Vincent Clarke's career in music began in 1979 when he formed a band with his schoolmates Martin Gore and Andrew Fletcher. Initially named Composition of Sound, the band focused on using guitars as their primary source of music. By 1980, they decided to switch to synthesizers, which allowed them to explore a wider range of musical possibilities.
As the band's vocalist, Vince Clarke initially felt uncomfortable in the frontman role. They decided to recruit a lead singer and discovered Dave Gahan singing David Bowie covers in a night club. After a short conversation, they decided he was the right man for the job.
The band, now renamed Depeche Mode, released their first single "Dreaming of Me" and album, which were not very successful. However, their third single "Just Can't Get Enough" struck gold, and they soon appeared on Top of the Pops in 1981.
Vince Clarke decided to leave Depeche Mode, feeling that the band was taking a different musical direction than he wanted to pursue. He initially felt guilty about leaving, knowing that the other three band members were not musicians and had no idea how to program synthesizers.
Clarke then saw an ad from his schoolmate Alison Moyet, who was looking for a "Rootsy blues musician." In a humorous response, Clarke applied for the job, and the unlikely duo of Yazoo was formed. They released their debut album "Upstairs at Eric's," which topped the charts.
Yazoo released a few more singles, and their unique sound earned them critical acclaim. However, the band's success was short-lived, and they eventually disbanded.
Clarke then formed The Assembly, releasing singles with different vocalists for each song. His next project was with Paul Quinn, releasing the single "One Day" in 1985.
In the same year, Clarke teamed up with producer Flood and began auditioning for vocalists for a new project. The 42nd vocalist to try out was Andy Bell, who was working as a butcher. The two hit it off, and Clarke's longest-running and most successful band to date, Erasure, was born.
Erasure released their debut album to little critical or commercial success, but they persisted and recorded a second album that went straight to the top of the charts. The pair has since released 31 singles and 11 albums, becoming one of the most influential and commercially successful electronic bands in history.
In 2000, Erasure released the album "Loveboat," which was a more experimental and dark-sounding record. Clarke has also been involved in other musical projects, including Family Fantastic, The Clarke and Ware Experiment, and The Radioactivators.
In addition, Clarke has formed a new company with Martin Ware called The Illustrious Company, which provides ambient soundscapes for various companies and events. Erasure is currently in the studio recording a follow-up to their 2000 album, which will feature cover songs done in a "Chorus" era style with a strong contemporary sound.
