SXSW Interview: Depeche Mode

Depeche Mode’s Dave Gahan in San Antonio, 2005 (by Gary Miller)

Preceding the March 26 release of its 13th album, Delta Machine, UK electro pioneers Depeche Mode have confirmed three seats at the Austin Convention Center on Wednesday, March 13, for a South by Southwest music festival interview.

In each contemporary synth track today there’s Depeche Mode. From Taylor Swift’s bass makeover to the flat Moog thump of the latest New Wave revivals, the new millennial electronic revolution owes plenty to the Essex-formed quintet.

The band drops by Austin before taking Europe in May, followed by a loosely planned North American tour. The details of Delta Machine remain sparse, but single and accompanying video “Heaven” play out a bare bones ballad from the “Personal Jesus” three. With nothing left to prove, the wizened OGs of electronica can still leave us reeling, calmly accepting and deriving joy from a secular existence.

The band’s never had much of a dry spell, but with a 33-year-and-growing career, it’s hard not to speculate that each move could be the last. For now, we’ll take them where we can and cross our fingers for an ACL headlining spot.

Here’s a few swaths of the Depeche Mode catalog from our archives.