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Delta Machine Tour - Tour Blog

A Look Back At The UK And Ireland Shows
author: Peter
date posted: November 22nd, 2013

We're now about two weeks into the winter leg of The Delta Machine Tour, and currently in Germany for the first show of the leg in mainland Europe. Not quite how it was planned, but more on that later.

After a few days and an incredible show in Abu Dhabi, the tour found it's way to more familiar grounds with two weeks touring the UK and Ireland.

With eight shows already done, and another to come in Birmingham, this is the band's most extensive UK/Ireland tour since 1987.

And that included stops in Belfast, a city where they haven't played since the Black Celebration Tour in 1986; and Leeds, which hasn't hosted a Depeche Mode show in over 30 years apparently!

Admittedly yours truly missed out on the Belfast stop, but we were back in full effect in time for Dublin. The O2 there is a fantastic venue (quite surreal with the purple lighting everywhere) and the crowd was fantastic. I seem to remember the Dublin show was also one of the stand outs on the last tour.

After that it was off to Scotland for a gig in Glasgow. The band spent the day rehearsing a few songs that have yet to make it into the set list, but fingers crossed they'll show up soon. It was really interesting seeing how they rework classic tracks on the fly.

Then we were off to Leeds for another cracking show. Rereading my notes from the night, I seem to have jotted down that the band haven't played there in 48 years... maths' -- apparently -- not my strong suit. Not a lot of lingering after the show, as everyone was straight off to Manchester for a day off.

Anton Corbijn came out for the Manchester show to take some photos. Always nice to see the tall Dutchman in action -- I feel like cordoning off the area and putting up a "Genius At Work" sign whenever he's around, but was told to not pursue that idea further.

Then the Lille show was cancelled -- a frustrating situation for all involved. Conditions at the venue were simply not safe, with (literally) freezing temperatures INSIDE on show day. So everyone flew back to the UK, and that brings us up to the London show.

London is always mental -- especially backstage -- with friends and families all coming out in force to see their boys in action. A lovely atmosphere, but quite hectic.

And that about brings us up to date. The string of German dates, including two dates in Berlin, should be fun.

We're putting up a few pictures from the UK/Ireland shows here, with more hitting the Tumblr page in the coming days.

I'll update you all again soon enough I expect.

Peter

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