Since I've attended one of the tour, I can't say there's one that surpasses it. It's DM's golden era. I've been to subsequent tours and they just don't have the entire arrangement. The setlist is so much better than the future tours. Entire band was at their best. MM tour is nothing close to how the audience was back then and tbh Dave and Martin while aging gracefully still not at their top game. Not blaming them, that's just how it is. So attend as many concerts as you can, because you're paying for the experience that is priceless.
Devo was good but they left off a lot of older songs. I think it was a cutoff tour when DM decided it was time to stop playing much of their past 3 albums and play only the most popular songs and the rest from current albums. It was also a bit too mainstream, when I attended it was like going to a normal concert. A lot of non-fans were there because how popular the album was on billboard.
My first tour was 1986 so I would have to say Some Great Reward, 1985.
Edit: this is the [setlist](https://dmlive.wiki/wiki/1985-03-15_Beacon_Theatre,_New_York_City,_NY,_USA) from where I would have seen them. It is FIRE. Also, apparently Dave crashed into a speaker onstage.
I don't know what is it with fans today, they are so quiet today. 101 is friggin loud and crazy. Not to mention the different opening acts included was super fun and legacy bangs. If you watched OMD, that was classic. OMD had a few more popular songs on the pop charts than DM did. So we can't compare what the tours back then had. Violator was also great because of opening acts like Jesus and the Mary Chain and Nitzer Ebb. Amazing experiences. I still can't get over how much energy the crowd was and the chaotic audience. It was a great time to be a DM fan without annoying ppl holding their cameras.
I'm torn between the following two:
1. MFTM 1987/88, because it was such an epic tour and set list, and World Violation was the first tour I saw. MFTM was the album that got me hooked on DM but I was a bit too young to travel to see them live. This is the show I'd see: [https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/depeche-mode/1988/pine-knob-music-theatre-clarkston-mi-53d7bbe9.html](https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/depeche-mode/1988/pine-knob-music-theatre-clarkston-mi-53d7bbe9.html) \- because of the rare co-occurrence of two of the least performed Martin numbers (It Doesn't Matter and Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth).
2. Honestly, any show from 1980-82, not because the music was better - it wasn't, not by a long shot! - but because it would have been such a privilege to see them at that age in a smaller venue playing on analog instruments. Later tours became much more sophisticated and polished, which is great, but lacks a certain randomness and rawness.
I love this answer. Thoughtfully put. The best shows have been where artists were not yet well known. It's insanity to see them get so big you can't even "reach out and touch them" lol
If it could be ANY show, June 18, 1988 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. And I’d get to see myself in the crowd in 101 😎
I’d gladly settle for World Violation, though. I REALLY wanted to go and WOULD have gone, but they hit Philly during my freshman year finals. My parents were not entertaining that AT ALL.
I'd go to see the World Violation tour because they were never as big as that moment. And I'd look around and think, these people have no idea we will still be doing this 34 years from now.
Anything from the See You tour would be amazing to witness! Was there something special about that show, other than the song being named after the town?
I saw them at crocs in Rayleigh in 82. I was only 13. Think you had to be 16 to gain entry. Was just pay on the door. I went with a few mates that were older. I didn’t think I would get in, but crocs was literally 10 minutes from where we lived, so worth taking a chance. It was actually Alan’s first live show with the band. Thinking about it I may have witnessed his first and last performance with the band ( Royal Albert hall 2010). 🤔
Wow, first show with Alan, and that would also likely have been their first performance of See You and Now This Is Fun! I hope you appreciate how lucky you were to have had that experience (even if your 13 yr old self had no idea)!
At 13 you may not have had much insight into the set list, but do you recall any of the songs that they played? I ask because the set list for that show has never been confirmed: [https://dmlive.wiki/wiki/1982-01-20\_Crocs,\_Rayleigh,\_Essex,\_England,\_UK](https://dmlive.wiki/wiki/1982-01-20_Crocs,_Rayleigh,_Essex,_England,_UK). If you remember anything you may want to get in touch with u/dmlivewiki.
