2020 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Depeche Mode Acceptance Speech

Depeche Mode Inducted Into Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame

Depeche Mode were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in a virtual ceremony due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Charlize Theron inducted Depeche Mode into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Saturday night, enthusiastically declaring the group’s music as “the soundtrack to my life.” Here is her full speech:

“Depeche Mode is the soundtrack of my adolescence. I’m not kidding — there was literally a song for every occasion of my life: my first date, my first time leaving South Africa, and of course the first time I got my heart broken. And so when I finally got to see them live a couple of years ago, it was like this epic slap in the face of nostalgia.  But more than that, when I was at the show I realized what else I loved about their music: They celebrate the outsider. Their music brings people together from all diff walks of life and makes them feel like it’s OK to be different. That really hit me watching the videos at the concert. I was moved to tears. I came home, I told my daughters about it, and I was also really f—ing pissed because I don’t usually go to rock concerts to bawl my eyes out.

“But truthfully, it speaks to the immense power Depeche Mode has had over the years. It also why, when I got the chance to pick some songs for the ‘Atomic Blonde’ soundtrack, they were the first on my list. It’s no surprise they are joining the ranks of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame — they should have been there 20 years ago, if it was up to me. But what an incredibly well-deserved honor. Thank you, guys, for being the soundtrack to my life.”

Depeche Mode were inducted alongside The Doobie Brothers, Whitney Houston, The Notorious B.I.G., T. Rex, and Nine Inch Nails. Dave, Martin, and Andy met up via Zoom and accepted the honor. Watch their acceptance speech.