Depeche Mode founder: 'Somebody should shoot Simon Cowell' Simon Cowell and Martin Gore. In a recent interview with UK magazine Music Week, guitarist and songwriter Martin Gore of 1980s band Depeche Mode lashed out at Simon Cowell of "The X Factor." Gore, a founding member of the 1980s band who wrote most of the group's songs, suggested Cowell has ruined music -- and suggested that he should be taken out of the equation entirely. "I'm not advocating violence, but I think somebody should shoot Simon Cowell," Gore said in the interview, according to UK newspaper The Sun. His influence in the music industry over the last God knows how many years it's been now.... It's just been like, so many people think that's what music is. What happened to bands getting together? Cowell, needless to say, wasn't pleased by the comment, and took to Twitter Monday to respond. He appeared to take less offense at the idea that he himself might be shot than at anyone supporting gun violence in general: No response from Gore yet, but Depeche Mode fans jumped to his defense. @Juzza07 wondered, "'Weirdo' for writing some of the finest music UK has produced?" while Ange C tweeted: "There's only one 'weirdo' here and it ain't Martin!"