Dave Gahan and the Soulsavers in Berlin or the Sun

I'm so tired from the last days, I can't write a long one today, but I didn't need many words for the last evening, too.

We was at 19:30 o'clock at the Tempodrom.

Great venue. Nearly 4000 fans scrimmaged in the hall and on the seating area. We stand in the middle, because in the first rows it was too closely.

I met so many friends this evening, unbelievable, I never wanted to be a part in the Depeche Mode family, but I accepted this and I felt in good hands.

The concert was great, Dave was in a wonderful temper, he love it to be in Berlin and he let it feel.

I spoke in my last entry about a good receipe for a very good concert and I saw the same like at the Heaven 17 concert. The atmosphere beetween Dave and the Soulsavers was fantastic and so Dave communicated this to the audience.

At the end of the Depeche Mode tour this important ingredient for the receipe was missing and I had a bitter aftertaste.

Here I had the same feeling like in London, I feel so happy in the moment, I'm in seventh heaven....

The set was the same. Best song of the evening: " the sun".

I call it " broken heart" music:

 " I'll never get old 

Not older than you

I'm a sinner, I'm a saint

I'm nothing without you

I feel your sorrow, I feel your pain

Behind the darkest clouds the sun always shines again

My sun" 

He sang it with such an unbelievable voice, he let us look into his soul.

The Berlin audience organised a great fan mission. See the pictures below. Dave was overwhelmed by this.

I'm not in the mood to write about the negative reactions from the german fans in the kind of : Not enough Depeche Mode, to quiete, to much guitars. 

It was an evening with Dave Gahan and the Soulsavers and not an evening with Depeche Mode.

Accept or leave!

After the concert we met in the hall the Soulsavers. They was very friendly and sign the ticket and made pictures with us. They was happy as we gave them a positive reaction. 

Then aftershow party until 4 o'clock, where I met so many friends.

Thank you my dears for this great evening, happy to know you all and see you again.

Hope it won't be the last time.

I slept only two hours and took my flight to Cologne.

Now dinner is ready, my sons cooked and we will have a nice DVD evening together.

Tomorrow I have to work and Monday Paris is calling.

Thank you for the feedback. So many people thanked me for writing the blog and it is a pleasure for me to spreading the news about Mr. Gahan around the world.

An evening without Dave Gahan in Dusseldorf or Heaven 17

Many weeks before Mr. Gahan announced his concerts I bought a concert ticket for Heaven 17 in Dusseldorf at Zakk. The concert was a part of the Electricity conference in Dusseldorf. It's a kind of music fair.

And the concert didn't overlap with Dave's concert, so I was very happy to go to Dusseldorf yesterday evening with a small group of good friends.
It was my third Heaven 17 concert, I saw them 2 times in Cologne.
The Dusseldorf audience was more stylish then the Cologne crowd, but it was quieter than in Cologne.

I like the getting old duo of Glenn Gregory and Martin Ware. They looked like real friends and the mood on the stage was great and this is an important ingredient for an amusing concert.

They played all their hits like " Cruised by the wheel of industry, Let me go and Temptation".

Highlight was the interpretation of " Life on Mars" , an old Bowie Song, from Glenn Gregory. He sang it maybe better than Mr. Bowie himself. I was impressed.

The concert ended  like the most Heaven 17 concerts with " Being boiled", the hit of Human League, the old band of Martin Ware. Partytime!!!!

The whole evening I asked myself what is the receipe for success? Heaven 17 was very successful in the 80ties and Glenn Gregory has a wonderful strong voice and is a nice performer. But the big breakthrough didn't come. 

And if I compare Mr. Gregory with Mr. Gahan..... There are worlds apart.

We are in a very good mood as we went to the small separated bar of the Zakk, is an old location, a centrum for alternative music and other cultural events.

And the Dj of the aftershow party was Daniel Miller. 

I saw the announcement of the DJ set a few days after I bought the tix and it was a great surprise.

I thought, maybe Dave will be there to meet Daniel, but Dave played yesterday in Munich a Promo set.

