie. Gore became the band's keyboardist and sings backing vocals. He sometimes sings lead vocals too.
The band chose the name 'Depeche Mode'. This name came from a French fashion magazine called Dépêche Mode. Gore said it meant "hurried fashion" or "fashion dispatch." The magazine's name actually means "Fashion News" or "Fashion Update."
Becoming the Main Songwriter
Gore wrote two songs for Depeche Mode's first album, Speak & Spell. These were "Tora! Tora! Tora!" and the instrumental "Big Muff." He also sang lead vocals on "Any Second Now (Voices)."
In 1981, Vince Clarke left Depeche Mode. After this, Gore became the band's main songwriter. The songs he wrote for their second album, A Broken Frame (1982), were different from Clarke's. Gore's songs became deeper and sometimes more political on later albums. He often sings lead vocals on the band's slower songs, called ballads. His higher tenor voice creates a nice contrast with Gahan's deeper baritone.
Gore also plays guitar on some Depeche Mode songs. He often uses his Gretsch White Falcon guitar. The first time guitar was a main instrument was on "Personal Jesus." He had used small guitar parts on earlier songs too. His guitar playing became even more important on the album Songs of Faith and Devotion. In live shows, he sometimes switches from keyboards to guitar for older Depeche Mode songs.
Other Musical Projects
Martin Gore has released several solo albums. These include Counterfeit EP (1989), Counterfeit² (2003), MG (2015), and The Third Chimpanzee (2021). He also sang a cover of "Coming Back to You" for a tribute album to Leonard Cohen in 1995.
VCMG Collaboration
In 2012, Gore worked with former Depeche Mode member Vince Clarke again. They formed a techno duo called VCMG. They released an instrumental electronic dance album called Ssss. They also released several singles from this album.
MG Solo Album
In 2015, Gore announced a new solo album called MG. He shared teaser images online with the hashtag "MGxMG." The album was released in April 2015. He also previewed a song from the album called Europa Hymn.
Electric Ladyboy Studio
Martin Gore has his own music studio in Santa Monica. It's called Electric Ladyboy. He has many different synthesizers there, including Euroracks and Moog synths. He uses this studio to record his solo music and write songs for Depeche Mode.
Awards and Recognition
On May 27, 1999, Martin Gore received an award for "International Achievement." This was at the 44th Ivor Novello Awards. Daniel Miller presented him with the award.
In 2019, Gore was given the Moog Innovation Award. This award recognized his many contributions to exploring sound in popular music.
Personal Life
Martin Gore lives in Santa Barbara, California. He married Suzanne Boisvert in 1994. They had three children. In 2014, he married Kerrilee Kaski, and they have two daughters.
Gore became a vegetarian in 1983. He made this choice for health and moral reasons. He is also a supporter of Arsenal Football Club, a soccer team.
See also
In Spanish: Martin Gore para niños
