Touring the Angel
Touring the Angel is Depeche Mode's October 2005 to October 2006 world tour, featuring concerts spanning over 20 countries and featuring hits from their entire career. It promotes their 2005 album, Playing the Angel.
Touring the Angel was officially announced in Düsseldorf, Germany on June 16, 2005, however only European dates were announced. They went on sale soon afterwards, and most dates, especially in Germany, sold out quickly, despite the concerts not happening there for at least a half a year. The American dates weren't announced until mid-September.
Touring the Angel officially began November 3rd, 2005 in St. Petersburg, Florida. It was supposed to start in Ft. Lauderdale, the day before, but was cancelled due to the after-effects of Hurricane Wilma.
Also, in New York City on October 28, the band played a special rehearsal show for invited guests only, mostly winners of worldwide radio station and internet contests. It was nicknamed "Starting the Angel".
The American concerts were mostly stadiums with floor seating. However, the Las Vegas, Nevada and Atlantic City, New Jersey concerts were at small clubs with General Admission standing. However, they were very expensive, and obviously, sold out on day one. Originally, there were only one Los Angeles and New York City shows, but they too, sold out quickly (along with San Diego), so two additional Southern California dates were added, along with another New York date.
The band have also announced a Summer tour, called the "Open Air" leg of "Touring the Angel", since most of the venues are outdoors. It includes an extended Europe leg, new American dates, Latin America, and Israel. It also includes several festivals. The setlist will not be the same as the "Touring the Angel" setlist.
Director Blue Leach filmed the two Milan shows in February. The footage will be compiled to a DVD movie in September 2006.
Set
The set is very innovative compared to other Depeche Mode sets. Basically, the keyboards were put in alien-like pods which had flashing lights that could do various colors. Instead of previous sets, where the band would use regular synthesizers, they put two M-Audio Radium16 USB MIDI Controllers, behind each pod. At the left, there was also a big gray ball, with various words on it ("Sex", "Pain", "Angel" among others), some of which would light up depending on the song. In the middle of the ball was a black bar, which flashed various words and pictures, depending on the song.
There was also a curtain at the right with the Feather Creature from the Playing the Angel cover. At the beginning of "John the Revelator" the curtain is dropped. Replacing it are three screens, which featured distorted images of the band's current movements. Sometimes they were placed with movies, drawings, or pictures. Eventually, there were four screens, then five, and finally six.
At the very left was a small alien pod and in front of the pod was a microphone. Normally, Martin Gore would stand in front of the microphone and play the guitar and perform backup vocals, but for the more electronic songs, he'd get behind the small pod and play keyboards.
To the right of the small pod was the drum set, played by Christian Eigner. To the right of that was a big alien pod, featuring Peter Gordeno. To the right of that was another pod, played by band member Andrew Fletcher. In the center was a solo mic, played by lead singer David Gahan, although sometimes Martin Gore would perform songs, and he'd get the center.
The set was designed by Anton Corbijn.
There's a number that scrolls by on the gray ball throughout the concert, with what appears to be a Freecall [toll-free] UK number, 0800 342 436. Ringing that number in the UK says "Stop typing, number moved".
Current Dates
North America (United States & Canada)
Europe
| Date | City/Country | Venue | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 January 2006 | Dresden, Germany | Messehalle | 9. Damaged People Encore 1: Somebody |
| 15 January 2006 | Hamburg, Germany | Color Line Arena | 9. Macro Encore 1: Somebody |
| 16 January 2006 | Hamburg, Germany | Color Line Arena | 9. Damaged People Encore 1: A Question of Lust |
| 18 January 2006 | Berlin, Germany | Velodrom | 9. Macro Encore 1: Somebody |
| 20 January 2006 | Dusseldorf, Germany | LTU Arena | 9. Macro Encore 1: Somebody |
| 21 January 2006 | Dusseldorf, Germany | LTU Arena | 9. Damaged People Encore 1: A Question of Lust |
| 23 January 2006 | Prague, Czech Republic | Sazka Arena | 9. Macro Encore 1: Somebody |
| 24 January 2006 | Erfurt, Germany | Messehalle | 9. Damaged People Encore 1: Somebody |
| 26 January 2006 | Frankfurt, Germany | Festhalle | 9. Macro Encore 1: Shake the Disease |
