Full, in-depth and honest review of Depeche Mode's live gig at the London O2 Area on 22 January 2024 as part of their Memento Mori World Tour.

I saw them 2 days after the opening in London in Birmingham and the Birmingham concert was absolutely awesome. Dave’s vocals and Martin’s especially were fantastic. The atmosphere celebratory. I’ve seen DM live since Violator days and the MM concert was one of the best I’ve seen!

DM accompanied me thru' a terrible time last year with the loss of my Dad. Id never seen them before, so almost two weeks ago in Dublin was an Apex of all the emotions playing and moving within. The show was phenomonal. I felt like I was on a dark, distant planet when "Cosmos" weaved its dark magic in the air, and the gig held me there all the whole way. I was levitating for the whole gig, I was utterly blown away and could barely even applaud when, the back to back brilliance of Black Celebration and Stripped were unveiled. New material was excellent, it worked wonderful with everything. I was in another world. I Loved it all.

Fletch. Was a solid. He was the rock for both Dave & Martin. Fletch brought a sense of cohesiveness to the band and the performances. It didn't matter if he didn't do much musically, but his presence brought so much character, charm and depth to the band, that can never be replaced or forgotten. RIP Fletch. We miss you. ❣

So sorry Vaughn for your loss❤

I would like to have seen if DM would have honored Brian in their live shows. He was important for their visual appearance in the 80s. Maybe they could have used his pictures from Construction Time phase for the projections for Everything Counts.

I went to see them in Manchester as well as Twickenham. Manchester was a fantastic gig, Dave even said to the crowd "you are so much better than London". I love My Cosmos Is Mine, great track, I don't find it depressing at all, it's full of atmosphere. I've been fortunate enough to see DM live on every tour since 1982. I do have to say I miss the full electronic experience, I would sooner have a drum machine over a live kit and I'm actually a drummer... But that's my opinion. If you look at the Vinegar Street sessions, I think that format would work great live and be quite refreshing for both band and audience.

I want DM to be an electronic band not a rock band and will always remember them as such ❤❤❤❤🌹 Vaughn, why don't you submit an application for a DM production manager for real, you never know I'm not kidding! RIP Fletch Thank you so much for making this video! I agree with everything you said especially regarding drumming 🙅‍♀🤷‍♀

God how many fortunes I would give to see on stage those 3 Emaxes, no Kristian, no Gordino. Ok maybe 3 Kronoses, no argue on that. And imagine Alan Wilder again on stage. Just Martin ,Alan and Dave and 3 samplers on stage. And imagin them play the songs with the original electronic drum sounds and original stucture. And only "Walking in my shoes" and "In your room" would be played with live drums by Alan. Just like it was back in the day .Oh, wishfull thinking..

this Gig review was more like an Christian Eigner Roast and I loved it

I agree with your comment about Fletch. For so much that was said about his lack of involvement, his presence certainly is missed, in PR things (interviews, fan interactions, etc) and even on the live shows. He might had been just a bloke clapping on the side of the stage in certain songs but even that is missed.

Your "Louis Armstrong condemnation" version needs a proper release! Do it!

I love My Cosmos Is Mine. I know what's this song is about and it's crazy that I'm living through this time right now. It is happening. DM do what they should and if people don't care and come to the show for dancing from beginning to the end - they just close their eyes, cuz they're fine and everything is alright in their world. Other case Just Can't Get Enough! What a genius - not annoying at all - song it is! Yep... soundtrack of 2022+ So, Memento Mori, people. Nothing matter more then this, unfortunetely. This tour is little bit more then just music, want you or not. I'm proud of them.

I agree devotional tour was the best sound of Depeche Mode live performances

When Condemnation first came out Dave was singing from a place of extreme darkness and pain. So the song worked. He has since overcome all his demons, so that is why the song doesn't have the same kick & hit that it used too.

Crikey I’ve missed you on KZfaq! Love your Depeche Mode stuff. Was gutted when you moved to Patreon (VGTV) but love seeing you back here more.

Have they ever played The Sun and the Rainfall live? Can you imagine the excitement if they dropped something so unexpected into the set list as that?

Been to several shows of this tour and I have to agree with almost everything you mentioned in this video. However, for now I've attended just one gig of 4th leg in Dublin, which was way exceptional because of the venue itself. Dublin's 3Arena feels very intimate and the sound was absolutely amazing compared to all previous ones, even that messy line in Behind The Wheel sounded actually pretty okay 😀 ..and the band seemed to be in perfect mood and condition. Looking forward to both Prague shows now. Cheers!

For whatever reason, i always gravitate towards (Before We Drown) & (Never Let Me Go) from Momento Mori Album.

