On this day in 1990, Depeche Mode’s World Violation Tour rolled into the UK capital for the first of three nights.
Nine months on from the release of Violator, this was the first “home-town” gig for the band after almost half a year on the road.
The first two gigs, Monday 19th and Tuesday 20th of November, were quickly sold out and a third was added for the Friday night (23rd).
On the eve of turning 18, it was my first Depeche gig. I went with two friends from college on the Monday night.
A work colleague and I inevitably splashed out far too much money to also buy tickets from a “tout” for the extra gig at the end of the week.
Memorable would be an understatement.
The set-list on the night went as follows:
- Kaleid
- World In My Eyes
- Halo
- Shake The Disease
- Everything Counts
- Master And Servant
- Never Let Me Down Again
- Waiting For The Night
- I Want You Now (Martin solo)
- World Full Of Nothing (Martin solo)
- Clean
- Stripped
- Policy Of Truth
- Enjoy The Silence
- Strangelove
- Personal Jesus
- Black Celebration
- A Question Of Time
- Behind The Wheel
- Route 66
The fantastic people over at the Depeche Mode Classic Photos and Videos page on Facebook have kindly said we can share these images. Thx, folks!
I too had just turned 18 and I was I first full UK tour of 6 dates. Had a fantastic time back stage and at the end of tour party in the hotel in Birmingham. Such fantastic memories!
I went to the final violator show at the nec Birmingham on 27 November 1990. I was 17 at the time and went alone, (sad i know). My biggest regret was not picking up a wind up camera from the standing area floor that was unknowingly and accidently being kicked about by fans walking out minutes after the end of the show. I’m sure there would’ve been priceless photos of Gahan and Co and after nearly 27 years, I’m yet to see a single photo of DM’s final violator show from that memorable night.
@adeeb – that would’ve been amazing if you’d got it!!