| 29 January 2006 | Antwerp, Belgium | Sports Paleis | 9. Macro Encore 1: Shake the Disease |
| 31 January 2006 | Geneva, Switzerland | Arena | 9. Macro Encore 1: Shake the Disease |
| 1 February 2006 | Marseille, France | Le Dome | 9. Macro Encore 1: Shake the Disease |
| 3 February 2006 | Toulouse, France | Zenith | 9. Damaged People Encore 1: Somebody |
| 4 February 2006 | Lyon, France | Tony Garnier | 9. Damaged People Encore 1: Shake the Disease |
| 6 February 2006 | Madrid, Spain | Palacio Deportes | 9. Damaged People Encore 1: Shake the Disease |
| 7 February 2006 | Madrid, Spain | Palacio Deportes | 9. Macro Encore 1: A Question of Lust |
| 8 February 2006 | Lisbon, Portugal | Pavilhao Atlantico | 9. Damaged People Encore 1: Shake the Disease |
| 10 February 2006 | Barcelona, Spain | Palau Sant Jordi | 9. Macro Encore 1: Shake the Disease |
| 11 February 2006 | Barcelona, Spain | Palau Sant Jordi | 9. Damaged People Encore 1: A Question of Lust |
| 14 February 2006 | Munich, Germany | Olympiahalle | 9. Damaged People Encore 1: Shake the Disease |
| 15 February 2006 | Munich, Germany | Olympiahalle | 9. Macro Encore 1: A Question of Lust |
| 16 February 2006 | Vienna, Austria | Stadthalle | 9. Damaged People Encore 1: Shake the Disease |
| 18 February 2006 | Milan, Italy | Forum | 9. Damaged People Encore 1: Shake the Disease |
| 19 February 2006 | Milan, Italy | Forum | 9. Macro Encore 1: A Question of Lust |
| 21 February 2006 | Paris, France | Bercy | 9. Macro Encore 1: Shake the Disease |
| 22 February 2006 | Paris, France | Bercy | 9. Damaged People Encore 1: A Question of Lust |
| 23 February 2006 | Paris, France | Bercy | 9. Leave in Silence Encore 1: Somebody |
| 25 February 2006 | Copenhagen, Denmark | Parken Stadium | 9. Damaged People Encore 1: Shake the Disease |
| 26 February 2006 | Gothenburg, Sweden | Scandinavium | 9. Damaged People Encore 1: Shake the Disease |
| 28 February 2006 | Oslo, Norway | Spektrum | 9. Damaged People Encore 1: Shake the Disease |
| 1 March 2006 | Stockholm, Sweden | Globen | 9. Macro Encore 1: Leave in Silence |
| 3 March 2006 | St. Petersburg, Russia | SKK | 9. Damaged People Encore 1: Shake the Disease |
| 4 March 2006 | Moscow, Russia | Luzhniki Sports Palace | 9. Macro Encore 1: Leave in Silence |
| 6 March 2006 | Helsinki, Finland | Hartwall Arena | 9. Damaged People Encore 1: Shake the Disease |
| 9 March 2006 | Stuttgart, Germany | Schleyerhalle | 9. Damaged People Encore 1: Shake the Disease |
| 10 March 2006 | Friedrichshafen, Germany | Messehalle | 9. Damaged People Encore 1: Shake the Disease |
| 11 March 2006 | Mannheim, Germany | SAP Arena | 9. Macro Encore 1: Leave in Silence |
| 13 March 2006 | Graz, Austria | Stadthalle | 9. Damaged People Encore 1: Shake the Disease |
| 14 March 2006 | Katowice, Poland | Spodek | 9. Damaged People Encore 1: Shake the Disease |
| 16 March 2006 | Tallinn, Estonia | Saku Arena | 9. Macro Encore 1: Leave in Silence |
| 17 March 2006 | Riga, Latvia | Arena Riga | 9. Damaged People Encore 1: Leave in Silence |
| 18 March 2006 | Vilnius, Lithuania | Siemens Arena | 9. Damaged People Encore 1: A Question of Lust |
| 21 March 2006 | Budapest, Hungary | Papp Laszlo Arena | 9. Damaged People Encore 1: Shake the Disease |
| 22 March 2006 | Zagreb, Croatia | Dom Sportova 1 | 9. Damaged People Encore 1: Shake the Disease |
| 24 March 2006 | Amnéville, France | Le Galaxie | 9. Macro Encore 1: Shake the Disease |
| 25 March 2006 | Douai, France | Gayant Expo | 9. Damaged People Encore 1: A Question of Lust |
| 26 March 2006 | Rotterdam, The Netherlands | Ahoy | 9. Macro Encore 1: Shake the Disease |
| 28 March 2006 | Zurich, Switzerland | Hallenstadion | 9. Damaged People Encore 1: Shake the Disease |
| 30 March 2006 | Manchester, England | Evening News Arena | 9. Damaged People Encore 1: Shake the Disease |
| 31 March 2006 | Birmingham, England | NEC | 9. Macro Encore 1: Leave in Silence |
| 2 April 2006 | London, England | Wembley Arena | 9. Damaged People Encore 1: Leave in Silence |
| 3 April 2006 | London, England | Wembley Arena | 9. Macro Encore 1: Shake the Disease |
Setlist
There were seven songs from the album it promotes, Playing the Angel. Every other song was a single, which has caused some criticism from fans who wanted more cult classics. Also to note, only one song from their previous albums Exciter and Ultra were played each.
The setlist spanned songs from their 1981 debut Speak and Spell to the present, and included at least one song from each album, except A Broken Frame which usually had none (until February 23rd, when Martin did an acoustic version of "Leave in Silence") and Some Great Reward, which only has "Sometimes" played occasionally.
