Depeche Mode are currently teasing their fans: On September 26, the band posted a photo of a microphone on Instagram, two days later one of their studio equipment with the inscription “04.10.22”. A day later they posted a video with the announcement “Berlin 04.10.22” and now, on September 30th, another video followed with the time “13:00 CET” and the caption “More info soon”.
The official announcement stands – but for what?
It has been clear for a week that there will be a press conference. The concert organizer Live Nation has invited Dave Gahan and Martin Gore to appear in Berlin. So it can be assumed that Depeche Mode will announce a world tour.
The band’s future seemed uncertain after founding member and keyboardist Andrew Fletcher passed away in May aged 60; the band’s current work, SPIRIT, was released in 2017, marking the longest album break by the Brits to date.
Dave Gahan and Martin Gore published a post in mid-August showing the two in the studio. “We find stability in what we know and love and focus on what gives life meaning and purpose,” they wrote. Since then, the comments have been full of speculation about Depeche Mode’s future.
Gahan already hinted at a comeback
When Gahan spoke to NME about Depeche Mode last year, before Fletcher’s death, he hinted that the band might be back in the studio in 2022. He said: “There’s a lot of stuff we’ve done with Depeche Mode that I’m really proud of. I think that came with time and age. Martin put out a record last year that I really liked. I even bought a copy because otherwise it wouldn’t feel right.”
He continued: “I know he’s been messing around in his studio too, so I guess we’ll meet up sometime next year. Hopefully at least to chat about what we both plan for the future.”