Daniel Miller looked wonderful, how old is he ? Nearly 70? Wow, hope I will be in a same condition like him when I'm 70!!!

He played a very good set, very oldschool, classical beats.

He signed me the Gahan album.

We turned back to Cologne. An evening without Mr.Gahan, but I fell happy and tired into my bed.

Now I'm in Berlin, everything worked like a charm with the flight and transfer to the city. Here in Kreuzberg I refresh me for the concert and drink a first warm up beer.

And in 2.or 3 hours it's Gahan time again, yeahhhh

Dave Gahan & The Soulsavers in London or be lucky

In the early morning of October 26th I took a flight to London Heathrow, because Mr. Gahan is calling.

I saw him the last time in February 2014 in Moscow, where Depeche Mode played their last concert of the Delta Machine tour.

I heard the rumours about a second album with the Soulsavers and I hoped to see them live together next year.

But they announced the new album 4 weeks ago and six concerts.

And this will be my first trip to one of the four concerts in Europe.

They played last week in Los Angeles and New York and I tried to hear nothing from this concerts and give my best to didn't see the setlist.

So if you do not want to know the setlist: take care: Spoiler inside!!

I was very excited to see Dave again.

It was a good flight to Heathrow and in one hour I reached the Shard, one of Londons younger buildings.

The architect was Renzo Piano and it is an typical Piano construction ( the P& C building in Cologne is another construction of him).

The building is an impressive thorn of glass. I got the chance to go upstairs immediately, no queue.
I took many of pictures, they say more than words, so look at here.....

Finally downstairs again I enjoyed a tasty breakfast : a houmus wrap, a green smoothie and a coffee with coconut milk. It's so easy to find good food in London as you are a vegan.
But everything is welded in plastic. There will never be a perfect world.....

I made a wonderful walk along the river Thames to the London Eye where I met two friends.
The weather was sunny, no clouds in the sky, it didn't feel like October.
Later we stopped for two beers in an great old pub: Ye olde cheshire cheese Pub at Fleet Street.
They have many old sorts of beer. You have to go there if you are in London!!

Time is tight, only two hours left to find my hotel, to refresh myself, to eat until the concert.
My hotel was in Hammersmith. Very good for the way back to the airport in the morning.
It called Aviva Hotel and I recommend it for your next stay in London, very clean, modern and small.
I forgot my adapter for the british mains supply and the guy from the reception gave me two.

Short new styling and ready to go. No dinner, no beer, I walk straight to Shepherd's Bush, it was only 10 minutes fast walking from my hotel.
Many fans were waiting in front of the Shepeherd's Bush empire and we joined into the queue.
We stood in the sixt row, it was a small intimate venue, so we had a great view on Mr. Gahan.

Dave's mother and son with his wife and his brother sat at the right balcony, at the other balcony sat Mr. Fletch Fletcher, Gordeno, Eigner and Daniel Miller. Andy looked like a grumpy old man.

Yeah, and then it was time for him.....
Please excuse, but the concert started and in my mind it ended 10 minutes later.
The first two songs I heard nothing, I saw only Dave. It was a very special moment for me.
Yes, you can laugh about me. I saw so many concerts with Dave but....no words.

The first 75 minutes they played a mixture of the both albums they made together.
I like the Soulssavers, great performers.
Tempted, Take me back home and the sun were the best songs for me, but all the songs are so well presented. He was the voice.

After a very short break, they played "Kingdom" and "Dirty sticky floor". He switched into the entertainer and great performer we all love. But this new quiet aspect of him, I was surprised.
And then... twelve years ago I heard this song the last time. In Milano on his solo tour.
It is one of my favorite live songs of Depeche Mode but only performed by Dave.
"Condemnation". It was an unbelievable feeling. Happiness, Pain, Desire, very deep emotions.
The last song was " Walking in my shoes".

We closed the evening in a pub with a few beer and I got only 4 hours to sleep until I went back to the airport and from the airport in Cologne straight to work.
So I need a day to write this blog because I was so tired.

