Martin Gore

Martin Lee Gore was born in Dagenham, Essex in England. Gore's biological father was an African American G.I. stationed in Britain.[11] Gore was raised by his stepfather David Gore and biological mother Pamela who both worked at the Ford of Britain motor plant in Dagenham.[12] He believed his stepfather was his biological father until age 13, when he learned of his biological father. As an adult, Gore met his biological father in the American South.[11] Gore has described his upbringing as "normal" and "stable" but said he was also an introvert and preferred to spend time reading alone rather than with school peers. However, he also stated that he enjoyed his time at school and took part in foreign exchange trips.[12]

Gore left Nicholas Comprehensive, Basildon after completing his A-levels in 1977 and took a job as a bank cashier. During evenings, weekends and any other spare time, he was involved with the local band Norman and the Worms with school friend Phil Burdett who later went on to become a singer/songwriter himself.

Gore has two younger half-sisters, Karen, born in 1967, and Jacqueline, born in 1968.[13]

Gore in 1986

In 1980, Gore met Andy "Fletch" Fletcher at the Van Gogh club. Fletcher recruited Gore into his band Composition of Sound along with Vince Clarke. Soon the band drafted Dave Gahan to be the band's lead singer after hearing him sing "Heroes" by David Bowie. Gore is the band's keyboardist, contributes backing vocals,[4] and occasionally provides lead vocals.[5][6]

When explaining the choice for the band name Depeche Mode (which was taken from French fashion magazine Dépêche mode),[14] Gore said, "It means hurried fashion or fashion dispatch. I like the sound of that."[15] However, the magazine's name (and hence the band's) is "Fashion News" or "Fashion Update".[16]

Gore wrote two tracks on Depeche Mode's debut album, Speak & Spell: "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, Gore became the principal songwriter for the band.[3] 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 sings lead vocals on several of the band's songs, notably ballads, his tenor voice providing a contrast to Gahan's dramatic baritone.

Gore sometimes plays guitar (typically his Gretsch White Falcon or Gretsch Double Anniversary) on Depeche Mode songs. The first time guitar was used as the main instrument was on "Personal Jesus", although he used small guitar parts on previous songs, such as "Behind the Wheel" and "Love, in Itself". Gore's guitar playing developed even more on Songs of Faith and Devotion. However, in live performances, he switches his keyboards for his guitar on some older Depeche Mode songs, such as "Never Let Me Down Again" and "A Question of Time". In mid-1990, Gore said, "I think in a way we've been at the forefront of new music; sort of chipping away at the standard rock format stations."[17]

On 27 May 1999, Gore was presented with an award by Daniel Miller for "International Achievement" by the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors at the 44th Ivor Novello Awards.[18][19]

Gore has released the following solo albums: Counterfeit (2003) and MG (2015).[20]

Gore has a third solo release, The Third Chimpanzee, which was released in January 2021.[21][22]

Gore lives in Santa Barbara, California.[26] He started dating lingerie designer and model Suzanne Boisvert after meeting in Paris in 1989. They married in August 1994. He has three children with Boisvert. Gore and Boisvert divorced in 2006.

Gore married Kerrilee Kaski in June 2014; they have two daughters together.[27]

Gore suffered from stress-induced seizures during the band's 1993 Devotional Tour.[28] He has publicly acknowledged his past alcoholism.[29]

Gore became a vegetarian for health and moral reasons (along with Alan Wilder) in 1983.[30][31]

• Malins, Steve. Depeche Mode : Black Celebration : The Biography. Andre Deutsch, 2007. ISBN 978-0-233-00178-4
• Miller, Jonathan. Stripped: Depeche Mode 2003, 2004, Omnibus Press ISBN 1-84449-415-2
• Tobler, John. NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd, 1992. CN 5585. ISBN 0-600-57602-7

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Martin Gore.

• Martin Gore discography at Discogs
• Martin Gore Interview in SPIN
• Martin Gore's DJ Chart from Beatport
• Martin Gore on BBC Radio 1's Residency programme (interview and mix) from BBC Radio 1