So sorry to hear of Brian's passing! Thanks for keeping it going Vaughn, even when I don't see your posts right away. You are appreciated!

Vaughn, I have seen this show 3 times, outdoor in Dublin, In New York and most recently in Dublin. The Dublin 3 Arena gig was epic, there was an alchemy between band and audience and it was incredible. It was clear the band were enjoying it. DM have a connection with Dublin, so you need to come here the next time!

I went to both evenings at the 02. On the second evening they played Before We Drown - which is my favourite track on MM, and they also dropped World in my eyes (!) for Behind the wheel. Both evenings were great. But I totally agree with the My Cosmos is mine super long intro approach to the start of the show. It's almost like it's there to allow Dave to warm up his voice. The only thing I don't like is, having seen them live since the CTA Tour, is that I can predict every 'Ad lib' that Dave does. But, whatever, they were great nights, and maybe their last tour.

DM last great tour was 1993/4 with SOFAD. They are just a parody of their old lineup now. Most of their arrangements are just drowned out by Eigner bashing the drums like a toddler having a tantrum. The 2 major problems they have are that they are trying to play live drums over tracks that were originally written with drum machines, and secondly they massively miss Alans live arrangements.

Great honest review Vaughn! I saw them here in my hometown, Detroit, back in November. When Martin came out he did a question of lust, and dressed in black. I just about lost my mind (in a good way of course). I thought they sounded fantastic! My only complaint is that they could (like you said) lose John the revelator, and a pain that im used to. Nobody cares about those songs. I want to see a few some great reward tracks in there instead!

Oh no. I'm so sorry to hear about Brian. I had a brief email exchange with him about a year ago when I was buying one of his prints. It was so great that he was accessible like that and that he worked with his channel in quite a unique way. I'm glad that he did and that people like me knew more about him and his work because of it. I wish you and his family all the best x

It was great singing along to DM with you! Fun night! I wish you were in charge of the set list! Love your change suggestions! I wish the O2 only held 12,000, supposedly the capacity is 20,000. I know that the floor was packed more than any other arena I've ever been to!

Saw them play Photographic instead of Just cant get enough at Wireless '06. Was my 1st and only DM gig. Girlfriend was very upset that they dropped Just cant get enough! ("You said they always play it..." :)

So the Jacques Lu Cont version really has become a pain that we're used to!

Great video Vaughn! I'm sad that 'Wrong' has been left out of the setlist :( Loved that track

DM best drummers: 1. Alan Wilder 2. Drum Machine RIP Brian 🌹

I went to both nights at the O2 Arena. I thought DM were superb, especially on night 2. I screamed when they played Behind The Wheel! I thought Christian’s drumming was superb but each to their own. I had side seats for night 2 so my brother and I were super close to the stage. The sound from there was much clearer. I could hear the bass more. I had the best DM gig ever and I went to Twickenham which was really good but night 2 at the O2 was something else. Walking In My Shoes, It’s No Good, I Feel You, Behind The Wheel, Enjoy The Silence, NLMDA and Personal Jesus were my faves over both nights. It’s No Good and I Feel You are my tour faves. I was up in the gods for night one and I was up so high it felt like I was flying. My memory of being up that high headbanging to I Feel You and standing up for ETS and Personal Jesus will stay with me forever. I too would drop John The Revelator. I would love A Question of Time. I have given up all hope of Freelove being played but wouldn’t Never Let Me Go sound just brilliant live? I have no idea why they haven’t played it.

I love People are Good and that would have been great to begin the concert💯agreed!

The donkeys were in It's not good, but I would also like to know what was in Anton's mind.

I was just yesterday in the Barcelona show. I liked a lot, with some changes in the set list (they dropped John the Revelator). But when I entered the after show party and Christmas Island was on (just as you entered a sinister hell-cave) you realize how different could be the intro and the show...

I can say that snare is not just 3% cause also gives the track melodic information not just drum hitting, those are for sure the missing elements from DM shows after Wilder

I expected you to gush about the show. I'm glad you keep it real! Cheers

Hello Brother, I was at the same show and I thought it was very well done. My previous DM live gig was Touring The Universe was I felt wasn’t a great album or tour. Whilst I agree with a lot of your criticisms I disagree with others but that’s fine, it’s subjective. I’m just grateful they are still recording and touring new material, I also feel DM is in a no win situation. If they kept churning out Violator 1,2, & 3 they’d get slaughtered for it and if they try to be more experimental people have a go. On a positive, I want to thank you for highlighting Christian’s over-drumming which was horrible on Touring The Universe (see middle section of ETS) 🫣. This tour, they reeled him in. Lastly Mrs Eunson, how can you not be a Depeche Mode fan? 😳 🖤

Condemnation lounge bar version, LOL. Great video, thanks!

