Depeche Mode Dish Dirt On Spirit

Ahead of making their London Stadium bow in June, Depeche Mode will release their 14th studio album - Spirit - this spring.

The trio will play their only UK show on Saturday 3 June at London Stadium, the sole domestic stop on their Global Spirit Tour.

Frontman Dave Gahan has offered some insight into the recording of Spirit, and revealed a little of the trio’s songwriting process, driven by Martin Gore.

“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,” he said. 

“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.”

The trio’s output has been consistent since the early 1980s, and Gahan revealed that one of Depeche Mode’s biggest challenges has been maintaining their hallmark quality, and the dynamic between bandmates.

“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,” he said. 

“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.”

Gahan continued to add that having his bandmates around him brings the best from his songwriting, and in a career now 37 years young, it’s clearly a dynamic that fits for Depeche Mode.

“As a complete songwriter, I actually can’t formulate an idea unless I’m bouncing off someone else,” said Gahan. 

“As a person that likes to really not communicate with people that well, it’s the one way I actually can.”

Depeche Mode headline London Stadium on Saturday 3 June 2017. Limited tickets remain available here…

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