This is a retrospective
After starting this blog I was not going to go back over past gigs just look forward but as Depeche Mode played this week at the O2 and tour roughly every 4 years, plus I went and saw this tour already, I feel its appropriate, especially as I have not missed a Depeche Mode tour since Nov 27 1990 when I saw them in Birmingham NEC for the Violator tour, although my love for this music dated much further back. Here is a list of albums and locations and dates of the tours ive been to.
- 2023 – Memento Mori – Twickenham – 17/06/23
- 2017 – Spirit – London Stadium – 02/06/17
- 2013 – Delta Machine – London O2 – O2 29/05/13
- 2009 – Sounds of the Universe – London O2 – 16/12/09
- 2005 – Playing the Angel – London Wembley Area – 02/04/06
- 2001 – Exciter – Palau St Jordi, Barcelona, Spain – 13/10/01
- 1997 – Ultra – Did not tour this album
- 1993 – Songs of Faith and Devotion – Crystal Palace – 31/07/93
- 1990 – Violator – Birmingham NEC – 27/11/90
- 1987 – Music for the Masses
- 1986 – Black Celebration
- 1984 – Some Great Reward
- 1983 – Construction Time Again
- 1982 – A broken Frame
- 1981 – Speak and Spell
- extras
- 2019 – Spirits in the Forest – Anton Corbijn Film, one night only – Harbour Lights – 21/11/19
- 2018 – Isle of Wight Festival – 23/06/18
- 2003 – Dave Gahan – Paper Monsters – Sheperds Bush Empire – 09/07/03
- 2003 – Dave Gahan – Paper Monsters – Hammersmith Apollo – 29/10/03
Many memories of seeing Depeche Mode from a rushed visit to Birmingham back in 1990 to getting a taxi through Barcelona to the Palau St Jordi to last year which was not without its ups and downs. The last time I saw Depeche Mode back in 2018 at the IOW Festival, personally was memorable for two reason, firstly it was Mode, they were what i had come to expect, musically and visually brilliant as always, a shared stage of a festival but still brought their best and put on a show any fan would be wanting to see. There was the problem, for fans yes, for new to the sound, no. They played a Depeche Mode set not a festival set and didnt win the audience over until two thirds of the way through when they hit the older tracks, i hate to say it but heritage tracks and the audience burst into life.
Moving on from that we have the Memento Mori tour, the sad passing of Andrew Fletcher still fresh in the minds of devotees was not going to damper but be a life celebrated. Id not been to Twickenham before for a gig and tend to favour smaller venues these days but its Mode, they don’t do small. I booked a parking spot nearby on someones which was easy to get to, less so getting out. We walked up to the stadium and went in easily with the crowds, grabbed some food and refreshment, sadly the tickets check onto the pitch was so haphazard and slow we missed the support act ‘Young Fathers’ and just got in before Depeche Mode took the stage.
We found a great view we were a little late due to access so only got about a third of the way up the pitch for a good view but what a view it was. The M from the tour dominating the stage and video screens to not miss a thing worked alongside a good view of Dave Gahan as his Snake lip lizard lounge move owned the stage alongside the head bobbing shoegaze of Martin Gores guitar style. Theres always a segment when Gore takes over vocals which is always a joy to hear. The voices together make the Mode sound but Martin Gores vocals on their own are a sound of thier own to be enjoyed.
A fitting tribute to Andrew Fletcher during World in my Eyes was great to see, i had wondered how they would work that into the concert and doing it musically and visually was fitting, his face on the big screen throughout. The new songs sat well, the ones we all wanted were onviously there as well. Depeche Mode know their audience.
From the Zepher Mix of In Your Room which ads extra melody and emotion to Stripped, a true favourite of mine live they just filled the stadium with sound, the obvious favourites Enjoy the Silence, I FEel You, World in my Eyes and Personal Jesus which has taken over from Never let me down Again as the final song just transporting me and im sure others to a place where nothing else matters but that sound for the length of the miusic.
Its immersive and all encompassing but thats what expected when you follow a sound for the best part of 40 years.
I have added images from the Memento Mori tour at Twickenham 2023 with a few added from Wembley Arena, Touring the Angel back in 2006, will add more as/if I find them. A few stubs in there as well.
