Depeche Mode have just four more dates left on the 2023 European leg of their tour which has found them performing to huge crowds in arenas and stadiums.
This is the Memento Mori World Tour to support the group's 15th studio album and their first without beloved keyboard player Andy Fletcher who died last year at 60.
Fletch, along with Martin Gore and Vince Clarke, created a band in 1980 called Composition of Sound. When singer Dave Gahan was asked to join them, he convinced them to change the name to that of a French magazine he'd seen called Dépêche-mode.
Decades later and over 100 million records sold, Gore and Gahan are continuing to carry the banner -- almost effortlessly -- around the globe.
While Taylor Swift is getting recognized for rejuvenating the cities she visits on her Eras Tour, an upcoming Depeche Mode show in Estonia has filled up most of the hotels despite the fact the room rates were doubled in anticipation of the high demand. Hoteliers are claiming visitors are traveling in from Latvia, Lithuania, Finland and France, among others.
The band has rarely veered off the tour's set, but when they do, often it's a last minute change.
For example on Wednesday's show, "Strangelove" doesn't appear on the original setlists taped to the stage. It replaced one of the new songs, "Soul With Me."
A few weeks ago in Zagreb when Martin was finished singing "Strangelove," he was greeted with a cake and a dozen black balloons to celebrate his 62nd birthday.
And yes, "Happy Birthday" was sung.
Today the band releases the next in their series of box sets containing singles and rarities. 2009's Sound of the Universe gets the treatment.
And just a couple of weeks ago, Gahane's version of the Gun Club's "Mother of Earth" came out. This is part of a forthcoming edition of Jeffrey Lee Pierce songs reimagined by the likes of Debbie Harry, Nick Cave, The Coathangers, Lydia Lunch and many others.
Depeche Mode wraps up the 2023 portion of their European leg on August 11. In late September they begin Leg 3: North America, with a trio of shows in Mexico City. The tour ends in December with the rare occurrence of two shows at the Forum in Inglewood followed by two at the Crypto (formerly known as Staples Center) in downtown LA.
Tickets are available at the band's website.