Re: the drum kit: I can't imagine how In Your Room sounded with the snare drum compressed?! The snare and bass drop are my favourite part of that version! So crisp; clean and solid sounding. (Much prefer it to the album version because of that rhythm section alone.)

I love this concert review.. I have seen DM a couple of times. Find them all a bit similar nowadays. I looked at some vids from this year and i can understand your comments. But still long live DM and MM is a great album 🙂

I have to say i was thrilled to see Black Celebration live again yes different from when i saw it on the. Violator tour but the atmosphere was amazing amd its one of my sons favourites so he was thrilled ❤😊

The Eigner mimick at 32’00’’ is a must 😂😂 Can’t stop laughing! Buh buh buh buh Looks like Animal in the Muppet Show😂

Incomprensible how they didn’t include older hits in favor of the ones no one cares for

Depeche Mode ia not The same Band since Song of faith and Devotion 😁👍

I absolutely LLLOOOVVVVEEE People Are Good and Always You. Regretfully, they haven’t played them live.

Saw the Manchester gig and felt they were on top of their game.. Given I was pretty disappointed in all their albums from exciter onwards (up until memento mori which I love) I was VERY happy with the setlist (ESPECIALLY getting Somebody and Behind the Wheel.. I appreciate why some people would prefer the drum track to live drums but I actually prefer the live kit but that's just my opinion. I do wonder if the tinkering of the setlist to add fan service might be leading up to a glasto announcement..............

Twickenham was immense. The crowd was amazing as always and the music and performances was on point

Thank you VG for all you do. I am terribly sorry to hear about Brian's passing and can only imagine what you're going through. On DM's live performances, I now prefer the small tribute bands honouring them and their legacy. I recently caught Strangelove and couldn't be happier.

I was at the Birmingham gig with my son, it was amazing, I agree some songs they could drop, would love to have heard a question of time and Master and servant, the stage and lights were fantastic, we went to Twickenham some songs I thought were better at Twickenham and vice versa, I thought Stripped was amazing at Twickenham not so good in brum, Ghosts again I thought sounded so much better in Birmingham, I saw them on the Violator tour back in the day as well, all in all fantastic, great memories and just wonderful to have my son with me, respect your honesty VG ❤

Caught them at Amsterdam Twickenham & Birmingham, wish they would've popped Rush in & I would love to see them open with higher love again, an absolute stunner of a track

I really like your honest and no bs analysis. Keep it up Vaughn.

I like ‘My Cosmos is Mine’. Now you know someone who does. 😉

Bring back the drum machine!

I’m so sorry for the loss of your dear friend. The book you made together is outstanding and I am enjoying it immensely. ❤

I saw them in London too, apart from My Cosmos Is Mine, I sang my heart out to the rest of the show. The atmosphere was amazing.

Saw them in Glasgow a couple of weeks ago and thoroughly enjoyed it, still sounded great.

Hi Vaughn, great to see you on here, i thought you're looking well, and thank you for your time, opinions and thoughts, I had several laugh out loud moments, and enjoyed hearing how you feel. I hope you cleaned up the microphone you spat over😅. On another subject I am sorry about the sad loss of Brian . I look forward to hearing future podcasts. Congrats on performing with Mesh. Sadly I couldn't get to see you all due to ill health but wonder if they'll be a new album out this year? Best wishes and take good care of you and your family xxx

Thanks for your review👍🏼 Cool picture at 14:35

12:50 the last, good walking in my shoes version live i heard was from the 2009 o2 arena tour of the universe tour, where it starts with that beating drums and then it explodes into the real song.

I saw them at the O2 on the 27th and thought they were amazing, took me days to come down from the high. We all see things differently but I loved it. I'm just glad that they are still around and making music after 40 years. Their age is surely reflected in their performance and new music. They are no longer young men.

Momento is an absolute stellar album! Saw them at the 3 arena dublin recently I was upfront to left of stage only complaint was the sound wasn't great.

Thank you,for a great review. I totally agree with you perspective regarding opening with the start of my “My Cosmos is Mine” . “People are good” is really missing on the live set. Keep up the good interesting view from another Artist.

You are so right when Behind the Wheel started it sounded so good, with Anton video and Alan on the screen, but then Gordeno started playing that cheap sounding Casio preset and my ears wanted to bleed

Appreciate your review, i saw them last year in Oslo and I loved every minute of the show. But then again I am a big fan 😅❤ and it is my PERSONAL opinion.

