Gore taught himself to play keyboard from the 1970s, never receiving formal tuition. He learned to perform chart hits, figuring out their structures via the magazine "Disco 45". Gore left Nicholas Comprehensive, Basildon after completing his A-levels in 1977 and took a job as a bank cashier. During evenings, weekends and any other spare time, he was involved with the local band Norman and the Worms. Gore became interested in electronic music upon hearing acts such as Kraftwerk, the Human League and Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD). He borrowed a Korg 700S from a friend, before purchasing a Yamaha CS5, his first synthesizer.