As of: March 8, 2024, 2:47 p.m
By: Jörg Heinrich
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Mr. Gahan's magnificent show.
You want to see it, hear it, admire it, celebrate it.
© Martin Hangen/Münchner Merkur
Encore in Munich: Depeche Mode delight their fans in the sold-out Olympiahalle.
Our criticism:
Just last June, Depeche Mode played in Munich's Olympic Stadium - at an unforgettable lightning and thunder summer concert.
“Mephistopheles in a thunderstorm,” wrote our critic at the time about the monumental diva Dave Gahan.
Less than nine months later, the beloved English people, who mean so much to so many people, were back again.
And there was no hint of Depeche Mode fatigue.
Of course, the Olympiahalle was sold out as always at the band's - according to unofficial count - 14th concert on Thursday (March 7, 2024) in Munich.
As always, sad fans stood outside the arena with “Looking for Tickets” signs.
And as always, despite all their love for the color black, Depeche Mode spread a blissful, radiant darkness.
Gahan and Gore dedicate “Behind the Wheel” to their late keyboardist Andy Fletcher
Gahan and his musical lifer Martin Gore, the eternal royal couple of British synthpop, have only carefully tweaked the program on their “Memento Mori” tour compared to the summer concerts.
Some songs like “Policy of Truth”, “Strangelove” (as a touching gore solo number) or the programmatic “Black Celebration” are new.
Gahan and Gore dedicate “Behind the Wheel”, also added, to their keyboardist and bridge builder Andy Fletcher, the Ronnie Wood of electronic music, who died in 2022.
Even if the tried and tested Peter Gordeno represents him fabulously, the scar remains.
The magnificently animated capital M in the background once again dominates the stage.
And what remains is Mr. Gahan's magnificent show.
You want to see it, hear it, admire it, celebrate it.
They came for him, with the motto: “I really want to hear Dave Gahan.” The extremely exalted 61-year-old, who will soon be able to rival Keith Richards in terms of resilience, prances, gyrates, struts, cuddles, spreads and dances intimately with his microphone stand.
You might think he's about to do cartwheels. "My Cosmos is mine," he states at the start, marking his territory.
I am the king of my world, who can doubt that?
Gahan and Gore, the great Depeche Mode creators, let the machine purr with heartfelt songs from “Everything counts” to “A Pain that I'm used to” to the crowning hit parade with “Stripped” or the innocent synth Hopser “Just can't get enough” from 1981. Drummer Christian Eigner, the powerhouse from Vienna, relentlessly drives the band forward.
He is the man for all skins.
During “Enjoy the Silence,” Dave Gahan heats up the crowd in German with “1, 2, 3, 4,” while Martin Gore absently plucks his riff.
The two high-five each other, are visibly happy, and so are the fans.
A concert couldn't get any better.
The M stands for magic.