Fly on the windscreen would have been a great song to open the concerts too. Do you think that, or why they don't sing some of the songs that we all have associated DM when Alan Wilder was part of the band, and love so much have anything to do with paying Royalties' to Alan Wilder? I read in an interview where AW had said that he gets 25% of the Royalties. I wonder if song selection have anything to do with that? Not sure how Royalties and music works.

As always Vaughn your honesty in your review is refreshing. Couldn't agree more with My Cosmos Is Mine. Dreadful opener. It is what it is now I guess. Off to see The Devout next week in Edinburgh where they play for 3 hours and don't play anything after 1997. More my cup of tea these days. DM 84-98 though will never be beaten both in the studio and live.

I agree with every assessment 100%

I was also at that gig on the 22nd and I agree with you that it felt a bit flat for some reason. I too thought the Twickenham show would have lost something due to the sound escaping in the vast outdoor arena and I was looking forward to the more intimate indoor setting. I don't know if it was DM being a bit off coming back from a break, or the crowd wasn't as good as it was last year, but if i was to rate it I would say it was a 7.5 out of 10, whereas Twickenham was a solid 9. Don't get me wrong it was a very good show as always, just the lack of energy meant I couldn't describe it as amazing. I'm a bit sad to hear Martin did Home the week after, would have loved to have seen that or Shake the Disease instead of Strangelove. One point I will disagree on is them playing It's No Good. But I am Ultra fan boy... 🙂

Dear Vaughn, I like your suggestions and I fully share your opinion. Could you be the production manager at least for the next Paris otherwise I will have too much beers to drink. Cheers.

I love Depeche Mode but I must say that if you compare now Depeche Mode and Pet Shop Boys PSB have done much more brilliant records during 1995-2024 and singles every year and they have gorgeous concerts even now... When Alan left Depeche Mode it was the beginning of the end...

I definitely agree they should change their set list and do it radically even, I've stopped going to DM shows because it's so boring hearing all the same songs more or less every time. Who really needs to hear Personal Jesus, Enjoy the silence, Just can't get enough etc you know all the usual suspects. I would love hearing a song like Fly on the windscreen, Blasphemous rumours or Sacred, and from latter albums songs like Always or Ghost and so on. :/

Fletch had a more grass roots connection to people. Dave and Martin have been in their billionaire's bubble in Santa Barbara a bit too long, methinks...

Very honest review. What can I say, I would have said the same thing. And by the way, Black Celebration was transposed semi-tone lower as well as Stripped from original on the record D-minor.

What do you think about Before We Drown playeed live these days? :)

About the concert/ the tour as such; I´ll "only" attend two concerts with the boys on this tour. On one hand this is due to changes in my private life on the other hand it´s mostly due to the astronomic ticket prices. At least in Germany they have reached a level much to high.

The version of everything counts on thr devotional tour is not found anywhere except the concert video,what an exceptional arrangement by Alan

Great review George! Next month, I'm going to see the guys live in Lisbon, March 19, 2024!! :)

Having seen 2 shows on the 3rd leg (Atlanta and Toronto) I wish you’d spoken about the performances and less about the set list and sequencing. I found between the two show I saw the crowd energy played a huge role. Atlanta crowd was so muted but in Toronto the entire venue was singing along with Ghosts Again (just think about that - the recall on new material). Honestly, I wouldn’t care if they played the same set list if they came back again to NA. Plus - you do have to acknowledge that if you change the set list then you hav to revisit the graphics / supporting visuals (because as production manager that costs money.)

I’m sorry for your loss VG.

2 snares were used for policy of truth by CE. The small concert tom was triggered to sound like a snare.

I watched their 1998 Cologne gig the other day and was impressed at how great all the songs sounded -- despite being Alan-less. (Tracks like It's No Good have never sounded better.)

My Cosmos is mine is a bold song Il do love it and I find very exciting they start their shows with that particular tune

Not the first time you've raised very valid points regarding the drum sounds. They do sometimes detract severely from the songs. Not sure how this isn't evident to those producing the live sound, band included.

I respect your HONEST opinioN! Love, A LOYAL DM FAN since 1984

I extend my deepest sympathies for your loss, and my heartfelt condolences go out to you and his family. On the topic of Cristian's drumming, I've noticed a remarkable improvement during this tour, reminiscent of the drumming on the singles tour. I had the privilege of attending four shows with floor seats in Las Vegas and Los Angeles, closing out the US leg. Although I would have cherished the opportunity to hear "People are Good," unfortunately, it wasn't performed live. Let's please lose " A Pain that Used To" I agree LOL, please replace with "A Question of Time" ! "Condemnation" Las Vegas lounge version. LOL The overall concert mix and sound were truly extraordinary, creating an epic experience, much enjoyable than the Spirit Tour. I thoroughly enjoyed the Momento Mori video review, capturing the essence of the great concert. Keep up the great video work my friend.

