Depeche Mode tease intimate warm-up shows, U.S. tour

PanARMENIAN.Net - Depeche Mode have teased that they may play a series of intimate warm-up shows ahead of their massive 'Spirit' world tour, NME reports.

This week saw the synth-pop icons announce details of their 14th studio album as well as a run of massive arena and stadium dates. Now, it looks like fans may get the chance to see them much more up close and personal.

"We haven't ruled that out," frontman Dave Gahan told BBC 6 Music's Matt Everitt about the possibility of warm-up shows. "We're kicking off in Sweden but you never know - we might end up doing something in that time or before the whole tour, even. There's a possibility we'll do something where we maybe play some new songs and a few old ones in some smaller places just to feel it out a bit."

He also revealed that U.S. and South American tour dates would be announced soon: "I think we've set the bar pretty high this time. We've decided to announce these shows in Europe - we're going to shortly announce some North American shows and possible some down in South America too."

Speaking about their new album 'Spirit', Gahan continued: "Making records can be really prickly with a group of people, because you're a team and you might have an idea about how you think something should sound and the person sitting next to you does not hear it like that. The thing about Martin and I, is that's not something we often talk about. We don't really sit and discuss, we just kind of start getting on with it. It's tricky navigating your way around a Depeche Mode record but that's what makes it interesting.

"I wouldn't say it's an easy experience, but there's definitely a start, a middle and an end to it. It's the gravitas of the work too...we have a high standard of what we should be doing and where it should be. Martin has predominantly been the songwriter of this band from day one...I'm on the bench most of the time. I get a few minutes here and there to play, and that's OK. I'm lucky to be a part of that. Martin certainly shows up as much for my songs as he does his own. It doesn't necessarily work the other way if I have an idea about one of Martin's songs, but that's OK - because he's much more accomplished than I as a songwriter.

He added: "As a complete songwriter, I actually can't formulate an idea unless I'm bouncing off someone else. As a person that likes to really not communicate with people that well, it's the one way I actually can."