DEPECHEMODE.TV Latest News and Site Updates

Look at what you're buying in April: New Album Artwork, Formats Revealed

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 00:00:00 MST

USA Today reports on multiple formats for the new album as well as revealing the new cover.

USA Today Says:

A new Depeche Mode album is always a big deal to fans of the iconic electro-pop band, but one version of the April 12 release couldn't get much bigger.

In addition to being released as a standard 13-track CD, a special-edition CD/DVD, a double vinyl set and a download, Sounds of the Universewill be available as a deluxe box set with three CDs, a DVD and extras including enamel badges, a poster, art cards and two 84-page books of lyrics and photos.

Among the box set's bonus tracks are original tunes, Universe remixes and demos, and alternate tracks from Violator, Songs of Faith and Devotion, Music for the Masses and Playing the Angel, as well as 1998 single Only When I Lose Myself. The DVD holds the full album plus four songs captured live in the studio, the new Wrong video and three films.

A North American tour starts July 24 in Toronto, with some markets going on sale March 13.

It's a massive undertaking to be sure. Let's hope the music makes up for the artwork.

New Album Title: Sounds of the Universe

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 00:00:00 MST

You read that right. Read the latest press release below.

DEPECHE MODE
ANNOUNCES THE RELEASE OF
SOUNDS OF THE UNIVERSE
APRIL 21, 2009
January 15, 2009- Groundbreaking, chart-topping electro legends Depeche Mode are proud to announce the release of their long-anticipated new studio album, Sounds Of The Universe on April 21, 2009 (Mute Records).

Eclectic and energized, the band's new release is their most dazzling and diverse album in decades. Recorded in Santa Barbara and New York, Depeche Mode returned to using a lot of vintage gear, from analogue synthesizers to drum machines, in order to conjure up the retro-futuristic arrangements featured on the album. Lyrically the release contains many of the group's enduring obsessions plus more overt black humor than any of their previous collections.

Like with their 2005 studio album, Playing The Angel, Sounds Of The Universe features writing credits for both Martin Gore, the group's primary songwriter, and Dave Gahan who after honing his talents on two solo albums, has earned his place as Depeche Mode's second writer. The release also marks a reunion between the band and producer Ben Hillier (Blur, Doves, Elbow), who worked with the band to help give their new album its timeless sound. The first single from the release, "Wrong," grabs the listener's attention from its first stack-heeled, staccato shriek. Over stomping beats, screeching synthesizers, and Dave's overlord chant, "Wrong" already feels like a Depeche Mode classic. Other standout tracks include Martin's velvet-lined Scott Walker croon on the sensual lounge-music ballad "Jezebel," to the sci-fi gospel-blues hymn "In Chains" and "Hole To Feed," which marries modern electronics to a floor-shaking, bone-rattling Bo Diddley beat.

As one of the most influential bands of the post-punk era, with global sales in excess of 100 million, Depeche Mode belongs to a select premiere league of super groups who have survived from the early 1980s with their ideals, creative vision and core members intact. Formed in 1981, Depeche Mode - Martin Gore, Dave Gahan and Andy 'Fletch' Fletcher - continue to win critical and commercial acclaim across the world both in the studio and on the road. All of the band's 11 studio albums have reached the Top Ten in not only the UK and USA but 20 plus countries around the world including Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, and Belgium. Additionally, since their inception Depeche Mode's live shows continue to be a must-see attraction, with the group playing to 2.8 million people across 31 countries on their last tour alone.

Depeche Mode will be announcing additional album details and tour news in the coming weeks.

LA Times: Depeche Mode finishes new album, reveals new songs

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 00:00:00 MST

From the LA Times:

Depeche Mode has finished recording work on the band's forthcoming studio album, its first since 2005's "Playing the Angel."

"We've completed the record," the band's frontman, Dave Gahan, told Pop & Hiss on Thursday via phone from New York. "There might be a couple of bits and pieces we've got to clean up, but I feel really good about the fact that we're finished," he continued. "I think we've made a great record."

Gahan said the as-yet-untitled album, slated for release this coming spring, will have about 12 tracks.

