BURBANK, CA. (Sire/ Reprise) - DEPECHE MODE's "Touring The Angel" was one of the most successful, highly grossing and critically acclaimed tours of the last year. Hailed as the greatest live performances of their career, it can be re-lived
September 26 (Sire/Reprise) when it's released as a special edition 3-disc digipak set, featuring the full-length live show and a host of exclusive extras on two DVDs and a live audio CD. The Milan concerts will also be available in a single disc DVD package.
Directed by Blue Leach, who has previously worked with R.E.M, it was recorded at Milan's Fila Forum on February 18 and 19, 2006 and captures the band at their live best with a pulsing sound, electric stage presence and ecstatic audience.
"Touring the Angel was probably the most enjoyable, rewarding live show we've ever done," says DAVE GAHAN. "The new material was just waiting to be played live. It took on a life of its own. With the energy of the crowds, it just came to life."
"It had been four years since the last tour, so we were ready to take the album on the road," adds ANDY 'FLETCH' FLETCHER. "For us, everything came together-it was one of our definitive live moments, especially as we got to perform older, equally special tracks."
The first DVD features over 20 stunning live songs, including the recent hit singles "Precious," "A Pain That I'm Used To," "Suffer Well" and "John The Revelator," plus the classic "Just Can't Get Enough," "I Feel You," "Enjoy The Silence." It also includes two bonus live songs: 1986's smash hit "A Question of Lust" and PLAYING THE ANGEL's "Damaged People."
DVD 2 features a range of exclusive extras, together with a 20-minute documentary featuring Anton Corbijn, who directed the video for "Suffer Well" and created the tour's six stage screens, which also appear here. In addition, there are five bonus live performances of fan-favorites "Behind The Wheel," "The Sinner In Me," "Walking In My Shoes," "World In My Eyes" and "Never Let Me Down Again."
"We worked with Anton Corbijn on the stage designs, which gave a continuity from the videos," adds GAHAN. "It was definitely felt like one of our strongest tours-both musically and visually."
Additionally, DVD 2 boasts the official tour announcement from Germany, summer 2005, and the previously unreleased PLAYING THE ANGEL electronic press kit. Meanwhile, the audio CD features over 30 minutes of stunning live tracks from the concert.
The European leg of the world tour followed 24 American dates and featured four UK shows-including two at London's Wembley Arena. It sold out 69 arena dates throughout 30 countries, with 800,000 tickets sold in Europe alone, and was their first since 2001's "Exciter Tour," where they played to nearly two million people. In total, DEPECHE MODE's "Touring The Angel" reached 2.5 million people across 30 countries.
International sales of PLAYING THE ANGEL have surpassed two million, seeing them reach Number 1 in eighteen countries, plus Top Ten in the UK, US and Canada. The album has been certified multiple platinum and gold in 20 countries.
