At this year’s Grammy Awards, Depeche Mode fans had a small but meaningful reason to celebrate. While the iconic band didn’t take home a Grammy themselves, a reimagined version of one of their recent tracks earned recognition. British indie duo Wet Leg received the Grammy for Best Remixed Recording for their version of “Wagging Tongue,” a song originally featured on Depeche Mode’s 2023 album Memento Mori.
Wet Leg’s Grammy win adds another milestone to their rising career. In their acceptance speech, they took a moment to express their appreciation for Depeche Mode, whose original composition served as the foundation for the award-winning remix. This win marks their third Grammy overall, following two victories in 2023 for Best Alternative Music Album and Best Alternative Music Performance. The duo continues to establish themselves as one of the most exciting acts in modern alternative music.
For Depeche Mode, however, the elusive Grammy win remains just out of reach. Despite a decades-spanning career that has influenced countless artists and shaped the synth-pop and electronic scenes, the band has yet to secure a Grammy Award of their own. They’ve been nominated five times over the years, but none of those nominations have translated into a win. Notably, Memento Mori did not receive any Grammy nods this year, a point of disappointment for many longtime fans.
The band’s last Grammy nomination dates back 14 years, underscoring a puzzling disconnect between their cultural impact and the recognition they’ve received from the Recording Academy. Still, the success of the Wagging Tongue remix shows that their music continues to inspire and resonate, even in new and unexpected forms.
While Depeche Mode may not yet have a Grammy on their shelf, their legacy remains intact—constantly evolving and finding new life through collaborations, reinterpretations, and the next generation of musicians who proudly carry their influence forward.