"We've been spoiled for choice with this one because we recorded more songs for this record than we ever had for any [other] record," he said. "Maybe I'm old school or whatever but once you start going over 12 songs, I think it becomes a little weird."

Gahan confirmed the 2009 disc, which will be the first for EMI in the U.S. (the band has been releasing albums for Warner Music Group in North America for much of its career), will contain the tracks "Wrong" and "Peace," snippets of which have been circulating the Web. Gahan, however, clarified that the actual title of "Peace" is "Peace Will Come to Me."

Additionally, he unveiled the titles of three more new tracks -- "Hole to Feed," "Comeback" and "In Chains," all co-written by Gahan -- that are likely set for inclusion on the album. Gahan added that the recording sessions, which took place over the last several months in New York and Santa Barbara, were productive and that he and the act's principal songwriter, Martin Gore, are working well together.

"We have about 18 songs," he said, even hinting that the band will release a special EP or online-only add-on with the extra material next year.

But Gahan stressed that the EMI release will be just that � a proper record that doesn't run too long.

Said Gahan: "I've been listening to the current play list, and I'm always still thinking of an album like Side 1, and Side 2. It's like when you see a movie or something, and it goes over two hours and you're like 'OK, I get it.' "

So what will the new material sound like? Rolling Stone last month ran an "In the Studio" featuring the band, on which Gore was quoted saying the set has a "spiritual" feel.

"I know what [Martin] means by that, but if anyone's thinking that the record will have a Gospel feel, it couldn't be further from that," Gahan said. "I feel like [the record] is [about] looking outside and a yearning for somehow coming together. The world is changing. Watching Obama getting elected was great. We watched it on TV in Santa Barbara and I get goosebumps thinking about that still. It's going to take a long time, but I think some of that same feeling, that sentiment [of hope] is in the work."

And though the band is increasingly fond of using guitars, the new disc may see a return to the Depeche Mode's original analog synth roots -- at least on a few tracks.

"Martin's got this new fetish which is basically buying gear on EBay," Gahan said. "He must have bought up half of the analog equipment around the world. We've got all these old drum machines from the 1970s, and even some of the stuff that we used in the '80s as well, like old Moogs and Arps."

As an example, Gahan noted that one of the new album's stars is a piece of gear dubbed "The Colonel" - a vintage 1970s-era Steiner Parker synthesizer. It's an instrument, said Gahan, "that makes crazy noises. We found it really inspiring and used it in a lot of things [on the new record]."

Depeche Mode announced portions of its 2009 "Tour of the Universe" earlier this year and is set to reveal U.S. dates in the coming weeks. Depeche Mode has maintained a strong fan base in the L.A.-area, thanks to such famed concerts as the 1988 Rose Bowl sellout captured in the film "Depeche Mode 101." The band last played Southern California in 2006 at the Coachella music & arts festival.

"We had a great time on stage that night," Gahan gushed. "It was one of those gigs where you just feel like you're floating on air. I was singing great, the atmosphere was great, everything was right. It was very special."

While Depeche Mode's famously devoted fans await new music and tour dates, they have been busy bemoaning the fact that the band's music has turned up in a Hilary Duff song. Her "Reach Out" heavily samples the band's "Personal Jesus."

"I don't know what I think about it.... It's a little weird," laughed Gahan. "I think it was something that Martin didn't really have any choice over, they kind of did it anyway. But, you know, it is what it is. Look, my daughter loves it. You know what she said to me? 'But it's not the same, Dad.' "

- Charlie Amter

Photo: Depeche Mode earlier this year announces its 2009 tour. Credit: Miguel Villagran / Associated Press

Personal Jesus To Be Featured In New XBOX 360 'Lips' Game Out Next Month

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 00:00:00 MST

Gamers will have the opportunity to sing 'P-Jizzle' as part of a new singing/party game for XBox 360 called 'Lips'. The game features special wireless interactive microphones that responds to actions similar to a Nintendo Wii controller. The game also features 40 songs right out of the box, including songs from A-Ha, Duran Duran, REM, and more. The game will also allow users to include their own musical collections or purchase songs from the XBox marketplace. 'Lips' will hit stores sometime in mid-November. For more information on the game and the songs offered, visit the links below. The XBox page includes a set of trailers to see how 'Lips' works.

