Gary Numan should get the award as well as DM

One of the most sampled artists around, brought synthesisers into the mainstream and made electronic music fashionable, after Autobahn by Kraftwerk was dismissed as a novelty

I'd be very happy if Numan and Depeche Mode won the award

I agree that Depeche Mode should have won this years ago. Or maybe they were offered it and turned it down?

I agree. The Pleasure Principle was the first album I ever got. My dad knew I loved Gary Numan and suprised me, one day, by bringing me the album home.

They do have major label backing, via EMI, who bought Mute Records back in 2001, though they since sold it back to Daniel Miller (EMI kept a minority share), but still using EMI's distribution/marketing etc.

I'd also massively agree with this post, DM are definitely the UK's most underrated/underappreciated band. I've always been convinced their ongoing success has been down to what a great live act they are, which in turn is down to Dave Gahan... like Mick Jagger fronting Kraftwerk!

Three words about this. "About", "flipping" and "time".

It's been like that from Day 1. A lot of British music critics were so harsh about them and always slated their singles. They've been consistently underrated by the UK for so long

Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin have never won this award either, so Depeche Mode are in good company.

I definitely agree, Depeche Mode are a great band, but seem very underappreciated in the UK.

I'd be happy for Gary Numan to receive this award too.

The first album I ever owned was Replicas. A Christmas present back in 1979. I was 8 years old. Been a fan ever since.

His music got me into electronica and has had a massive influence on my musical taste ever since.

If it wasn't for hearing Replicas and the synth sounds on it, I may not have become a fan of Depeche Mode.

I've seen DM live on numerous occasions. First concert was in 1987. Most recent was in 2009. They are as good as ever. Martin Gore continues to write fantastic songs and Dave Gahan is class.

Many others overlooked too.

And of that generation I'd put Depeche Mode behind Gary Numan, New Order & The Cure.

The Cult kind of wen't the same way She Sells Sanctuary was what the 80's should have been about.Plus there music in the 90's wen't under the wave lines Coming down wen't under the rader.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CosK7kLxgEY

All fantastic. But in terms of output and consistency, only Depeche Mode have kept it going since those early days. The Cure and New Order didn't make it out of the 80's, really. Gary Numan, as much as I love his music, faded too. Although he has produced some good stuff in the last few years.

Depeche Mode have continued to make top albums and play to big audiences.

There are loads of bands from the 80's that were fantastic.
Ultravox, for example. Their albums, Vienna and Rage in Eden, are excellent. But they faded too in the mid to late 80's.

You only have to look at Depeche Modes most recent tour to see the impact that they still have. They don't play retro 80's gigs. They play to packed houses, huge crowds, playing stuff from their latest album as well as the classics.

As good as The Cure and New Order were in their day, and I'm a fan of both, they don't come close.

In my opinion, of course.

Sister Of Mercy and The Jesus And Mary Chain should be in there too.

Just wanted to throw my view in for the BIB. I don't think their more recent stuff is that great. I think their best days were when Alan Wilder was with them. When he left, I think the quality began to slowly decline. They've still produced some excellent singles post-Wilder, but I don't find them consistently good like they used to be. They can still fill out huge venues certainly, but I just find the newer stuff lacks something.

I agree, I personally prefer their stuff from Black Celebration to Songs of Faith and Devotion

Great band, long over due!

Iron Maiden tick all these boxes as well. Last album went to No. 1 in 28 countries. Alongside Depeche Mode, I'd say they're the most under-appreciated British band. When you consider what both of them have achieved and continue to achieve, it's ridiculous they're ignored by the media and press.

There's no doubt that Alan Wilder did wonders for the band. His input was fantastic. Martin Gore wrote Enjoy The Silence as a ballad, for example. Wilder polished it and turned it into a great tune. Nothing like the demo. He's missed, that's for sure.

My favourite album with Alan Wilder would have to be Music For The Masses. Black Celebration a close second.

Same here!

Yes. There were consistently good then. Black Celebration was when they seemed to find/secure their sound imo. Everything before and after those years are hit/miss song-wise.


Exactly. I'm sad that he's not with them anymore, but I'm glad he left on a high. I always wonder how they would've turned out if Vince would've stayed and he hadn't have joined. But I do believe Wilder saved them (not meaning to sound melodramatic...).

My favs would be Black Celebration and Violator.

The "Why Haven't Depeche Mode won the Outstanding Contribution Brit Award?" debate has been going on forums for as long as I can remember every time the Brit Awards rear their ugly head.

The problem with this debate is that it gives the Brits more credibility than they have ever deserved.

Who even knows who chooses the Brit winners and what criteria are used? Since it is all done behind closed doors there is no chance that any fans of Depeche Mode are going to make much of an impact on the Brits organisers by complaining that their favourite band has been left out.

Although they do thouroughly deserve it, I wouldn't want them to get one now anyway. The Brits are a joke.

They definitely deserve some kind of recognition.

My favourite album is Ultra. With Black Celebration not far behind. A Broken Frame is under-rated too