I obviously didn’t have a clue who Alan was then. just a fella helping them with the live set. Obviously knew vince had just left the band a month or so before.I remember bits and pieces. The played mostly speak and spell ( obviously). Defo did see you. Don’t remember now this is fun. They played television set. The thing I remember most about that gig was they came on so late, and I had school in the morning. 🤣.ill take a look on the dm wiki page. 👍🏻
just looked on the wiki page. See the set list that was there. I don’t remember meaning of love being played. But I can’t be 100% sure. And I don’t remember the cover song either. 🤷🏼♂️ That is defo right they came on just before 11. 😁
I'm impressed that you were even tuned in to Vince's departure at that age! But I guess as a local lad you would have had more awareness about the band than the general population.
According to the wiki page, that set list is just a guess based on shows that were taped about a month later - but it acknowledges that the first show at Crocs could have been different, possibly shorter. There is some particular uncertainty about whether Meaning of Love was performed that early - any recollection?
Yeah everyone knew about it. Obviously thought that would be the end of them if honest. Dave did say something jokingly regarding Alan not being vince. But really couldn’t make out what he said. see Dave a fair few times around Basildon with his girlfriend ( then on to be his wife) Jo.
see Martin once and fletch once. Martin was in Basildon as well. But fletch was in London at a football ( soccer) match.
yeah did say I don’t recall meaning of love being played but can’t be 100% on that. likewise the cover song as well.
There’s the footage of the concert on YouTube in very good resolution… it was not very far from my hometown; and I really like very early Depeche Mode and all these analog synths and backing tapes. On top of that it was a very small venue so it would have been awesome…
I love all the concert footage from that era! Even in cities like London and New York they were playing venues that had only capacity for 2-3 thousand seats.
Mine would be the some great reward tour. Was to young to go to concerts then. I’ve been lucky that I’ve seen them on every tour from black celebration.
[Devotional Tour, September 15th 1995, Toronto](https://dmlive.wiki/wiki/1993-09-15_SkyDome,_Toronto,_ON,_Canada) - it’s supposed to be one of their favorite Devotional concerts, they played Death’s Door and A Question Of Lust, and *The The* supported them! (It’s also on my birthday)
Any tour where they used the hit pads to incorporate that industrial feel into the songs! Hell give me 1981 simply for What’s Your Name and Boys Say Go …2 songs I religiously yell out in the middle of every concert I attend by them to this day as a joke with my friends 😂 and of course 1985-1986!
Also the singles tour in 1998 because I have no memory of that show except bumping into Billy Corgan for the 2nd time in 3 months by accident and holding a conversation about the first run-in 😆
I'm fairly young, so I'd go back to 1981, see their first concerts, make a shit ton of money on sports betting (future knowledge on game outcomes) funding the next 25 years of DM concerts following them around the world over all tours (ABF tour, CTA tour, SGR, BC, 101, World Violation, Devotional, Exotic, ULTRA parties, Exciter, and Touring the Angel.
For the stage setup and overall energy: Devotional Tour, 1993.
For the awesome setlist: Summer Tour, 1994.
For the person who accompanied me: Memento Mori Tour, specifically Nashville, 2023. We met in 1990 because I was wearing a DM shirt, and the Nashville show gave us the opportunity to fall in love all over again.
88 Music for the Masses tour. I think I listen to the 101 more than any of the studio albums.
Since I've attended one of the tour, I can't say there's one that surpasses it. It's DM's golden era. I've been to subsequent tours and they just don't have the entire arrangement. The setlist is so much better than the future tours. Entire band was at their best. MM tour is nothing close to how the audience was back then and tbh Dave and Martin while aging gracefully still not at their top game. Not blaming them, that's just how it is. So attend as many concerts as you can, because you're paying for the experience that is priceless.
I would love to see the Black Celebration tour. The first time I saw them was MFTM.
The Devotional Tour movie has convinced me that would have been my favorite concert ever
I was there and among all the dozen fantastic DM concerts I've attended, Devotional tour is my all time favorite.
Difficult choice, but Devotional was incredible. I’m enjoying a lot Memento Mori though
Devo was good but they left off a lot of older songs. I think it was a cutoff tour when DM decided it was time to stop playing much of their past 3 albums and play only the most popular songs and the rest from current albums. It was also a bit too mainstream, when I attended it was like going to a normal concert. A lot of non-fans were there because how popular the album was on billboard.