UNCUT: DM European Tour Sells Out in Minutes / New Single Hits Radio February

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 00:00:00 MST

That sure did not take long. Uncut reports that tickets for the European leg of next year's Tour of the Universe have seen record ticket sales with the O2 festival selling out in minutes. This is all happening without a lead single or any significant snippet of upcoming music beyond what was aired during their pressser. Uncut's article also makes note that the new single (presumably BONG 40) will hit radio in February. Read Uncut's article below:

Depeche Mode's Tour of the Universe European leg announced last week has seen record number of tickets sold since going on sale last Friday (October 10).

A spokesman for the 02 Arena where DM will play their only UK date on May 30, 2009 says that tickets: "Sold out in literally minutes blocking phone lines and crashing websites as fans scrambled for tickets, all European promoters are reporting record sales with early sell outs across mainland Europe."

Adding: "This is remarkable in light of the fact that tickets went on sale 8 months before the first show and we will not be hearing anything from the new record until the new single hits radio in February and the new album is not out until April next year."

This is Depeche Mode's first tour since 2006's 'Playing the Angel' concerts, which broke records with 1.8 million tickets sold.

Depeche Mode are set to play the following mammoth venues next year:

TEL AVIV, Ramat Gan Stadium, Israel (May 10)
ATHENS, Terra Vibe Park, Greece (12)
ISTANBUL, Venue TBA, Turkey (14)
BUCHAREST, Parc Izvor, Romania (16)
SOFIA, Vasil Levski Stadium, Tuborg Greenfest, Bulgaria (18)
BELGRADE, USCE Park, Tuborg Greenfest, Serbia (20)
ZAGREB, Arena, Tuborg Greenfest, Croatia (21)
WARSAW, Gwardia Stadium, Poland (23)
RIGA, Skonto Stadium, Latvia (25)
VILNIUS, Zalgirio Stadionas, Lithuania (27)
LONDON, O2 Arena, UK (30)
HAMBURG, HSH Nordbank Arena, Germany (June 2)
DUSSELDORF, LTU Arena, Germany (4)
LEIPZIG, Zentralstadion, Germany (7)
BERLIN, Olympiastadion, Germany (10)
FRANKFURT, Commerzbank Arena, Germany (12)
MUNICH, Olympiastadion, Germany (13)
ROME, Stadio Olimpico, Italy (16)
MILAN, Stadio San Siro, Italy (18)
WERCHTER, TW Classic Festival, Belgium (20)
BRATISLAVA, Inter Stadium, Slovakia (22)
BUDAPEST, Puskas Ferenc Stadium, Hungary (23)
PRAGUE, Slavia Stadium, Czech Republic (25)
PARIS, Stade De France, France (27)
COPENHAGEN, Parken Stadium, Denmark (30)
BERGEN, Koengen, Norway (July 2)
ARVIKA, Arvika Festival, Sweden (3)
PORTO, Super Bock Super Rock Festival, Portugal (11)

LA Times: Depeche Mode will come to LA in the late summer

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:00:00 MST

LA Times, via their music blog Soundboard, are reporting the band will be back in LA in the late summer of next year. Here's what being said:

L.A.'s played host to a lot of great shows lately -- Beck, Nick Cave, My Bloody Valentine. Even Sky Saxon and the Seeds at Club Ding-a-ling! last week were pretty fun in an antic, "is that a tab of acid in my beer?" kind of way. (If you don't know Club Ding-a-ling, it's Hyperion Tavern's Tuesday concert series featuring the weird and the inspired in Los Angeles, and it's worth a visit.)

And now there's more good news for me and lots of Depeche Mode fans who have not been enjoying the silence from our favorite British purveyors of snap-tight electropop. The Mode has not only signed a deal with Mute/EMI that will get their next album due April 2009 to the U.S. at the same time as Europe, they are also launching a stadium tour. It'll start in Israel in May, but according to an EMI representative, the trio will make it to an L.A. stadium (Staples?) sometime in the late summer.

The rep also said, though he hasn't heard it himself yet, that the Mode's new album will sound like "old-school Depeche Mode, with a big sound... upbeat and electronic." Here's hoping this particular rumor is true.

