Yes, the band Depeche Mode will continue. She will soon release a new album and play a big tour. No, too following the horribly tragic, unexpected death of founding member Andy Fletcher last May the two remaining ones don’t think about stopping the project. All of that was immediately clear when the big, seemingly mysterious press conference that took place in Berlin that Tuesday afternoon was announced at the end of September. And, quite honestly: Not much more was announced at the event itself.
The details first: “Memento Mori”, Depeche Mode’s 15th studio album, has already been recorded and is scheduled for release at the end of March 2023. On the 23rd of that month, the associated tour will start in Sacramento, initially with ten US concerts. From May to August 2023, 32 European shows will follow, including six in Germany: Leipzig, twice in Düsseldorf, Munich, Frankfurt am Main and Berlin. Advance sales begin on Friday, October 7th.
With one look you knew again why you love this band so much
Is “Memento Mori” a tribute to the deceased friend and partner? No, singer Dave Gahan and songwriter, guitarist and keyboardist Martin Gore made it clear right away when they came onto the stage of the Berliner Ensemble on Bertolt-Brecht-Platz in front of the assembled world press and 200 invited fans on Tuesday. The title, they emphasized, was decided at an early stage of the work, when nobody expected the catastrophe. “That means: remember that you’re going to die,” translated Gore, who hung in the armchair with white-laced boots and black streetwear like an excellently aged subculture boy. “Have to die!” corrected Gahan, jacket, dress pants, gentleman’s legs neatly crossed. Even if the whole event had something weirdly official about it, you knew at a glance why you love this band so much.
Apparently, Gahan and Gore were deep into songwriting for the album together when the terrible news broke. Barbara Charone, the resolute moderator in Berlin and press spokeswoman for the band since the turn of the millennium, did not even raise the question of whether the two had ever thought of quitting afterwards. In July they got together for the first recording sessions, at Gore’s home studio and briefly with producer guru Rick Rubin. Contrary to all rumours, however, he was not directly involved in the album. At the press conference, only a short fragment of the song could be heard, which was hidden in one of the film trailers. It sounded strong in melody and beats, like a cheery reference to the very early days of New Wave. But the two musicians said that nothing was finally mixed. From now on, Depeche Mode are a duo, photographed granularly as always by Anton Corbijn. The last two desperados.
Yes, of course they miss their friend Fletch constantly and badly. When he sits on hotel balconies and sniffs cigarette smoke from the next room, Gahan said he often hears his voice in his mind. “And when we got to Berlin yesterday and I took one look at the hotel bar, it hit me like a bolt of lightning that Fletch wasn’t there,” Gore said. “Because he was always right there.” It didn’t get boring or melancholic during the short panel talk. Nevertheless, it was clear that everyone involved wanted to get the matter over with quickly.
Especially in times like these, it is a great honor to bring people a little joy with concerts, said Dave Gahan as a kind of final word. “Memento Mori” should also be a mission, another big black celebration of life. As always, the tour will be sold out within minutes, Depeche Mode doesn’t need a reason for that. However, the fact that the Rolling Stones factor is slowly playing its part here, that certain “It could be the last time”: It will certainly not make the arena shows any less festive next summer.