Dave Gahan is an English singer-songwriter, who was born on May 9, 1962, in Epping, United Kingdom.
He is best known as the lead singer of the electronic band Depeche Mode since their debut in 1980.
Q magazine ranked Gahan No. 73 on its list of the “100 Greatest Singers” and No. 27 on its list of “The 100 Greatest Frontmen”.
Gahan is known for his “commanding presence on stage” and his “huge, deep baritone voice”. In 2020, Gahan was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Depeche Mode.
Although his bandmate Martin Gore continues to be the main songwriter for Depeche Mode, Gahan has contributed a number of songs to the albums Playing the Angel, Sounds of the Universe, Delta Machine, and Spirit.
Four of these songs were released as singles, including “Suffer Well” in the year 2005, “Hole to Feed” in the year 2009, “Should Be Higher” in the year 2013, and “Cover Me” in the year 2017.
Gahan’s albums as a solo artist are Paper Monsters (released in the year 2003) and Hourglass (in the year 2007).
He also contributed lyrics and sang lead vocals on the Soulsavers albums The Light the Dead See (in the year 2012), Angels & Ghosts (in the year 2015), and Imposter (in the year 2021).
Dave Gahan Heart Attack: How Long Was Dave Gahan Dead For?
Gahan is a recovering heroin addict. He has survived four brushes with death, living up to the nickname “The Cat”, which paramedics gave him during his roughest years in Los Angeles.
In October 1993, Gahan suffered a minor drug-induced heart attack during a performance in New Orleans, leaving his bandmates to improvise an encore without him.
In August 1993, he attempted suicide by slashing his wrists; in August 1995, Gahan said it was a “cry for help”, and had “made sure there were people who might find me”.
On 28 May 1996, Gahan overdosed on a speedball at the Sunset Marquis Hotel in Los Angeles, which resulted in his heart stopping for two minutes until he was revived by paramedics.
He said he had an out-of-body experience: “All I saw and all I felt at first was complete darkness. I’ve never been in a space that was blacker, and I remember feeling that whatever it was I was doing, it was really wrong. Then the next thing I remember was seeing myself on the floor, on the steps outside my hotel bathroom, and there was a lot of activity going on around me … In some ways it was very liberating. Then I came to and a cop was handcuffing me. It certainly wasn’t a place I’d like to visit again.”
Several months later, after facing drug charges, Gahan sought help at a rehabilitation center.
On 12 May 2009, shortly before Depeche Mode were due onstage in Athens, Greece, for a concert for their Tour of the Universe, Gahan fell ill in his dressing room.
He was rushed to hospital where it was suspected he was suffering from a bout of gastroenteritis. An ultrasound revealed a malignant tumor in his bladder, which was removed.
Several shows were postponed and Gahan underwent cancer treatments during the remaining three months of the tour.
Gahan suffered a torn calf muscle while performing in Bilbao, Spain, on 9 July 2009, resulting in two further cancellations. After a two-week break, he and Depeche Mode returned to the tour for their North American leg.
While performing in Seattle on 10 August 2009, Gahan strained his vocal cords. Doctors ordered Gahan complete vocal rest, resulting in two more cancelled shows.
Source: Kingaziz.com