Many consider the trio of Dave Gahan, Martin Gore and Andy Fletcher to be the godfathers of New Wave.
Since 1981, Depeche Mode has produced dozens of synth-induced dance-pop hits in the U.K. – earning them the distinction “The most popular electronic band the world has ever known” from renowned British music magazine Q – while also keeping the mirror ball spinning in the U.S.
Songs such as “People are People,” “Enjoy the Silence” and “Policy of Truth” are timeless reminders of an era the band helped pioneer. But Depeche Mode is hardly sitting in neutral.
Earlier this year they released “Delta Machine,” their 13th studio album, which spawned two hits on the U.S. Dance charts – “Heaven,” which hit No. 1, and “Soothe My Soul,” which climbed to No. 7.
Fresh from a successful run of Europe, Depeche Mode is now touring Stateside and bringing their “Delta Machine” tour to Lakewood this week.
In a recent chat with keyboardist Fletcher, he touched on what fans can expect from the show, as well as how Depeche Mode is staying healthy these days.
Q: It sounds as if you had a good run of shows in Europe earlier this summer.
A: The shows sounded incredible. It was probably one of the best legs we’ve ever done in our career. Dave has been phenomenal every show and the crowds were fantastic and well-attended, even in areas of Europe that are quite in a recession. It has been a dream career from beginning to now. We never really thought we would last and be in some places, more popular. It really has been wonderful. We truly only believed it was going to last a couple of years.
Q: Will the American tour be different from the European dates as far as production and set list?
A: The set list might be slightly different. The show should be pretty similar, hopefully. It’s quite a clever production, very simple. We do have these great videos. The quality is incredible these days. But it’s sort of sparse on stage. It’s down to us performing.
Q: Will the acoustic interlude remain?
A: That’s to give Dave a little bit of a break, and Martin does sing quite a few songs. It’s good for the crowd as well. We always joke that’s when everyone goes to the bathroom!
Q: How challenging is it trying to work in songs from Delta Machine when you’ve got the enviable problem of having so many to choose from?
A: The set list itself is virtually impossible for us to get together. We have more than 200 songs, and everyone has their favorites. What we’ve ended up with, it has music from our early days to now. It really spans all our albums and has gone down very well in Europe. The new songs have been really easy to do live and they sound great live. The last album (2009’s “Sounds of the Universe”) was a lot more difficult live.
Q: How do you think the band has evolved as a live act, even after 30-plus years?
A: We seem to have as many fans as we used to, and even more fans. We feel at the moment so fresh. I think we’ve still got something to offer. I don’t know how long we’ll continue; hopefully it won’t be our last tour. The [Rolling] Stones fill me with dread. I could be doing the same thing when I’m 70, which I hope won’t happen! But Rock ‘n’ roll is a drug. That feeling of getting on the stage is very hard to take away.
Q: Does the band have any kind of pre-show ritual?
A: We all have our routines, like actors or football players. We do this big sort of “Spinal Tap” all for one, one for all kind of thing that’s been going on for a few years. The whole tour is a routine. Every day is Groundhog Day. That’s the only way you can be on tour, the routine, that’s how you survive. In the old days, our routine was very unhealthy.
Q: I watched the video on YouTube with the behind-the-scenes stuff and the band’s chef talked about making a lot of organic dishes. Have you made a conscious decision to eat differently or exercise more as you’ve gotten older or has that always been part of your regime?
A: That has nothing to do with me! I have been eating organic stuff. I’ve lost a couple of pounds, so maybe it’s worth it. Just organic steaks and things, it’s not vegetarian. Believe it or not we do look after ourselves more than the old days. In the old days, the word gym didn’t come into it. We’re a lot older and we do want to perform at a high level, so we take it a bit easier, make sure we’re fit.
Q: Do you still DJ?
A: After the last tour I did a world tour I went to Australia and China and India, Japan, Dubai. It’s quite weird, and it really interesting.
Q: Do you think EDM is becoming more accepted by mainstream? We have TomorrowWorld coming here and it seems to be attracting a vast number of people.
A: I know from Europe, there are a lot of young kids at the gigs, especially Italy, where they’re 17-18. I haven’t DJ’d much in the States, because Martin tends to do the American gigs.
Q: The band has done so many remixes. Do you have a favorite?
A: I like the “Behind the Wheel Route 66” mix.
Q: Can you still be a regular guy being part of Depeche Mode?
A: A lot of people know the band, but we are able to lead pretty normal lives. We’re not in the tabloid press, and we do lead quite normal lives. Dave is like the rock god. I’m the average man in the street.