Now I'm in a very special mood.
I'm really really happy, happy and lucky....
And I think nothing could be more important. To be happy.
Thank you Mr. Gahan

Dave Gahan and London is calling

Sitting here and listening to the new album again and again.

In the moment are "Tempted" and Lately" my favourites. 

I saw so many concerts with Mr. Gahan and I made so many trips, so why I'm so excited?

In the moment I have no more words, have to go to bed, because I have to catch my early flight.

Tomorrow I will be busy with sightseeing in London.

Hope the weather will be fine because I will visit the Shard.

Tuesday I will be back here for my first report of the small tour.

In 10 days the whole thing is over. Funny...

Good night.

"I'm all of this and nothing.

I'm the dirt beneath your feet

I'm the sun that rises while you're  sleeping

I'm all you need."

There's some truth in it......

Found this 2 pics in the www. Great, aren't they?

Angels & Ghosts

Long time ago....

After the Delta Machine Tour so many things happened in my life.

I was a long time on the road and it is not easy to go back to your normal life, but you have find back to it.

And so I did.

But a few weeks ago Dave Gahan announce his second album with the Soulsavers and...

a small tour.

I had no time to think about it and I had no vacation days at work.

But I took the chance and booked the four concerts in Europe, yeah...

Today is the release day of the album: Angels & Ghosts and now I'm sitting here, hearing the new songs and start writing the blog again.....

For 4 concerts it will be " My daily Dave blog". 

Come with me to the 4 upcoming concerts in London, Berlin, Paris and Milan.

In the moment I''m not sure how I find the new album, but Dave's voice is great.

There are some new nuances, so I'm very excited to hear the songs live.

He played in Los Angeles and New York. They streamed the shows, but I didn't want to watch it because I like the surprise.

So let me take you on a trip.....

The Depeche Mode " Delta Machine tour" Summary or " I just can't get enough"!

Now, I'm ten days back at home.

Life is going on and I feel happy. I experienced so many things in the last year, I saw wonderful places, enjoyed great concerts, met so many nice people.

Now I have to ease down all the experiences. That takes time, I know that from past tours.

Since the last concert in Moscow I wasn't able to hear a Depeche Mode song.
That takes time, too.

I'm very grateful for touring with the Delta Machine tour.

It is time for a little summary.

A few weeks before the press conference in October 2012, I broke my left leg.
It was a very complicated fracture and I was forced to stay 3 month at home and go on crutches.

At this time I heard the first rumors about a new album of Depeche Mode, an upcoming press conference and an upcoming tour in 2013.

I got a massive panic attack, because I couldn't imagine to be fit enough for the press conference or the tour in 2013.

But I got the chance to go to the press conference in Paris and with a little help from a few friends
we drove at a wonderful Monday with 5 persons ( including me and my crutches) to Paris by car.
The press conference was a day later and I was so happy to be there, to be a part from the beginning of this Delta Machine tour, although no one knew at this moment the name of the upcoming new album including Depeche Mode.
Dave looked so healthy, wow, unbelievable. After the press conference the tour was announced and the ticket sale for a few concerts started just in the minute the conference ended.
Due to another two friends, we got the first tickets!!!

Thank you Elvis, Heike, Frank, Simone, Arkadi & Martin!!!

Back home my disaster with my leg turned into a fortune to all of us.
I had the ability to sit every day, every minute in front of the computer, I spent so many hours in the f***ing Net to book tickets for the concerts, to reserve hotel rooms, to check the best travel route, to buy flights and train tickets and so on.

On christmas I got well and started to work like a maniac to finance the tour.
Between two tours I save so lot money I can for the next tour but this time I had not enough because the broken leg. And I worked and worked and then I arranged my absence. Life had to go on when I was on tour.

Thank you Anton & Paul for your understanding.
Thank you Stefan, Ulrike, Martin, Nino & Thierry for helping me at home during the tour.


The release date of the album came ( March 22) and with the date a competition.
Electronic Beats started a competition : you had to describe your work as a fan reporter for Depeche Mode. You could give in pictures, videos or what you want to explain why you had to go to a special launch event of Depeche Mode in Vienna where they would present a few of the new songs live.