Normally, the setlist for Depeche Mode shows are consistent. However, sometimes songs are switched with other songs, usually the Martin Gore vocal songs. Exceptions are noted above in "Setlist Notes". All songs are sung by David Gahan unless otherwise noted.
- I Want It All [Interlude] (Instrumental Intro)
- A Pain That I'm Used To
- John the Revelator
- A Question of Time
- Policy of Truth
- Precious
- Walking in My Shoes
- Suffer Well*
- Damaged People/Macro (sung by Martin Gore)
- Home (sung by Martin Gore)
- I Want It All*
- The Sinner In Me
- I Feel You
- Behind the Wheel
- World in My Eyes
- Personal Jesus
- Enjoy the Silence
Encore 1
- Somebody/A Question of Lust/Shake the Disease/Leave in Silence (sung by Martin Gore)
- Just Can't Get Enough**
- Everything Counts
Encore 2
- Never Let Me Down Again
- Goodnight Lovers (only non Playing the Angel song to have it's live debut at Touring the Angel)
- All songs written by Martin Gore, except those with a * next to it, which were written by David Gahan, and ** which were written by Vince Clarke.
Setlist Stats
The following (except "Previous Tour", "Biggest Revival", "Most recent" and "Debut") are judging from the main setlist. If there are songs that were played that were not on the setlist, then they are not included except in (Parenthesses).
- Songs from Playing the Angel: 7 (8)
- Songs from Exciter: 1
- Songs from Ultra: 1
- Songs from Songs of Faith and Devotion: 2
- Songs from Violator: 4
- Songs from Music for the Masses: 2
- Songs from Black Celebration: 1 (2)
- Songs from Some Great Reward: 0 (1)
- Songs from Construction Time Again: 1
- Songs from A Broken Frame: 0 (1)
- Songs from Speak and Spell: 1
- Songs not from a studio album: 0 (1)
- Songs played at the Exciter Tour: 6
- Total songs (not including intro): 21
- Biggest revivals: "Leave in Silence", not played since 1986 (20 years) + "Shake The Disease", not played since 1990 (16 years)
- Most recent non-current-album song: "Goodnight Lovers"
- Non-Current-Album debut: "Goodnight Lovers"
- All singles played from non-current-album: "Violator"
KROQ Acoustic Christmas
On December 11, 2005 Depeche Mode performed at the KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas festival, headlining the second night and performing with acts like The White Stripes and Coldplay.
Some of the songs played were done acoustically, and thus sounded very different from the performances during the actual Touring the Angel shows. The team of five were the same, and Dave sung vocals except where noted.
The show was streamed on KROQ's website.
Setlist:
- Personal Jesus (Acoustic)
- Walking In My Shoes (Acoustic)
- Precious (Acoustic)
- I Want It All
- A Question Of Lust (Sung by Martin)
- Sinner In Me
- I Feel You (an error happened at the beginning of the song, causing a long delay before the song was restarted)
- John the Revelator
- Behind The Wheel
- Enjoy The Silence
Encore
- Shake The Disease (Acoustic, Sung by Martin)
- Never Let Me Down Again
Open Air
North America
- There was a planned concert in El Paso, Texas on May 2, but it was cancelled due to a scheduling conflict.
Europe and Asia
Setlist
Standard Setlist:
- I Want It All [Interlude] (Instrumental Intro)
- A Pain That I'm Used To
- A Question of Time
- Suffer Well
- Precious
- Walking in My Shoes
- Stripped
- Home (sung by Martin Gore)
- Blue Dress/Judas/It Doesn't Matter Two (sung by Martin Gore)
- In Your Room
- Nothing's Impossible/The Sinner In Me
- John the Revelator
- I Feel You
- Behind the Wheel
- World in My Eyes
- Personal Jesus
- Enjoy the Silence
- Shake the Disease/Leave In Silence (sung by Martin Gore)
- Photographic/Just Can't Get Enough
- Never Let Me Down Again
Kansas City Setlist:
- I Want It All [Interlude] (Instrumental Intro)
- A Pain That I'm Used To
- A Question of Time
- Suffer Well
- Precious
- Walking in My Shoes
- Stripped
- Home (sung by Martin Gore)
- It Doesn't Matter Two (sung by Martin Gore)
- Leave In Silence (sung by Martin Gore)
- A Question Of Lust (sung by Martin Gore)
- Somebody (sung by Martin Gore)
- Damaged People (sung by Martin Gore)
This setlist had to be played since Dave Gahan suddenly became ill. Martin Gore continued the set afterwards.
Performers
Depeche Mode
- David Gahan - Lead vocals
- Martin Gore - Guitar, Keyboards, Backup vocals, Lead vocals
- Andrew Fletcher - Keyboards
Assistance
- Peter Gordeno - Keyboards
- Christian Eigner - Drums
Opening Acts
- The Bravery (First US leg and Europe leg)
- The Raveonettes (First US leg)
- She Wants Revenge (Second US leg)
- Scissor Sisters (Second US leg, Mountain View only)
- Goldfrapp (Second Europe leg)