Vince Clarke

For the cricketer, see Vince Clarke (cricketer).

Vince Clarke
Clarke playing onstage
Clarke performing with Erasure at Delamere Forest in Cheshire, England, 2011
Background information
Birth nameVincent John Martin
Born (1960-07-03) 3 July 1960 (age 64)
South Woodford, Essex, England
OriginLondon, England
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • songwriter
  • remixer
  • DJ
  • record producer
Instruments
  • Synthesizer
  • keyboards
  • guitar
  • vocals
Years active1977–present
Labels
Member ofErasure
Formerly of
Spouse
Tracy Hurley Martin
​
(died 2024)​
Websiteerasureinfo.com

Vincent John Martin (born 3 July 1960), known professionally as Vince Clarke, is an English synth-pop musician and songwriter. Clarke has been the main composer and musician of the band Erasure since its inception in 1985, and was previously the main songwriter for several groups, including Depeche Mode, Yazoo, and the Assembly. In Erasure, he is known for his deadpan and low-key onstage demeanour, often remaining motionless over his keyboard, in sharp contrast to lead vocalist Andy Bell's animated and hyperactive frontman antics.

Erasure have recorded over 200 songs and have sold over 28 million albums worldwide.[1][2] Clarke was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2020 as a member of Depeche Mode.[3][4]

  1. ^ "ERASURE New Single "Elevation" Remixed by BT". Remixmag.com. 25 August 2014. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
  2. ^ Simpson, Dave (30 July 2014), "Andy Bell: 'I'd had enough of being bullied'", The Guardian
  3. ^ "Vince Clarke not expected to participate in Rock Hall induction of Depeche Mode – Slicing Up Eyeballs". Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  4. ^ Gallagher, Alex (8 November 2020). "Watch Depeche Mode's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame acceptance speech". NME. Retrieved 6 April 2024.