Undoubtedly one of the most successful synth-pop groups of their time, Depeche Mode evolved from club-ready electronic music to dark, alternative rock for the eyeliner-wearing set. They created some of the best alt-rock of the '80s, and their fan base is still running strong, even after a career that's spanned nearly three decades.

Depeche Mode formed in 1980, when vocalist David Gahan, keyboardists Vince Clarke and Andrew Fletcher and guitarist Martin Gore joined together. Their only instruments were Gahan's voice and the group's synths, which made for beat-heavy, dance-ready club music. "Just Can't Get Enough" would be the single that launched them to national fame, scoring a Top 10 hit. Catchy and upbeat, it's 180 degrees away from the trajectory Depeche Mode would travel in the future.

They issued their debut album, Speak and Spell, in 1980. Shortly afterward, Clarke left the band and was replaced by keyboardist Alan Wilder. The band would release several more records, developing a strong industrial influence with each successive album. Broken Frame came in 1982, Construction Time Again in 1983, and Some Great Reward in 1984. This last one proved to be their breakthrough, with several strong hits ("Blasphemous Rumours," "People Are People" and "Master and Servant") that would prove popular in both the U.K. as well as America. 1986's Black Celebration was aptly titled, as the band turned toward dark subject matter and more alternative rock. 1987's Music for the Masses and 1990's Violator would prove to be two of their most popular albums, with the latter spawning what's probably their best-known hit, "Personal Jesus."

They would release one more record, 1993's Songs of Faith and Devotion, before internal pressures, including a suicide attempt by Gahan, would put the band's traction on ice. They continue to record, and critics still praise their work, calling 2005's Playing the Angel one of their strongest efforts in years.