Whether you went to San Antonio, Dallas or Houston (I was at Houston) the pre programmed from the center of the arena (had alllllllllll bass and drums) any synth production is droned out, again by ENORMOUS BASS and drums, it seemed so pre programmed… Anyone want 101 again?

I’m sorry to hear Brian passed away. You both had such interesting plans. I see many of your points Vaughn, and I also saw an interview somewhere Alan saying that the other DM members would have been okay releasing the demo version of the songs. The others seemed to have a very relaxed approach. And it made sense now that DM’s greatness was really a lot of Alan and Flood’s (am I spelling that right?) spending all the time in the studio arranging and working on the songs. Probably makes sense why DM didn’t win a lot of music awards because musically it wasn’t an entire band contribution. Anyway, i think you summed it up-that will do attitude.

Wow saw the 2nd show at London did that make you happy with the changes? 6 songs different to Twickenham

I saw them in Birmingham on the the 24th of January 2024 and I really loved it.

So happy they performed Before We Drown

Basically we have a Martin demo with zero layering.

I saw them for the fourth leg in Barcelona this time and I have to admit that I dropped a tiny bit of mushrooms before the show, so I was full-on by the time of the 2nd of 3rd song which had the donkey visuals in the background which left me in total dismay because my mushroomed mind had a hard time connecting the meaning of the donkeys in the desert visuals with the music and Dave’s voice and the effect was utterly comical. It was the first time I was laughing at a DM concert 🙈 but thank God I got more into it after that and I found them in a great shape, with beautiful energy and the crowd was powerful too ❤

I would have loved to be at the Depeche Mode concert last weekend in Copenhagen. BUT!!!! I would much rather have been to a Devotional Tour concert! Why? For a few obvious reasons as you also pointed out. The band still had Fletch alive and Alan Wilder was in the band. There were no annoying Rock drummer ruining many of the epic songs (lets face it normal drums is not what we associate DM's songs with)! They did not remix many of the songs with awful sounds from synth catalouges into pale imitations of the originals. They did clever arrangements that stood out (probably thanks to Alan Wilder) and Dave's voice was just much much better (duh age does play a role and thats ok). You are spot on!

I was a bit torn with this 4th leg. Saw them at Twickenham and really enjoyed it, but I decided to give these a miss. Would have liked to have seen Before we drown live, but not enough to spend a lot of money on another gig. Anyway, thanks Vaugn, very much agree with a lot of what you said. Apart from live Spirt, I liked it! 😁

Great analysis. I saw them twice during the North American 3rd leg and I found myself getting bored towards the end of the show. I agree with much of what you say and observed. The only thing is the Donkeys on the beach was the back video for “It’s No Good.” It was the jewel studded skulls for “Enjoy the Silence.”

I have seen DM three times during this tour i.e. Twickenham, Warsaw, and Łódź (Poland). Warsaw concert was by far the best, then London and Łódź, which was quite dissapointing. I have a feeling that they are bored by now and I have to admit by their own fault. They do not change much in their performance and play very easy arrangements musically. As I was born in 1980 I would so much prefer if they went back to their previous style. GET ALAN BACK ;) Having said that, I would love to see them for the 4th time :)

They played Behind the wheel in Antwerp and it was severely lacking the power snare on every second beat that makes that song what it is.

When I heard, that they would tour again after Fletch died I really expected something extraordinary and special. (Maybe even Alan's return...) But almost nothing has changed. (Besides new stage design) It's the same routine over and over again and the live drumming still doesn' t fit most of the songs (Imho). Even the "backing tracks" have been the same forever. And I agree with Vaughn, why the hell do they Play Songs like "John the revelator"?

Agree - Behind The Wheel was unforgivable. They did it in Copenhagen.

Hi Vaughn, did not see MM tour live this time, just saw it on YT and I agree with you regarding Condemnation. I guess they just tried to change D&M duet from Waiting for the night to something else and they choose Condemnation. But as you said, it doesn not work. It is a gospel - I think IMHO that original Alan's arrangement (album) and Devotional Tour 93 performance was about support singers (Hilda and Samantha) that together with Daves and Martins voice leads to magical experience. You can not sing gospel song by 2 voices. We all know that Condemnation is Dave's favourite song from that era, so maybe he just want to sing it live...... but compare to 93 it does not work (of course age, but mainly arrangemet)