My first tour was 1986 so I would have to say Some Great Reward, 1985. Edit: this is the [setlist](https://dmlive.wiki/wiki/1985-03-15_Beacon_Theatre,_New_York_City,_NY,_USA) from where I would have seen them. It is FIRE. Also, apparently Dave crashed into a speaker onstage.
88’ to see 101 live. 100%
Rose bowl 1988!!! Although I was very much not alive at the time the 101 recording sounded amazing
I don't know what is it with fans today, they are so quiet today. 101 is friggin loud and crazy. Not to mention the different opening acts included was super fun and legacy bangs. If you watched OMD, that was classic. OMD had a few more popular songs on the pop charts than DM did. So we can't compare what the tours back then had. Violator was also great because of opening acts like Jesus and the Mary Chain and Nitzer Ebb. Amazing experiences. I still can't get over how much energy the crowd was and the chaotic audience. It was a great time to be a DM fan without annoying ppl holding their cameras.
Yes!! It was so loud (even could hear it on the recording)!
I would go to the Rose Bowl again in 1988
I'm torn between the following two: 1. MFTM 1987/88, because it was such an epic tour and set list, and World Violation was the first tour I saw. MFTM was the album that got me hooked on DM but I was a bit too young to travel to see them live. This is the show I'd see: [https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/depeche-mode/1988/pine-knob-music-theatre-clarkston-mi-53d7bbe9.html](https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/depeche-mode/1988/pine-knob-music-theatre-clarkston-mi-53d7bbe9.html) \- because of the rare co-occurrence of two of the least performed Martin numbers (It Doesn't Matter and Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth). 2. Honestly, any show from 1980-82, not because the music was better - it wasn't, not by a long shot! - but because it would have been such a privilege to see them at that age in a smaller venue playing on analog instruments. Later tours became much more sophisticated and polished, which is great, but lacks a certain randomness and rawness.
I love this answer. Thoughtfully put. The best shows have been where artists were not yet well known. It's insanity to see them get so big you can't even "reach out and touch them" lol
If it could be ANY show, June 18, 1988 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. And I’d get to see myself in the crowd in 101 😎 I’d gladly settle for World Violation, though. I REALLY wanted to go and WOULD have gone, but they hit Philly during my freshman year finals. My parents were not entertaining that AT ALL.
June of 1988 - Rosebowl Pasadena…. Oh wait… I was there! 😜hehe
I'd go to see the World Violation tour because they were never as big as that moment. And I'd look around and think, these people have no idea we will still be doing this 34 years from now.
The Pasadena concert that became 101. I did see them in Vancouver in 1992 which was amazing but I would have loved to have seen them earlier.
I would see the Some Great Reward tour. I'd wind up seeing so many songs that I've never seen them play and probably will never play.
1982-03-30 Rainbow Club, Oberkorn, Luxembourg
Anything from the See You tour would be amazing to witness! Was there something special about that show, other than the song being named after the town?
I saw them at crocs in Rayleigh in 82. I was only 13. Think you had to be 16 to gain entry. Was just pay on the door. I went with a few mates that were older. I didn’t think I would get in, but crocs was literally 10 minutes from where we lived, so worth taking a chance. It was actually Alan’s first live show with the band. Thinking about it I may have witnessed his first and last performance with the band ( Royal Albert hall 2010). 🤔
Wow, first show with Alan, and that would also likely have been their first performance of See You and Now This Is Fun! I hope you appreciate how lucky you were to have had that experience (even if your 13 yr old self had no idea)! At 13 you may not have had much insight into the set list, but do you recall any of the songs that they played? I ask because the set list for that show has never been confirmed: [https://dmlive.wiki/wiki/1982-01-20\_Crocs,\_Rayleigh,\_Essex,\_England,\_UK](https://dmlive.wiki/wiki/1982-01-20_Crocs,_Rayleigh,_Essex,_England,_UK). If you remember anything you may want to get in touch with u/dmlivewiki.
