Depeche Mode held their press conference in Milan, Italy today to announce details for their forthcoming studio album. The new album, Spirit, will be released "early next spring" (date tba), and was recorded in Santa Barbara and New York with producer James Ford. Dave Gahan told the audience that Ford came in fresh and took the band's new material to the next level. Though the album isn't complete, Gahan called the new material "incredible sounding" "exciting" and revealed the band is very proud of the record. After the album announcement, Depeche Mode played a short video with a preview of some of their new sounds.
After the album preview Depeche Mode announced details for their Global Spirit world tour. Long time collaborator Anton Corbijn will be creating visuals for the tour (he'll also be creating Spirit album artwork), but the band didn't discuss the tour theme as the thematic endeavor is still in the early stages. The band will also teaming up with Charity: Water on tour to raise awareness and funds to help the organization bring clean, safe, drinking water to people worldwide.
The Global Spirit tour kicks off May 5th in Sweden and plays Europe through the end of July. North American dates (and likely South American dates) have not yet been announced but according to Gahan "those dates will be eventually announced, we're still working on it."
Finally Depeche Mode took questions from the press and fans -- they were asked if rock music is dead ("good music is everywhere, you have to look for it") what the record sounds like ("sexy"), and if world events shaped the album ("it did, but we don't want to go into that, the record isn't finished yet").
One of the more awkward moments was when someone asked a question about reunions and ended by asking if it's possible for Alan Wilder, who left the band in 1995, will be coming back. The band members were mostly able to laugh it off, then gushed about current touring band members Christian Eigner and Peter Gordeno. Another moment of awkwardness: a German television journalist commented on how Martin Gore and Andy Fletcher look "marvelous and ageless" but wondered if Gahan, who was sporting awesome gold metallic boots, still has what it takes to swing his hips and move around on stage! Gahan had a good laugh and responded: "No, I'm still in good form, I'm good to go."
DAVE GAHAN'S NEW SHOES @depechemode pic.twitter.com/mcNrMyyIEW
— Matt Everitt (@matteveritt) October 11, 2016
Watch the OFFICIAL archive of today's press conference here. FYI: The press conference starts ~ 12 minutes into the FB video, the music preview starts at ~ 14:20, and the Q & A starts ~ 24:30.
If you don't want to bother with Facebook, an unofficial video archive (that will likely get taken down) is here.
Global Spirit Tour trailer:
Depeche Mode -- Global Spirit tour
May 05 -- Stockholm, Sweden @ Friends Arena
May 07 -- Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Ziggo Dome
May 09 -- Antwerp, Belgium @ Sportpaleis
May 12 -- Nice, France @ Stade Charles-Ehrmann
May 14 -- Ljubljana, Slovenia @ Dvorana Stožice
May 17 -- Athens, Greece @ Terra Vibe Park
May 20 -- Bratislava, Slovakia @ Štadión Pasienky
May 22 -- Budapest, Hungary @ Groupama Arena
May 24 -- Prague, Czech Republic @ Eden Arena
May 27 -- Leipzig, Germany @ Festwiese
May 29 -- Lille, France @ Stade Pierre-Mauroy
May 31 -- Copenhagen, Denmark @ Telia Parken
Jun 03 -- London, UK @ London Stadium
Jun 05 -- Cologne, Germany @ Rhein Energie Stadion
Jun 09 -- Munich, Germany @ Olypia Stadion
Jun 11 -- Hannover, Germany @ HDI Arena
Jun 18 -- Zurich, Switzerland @ Letzigrund Stadion
Jun 20 -- Frankfurt, Germany @ Commerzbank-Arena
Jun 22 -- Berlin, Germany @ Olympia Stadion
Jun 25 -- Rome, Italy @ Stadio Olimpico
Jun 27 -- Milan, Italy @ Stadio San Siro
Jun 29 -- Bologna, Italy @ Stadio Rentao Dall'Ara
Jul 01 -- Paris, France @ Stade de France
Jul 04 -- Gelsenkirchen, Germany @ Veltins-Arena
Jul 06 -- Bilbao, Spain @ BBK Live Festival
Jul 08 -- Lisbon, Portugal @ NOS Alive Festival
Jul 13 -- St. Petersburg, Russia @ SKK
Jul 15 -- Moscow, Russia @ Otkritie Arena
Jul 17 -- Minsk, Belarus @ Minsk-Arena
Jul 19 -- Kiev, Ukraine @ Olimpiyskiy National Sports Comples
Jul 21 -- Warsaw, Poland @ PGE Narodowy
Jul 23 -- Cluj-Napoca, Romania @ Cluj Arena
Published October 11th, 2016