Confirmed: DM Leave Warner, Renew with EMI/Mute

Tue, 7 Oct 2008 00:00:00 MST

Billboard confirms what we all knew about DM leaving Warner. They also confirm that the band have renewed their long-term deal with EMI/Mute. Will this mean DM finally realize some US chart success last seen in 1990? Stay tuned, true believers. Read the article below:

Update: Depeche Mode Readies New CD, Tour

Updating a story first posted yesterday (Oct. 6). Depeche Mode has renewed its long-term deal with Mute/EMI and is planning to release its 12th studio album April 20, 2009. Past Depeche Mode albums were licensed by Mute to Warner Bros. in the United States but will be under EMI's control moving forward.

At a press event yesterday (Oct. 6) in Berlin, the band also unveiled its 2009 Tour of the Universe, which will play 28 stadium dates worldwide beginning May 10 in Tel Aviv, Israel. As-yet-unannounced dates in North and South America will follow; Live Nation is promoting.

The last Depeche Mode tour, in support of 2006's "Playing the Angel," was supposed to conclude in Tel Aviv but the show was canceled due to concerns over safety.

"Playing the Angel" has sold 423,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The set was produced by Ben Hillier, who is also producing the as-yet-untitled new album. Frontman David Gahan said during the press conference that at least two songs he'd penned would appear on the set.

Here are Depeche Mode's tour dates:

May 10: Tel Aviv, Israel (Ramat Gan Stadium)
May 12: Athens (Terra Vibe Park)
May 14: Istanbul (Santral Istanbul)
May 16: Bucharest, Romania (Parc Izvor)
May 18: Sofia, Bulgaria (Vasil Levski Stadium)
May 20: Belgrade, Serbia (USCE Park)
May 21: Zagreb, Croatia (Arena)
May 23: Warsaw (Gwardia Stadium)
May 25: Riga, Latvia (Skonto Stadium)
May 27: Vilnius, Lithuania (Zalgirio Stadionas)
May 30: London (02 Arena)
June 2: Hamburg (HSH Nordbank Arena)
June 4: Dusseldorf, Germany (LTU Arena)
June 7: Leipzig, Germany (Zentralstadion)
June 10: Berlin (Olympiastadion)
June 12: Frankfurt (Commerzbank Arena)
June 13: Munich (Olympiastadion)
June 16, 18: Rome (Stadio Olimpico)
June 20: Werchter, Belgium (TW Classic Festival)
June 22: Bratislava, Slovakia (Inter Stadium)
June 23: Budapest (Puskas Ferenc Stadium)
June 25: Prague (Slavia Stadium)
June 27: Paris (TBA)
June 30: Copenhagen (Parken Stadium)
July 2: Bergen, Norway (Koengen)
July 3: Arvika, Sweden (Arvika Festival)
July 11: Oporto, Portugal (Super Bock Super Rock Festival)

2008 DM Convention Postponed

Wed, 6 Aug 2008 00:00:00 MST

The convention has been postponed until further notice. For refund information click on the link below. Otherwise, we will keep you posted when the new date for the convention is set.

Downtown Mode Angeles! 2008 DM Convention to be held Saturday, September 27th 2008

Tue, 5 Aug 2008 00:00:00 MST

The 11th Annual Depeche Mode Convention will be held on Saturday, September 27th at the Crash Mansion in Downtown Mode (Los) Angeles! Richard Blade will be hosting. Blasphemous Rumours will be performing live. Tickets are on sale for $20 for advance tickets and $25 on the day of the event. The Crash Mansion is located at 1024 S. Grand Avenue in Downtown Los Angeles.

DM Leave Warner?

Mon, 4 Aug 2008 00:00:00 MST

That's what HITS Daily Double is reporting. Then again, they remind you that the Band's manager Johnathan Kessler brought them to Mute records in 1980. See, Kessler is more accomplished than you thought! It's been rumoured to have already happened months ago but this article does little to confirm it.

Still, despite having sold out shows in recent tours, the band still get confused with various ice cream and peach flavoured products in the 'States. Taking the independent route, as it's being rumoured, can only help things. Read for yourself and wait for confirmation on this one.