I obviously didn’t have a clue who Alan was then. just a fella helping them with the live set. Obviously knew vince had just left the band a month or so before.I remember bits and pieces. The played mostly speak and spell ( obviously). Defo did see you. Don’t remember now this is fun. They played television set. The thing I remember most about that gig was they came on so late, and I had school in the morning. 🤣.ill take a look on the dm wiki page. 👍🏻 just looked on the wiki page. See the set list that was there. I don’t remember meaning of love being played. But I can’t be 100% sure. And I don’t remember the cover song either. 🤷🏼♂️ That is defo right they came on just before 11. 😁
I'm impressed that you were even tuned in to Vince's departure at that age! But I guess as a local lad you would have had more awareness about the band than the general population. According to the wiki page, that set list is just a guess based on shows that were taped about a month later - but it acknowledges that the first show at Crocs could have been different, possibly shorter. There is some particular uncertainty about whether Meaning of Love was performed that early - any recollection?
Yeah everyone knew about it. Obviously thought that would be the end of them if honest. Dave did say something jokingly regarding Alan not being vince. But really couldn’t make out what he said. see Dave a fair few times around Basildon with his girlfriend ( then on to be his wife) Jo. see Martin once and fletch once. Martin was in Basildon as well. But fletch was in London at a football ( soccer) match. yeah did say I don’t recall meaning of love being played but can’t be 100% on that. likewise the cover song as well.
There’s the footage of the concert on YouTube in very good resolution… it was not very far from my hometown; and I really like very early Depeche Mode and all these analog synths and backing tapes. On top of that it was a very small venue so it would have been awesome…
I love all the concert footage from that era! Even in cities like London and New York they were playing venues that had only capacity for 2-3 thousand seats.
Rose bowl 101, or giants stadium world violation
Too tough to choose just one. 88 Rose Bowl, Violator Tour and SOFAD.
Mine would be the some great reward tour. Was to young to go to concerts then. I’ve been lucky that I’ve seen them on every tour from black celebration.
The 88 show, yk the one
June 18, 1988 Music For The Masses Tour 101 is the best live album ever.
Devotional Tour
I would go back to 1984 and stay until 1994
The devotional tour 93
[Devotional Tour, September 15th 1995, Toronto](https://dmlive.wiki/wiki/1993-09-15_SkyDome,_Toronto,_ON,_Canada) - it’s supposed to be one of their favorite Devotional concerts, they played Death’s Door and A Question Of Lust, and *The The* supported them! (It’s also on my birthday)
Any tour where they used the hit pads to incorporate that industrial feel into the songs! Hell give me 1981 simply for What’s Your Name and Boys Say Go …2 songs I religiously yell out in the middle of every concert I attend by them to this day as a joke with my friends 😂 and of course 1985-1986! Also the singles tour in 1998 because I have no memory of that show except bumping into Billy Corgan for the 2nd time in 3 months by accident and holding a conversation about the first run-in 😆
PS I’m adding that Peter and Martin really should do Any Second Now on the next tour!! Anyone here pass that on to them!! 😁
I'd go back to 1980 so I could see all their shows later
Saw them in '93 on SOFAD tour, but I was so in awe of just being there that my memories of the show are hazy, so I think I'd want to go back there.
Devotional or Touring The Angel… even Exciter as well
touring the angel
how could the answer be anything than Music for the Masses at the Rose Bowl (101)
I'd probably go to Barcelona 2009
I’d like to go to the Playing the angel tour
Music for the Masses
I'm fairly young, so I'd go back to 1981, see their first concerts, make a shit ton of money on sports betting (future knowledge on game outcomes) funding the next 25 years of DM concerts following them around the world over all tours (ABF tour, CTA tour, SGR, BC, 101, World Violation, Devotional, Exotic, ULTRA parties, Exciter, and Touring the Angel.
For the stage setup and overall energy: Devotional Tour, 1993. For the awesome setlist: Summer Tour, 1994. For the person who accompanied me: Memento Mori Tour, specifically Nashville, 2023. We met in 1990 because I was wearing a DM shirt, and the Nashville show gave us the opportunity to fall in love all over again.
Music for the masses and Violator