Wow, I wanted to win and I took a video where you can see the hysteric fan on one side and the cool fan reporter on the other side, both rolls were played by me. My sons played "People are People" on tuba and euphonium. My friend Christian directed and filmed the video.
Thank you guys!!!
I won!!! Yeah!!!


http://youtu.be/-Qa08frEkr0

Two days before I went to Vienna I met with my friend Martin and we heard " Delta Machine" the first time.
I was so pleasantly surprised by this record. Since " Exiter" this was the best album for me.
Great songs like " Secret to my end", " " Broken", " Alone". Wow.

And then on Sunday ( March 24) I saw Depeche Mode in Vienna live. It was an unbelievable feeling to see them again on stage since my last concert in Dusseldorf 2010. At that time I thought it is over, I will see them never again on stage....
Sometimes it comes out differently than expected. Fortunately!!!

I met so many friends at the Launch event and my anticipation of the tour began to rise.
And the time started to run so quick, in the next moment the tour started with the warm-up gig in Nice. The weather, the city, the concert.... everything was perfect.
The new set list, it was an unforgettable day for me and a perfect prelude of a wonderful amazing tour.

You can read it here on my blog.

I booked 58 concerts but two shows were cancelled ( Istanbul and Lille).
I saw 56 concerts in 23 countries.
In Barcelona I celebrated my Birthday with Depeche Mode and some good friends! What a present!

I wanted to see 60 concerts this tour but as the two shows were cancelled I knew I will never reach this aim. So I saw 56 concerts of Depeche Mode on one tour the third time in my life ( on the " Music for the masses "tour and on " the Playing the angel" tour, too).
So it seemed to be a special number for me, don't know why.
I was 87 days on the road, 78 times I slept in a hotel room, I flew 36 times, went by train 35 times, 16 times by car, 4 by bus, one by taxi, drank 420 liters of beer.
I had no pain because my broken leg. I forgot that it was broken, what a luck!!!

I met so many nice friends, fans, people from all over the world, some of them twice, some more.
I deepened friendships, I made new friends and I lost some friends. But I want miss all the experiences I made on the tour.

The best concert for me was in the summer in Rome.
Two days before I saw the concert in Milan with three very good friends and we were sure, no concert could  ever be better than Milan, but Rome could.
In Rome I had a moment where I thought, " when my life is ending now, it will be o.k.!"

So my number two is Milan in the summer and my number three is Milan in the winter.
It is difficult to say why a concert is one of the best. The mood of the band specially of Mr. Gahan is very important for me, the mood of the audience is very important, too and last but not least the own constitution!!!!
Helpfull is the spirit in your travel group, but I'm not a team player.
I like it to have fun on the concerts with my friends or other people, but most imported is the concert, Mr. Gahan and I!
In Milan in winter a storm swept over us ( figuratively speaking), but it is my number three!

The summer tour was better because I like outdoor concerts and the setlist was better and longer.
The whole winter tour I missed my favorite song of the tour" Secret to my end".

I saw wonderful cities, some of them not the first time.
Favorite cities are Rome, Bologna, Kiev, St. Petersburg, Belfast, Dublin and Barcelona.
I slept in great hotels, if you are in Rome look for the St. Anna Hotel, in Belfast for the Tara Lodge,
in Barcelona for the Music Boutique Hotel, in London for the King William Hotel.

My favorite journey was the Italian tour in Winter, I will never forget the day in the stadium of Turin, one of the happiest days in my life.

But every journey was special and I will thank you all my travel mates or people I met on this great tour. From time to time I will remember one of you, I'm sure.

I will thank you Martin, Anton, Paul, Ulrike, Arkadi, Wilfried, Myriam, Cono,Fabian, Andreas, Heike, Elvis, Klaudija, Mirko, Lars, Sven, Ulrich, Frank, Simone, Sylvia, Claudia, Melanie, Kai, Peter, Ohst, Viol,Heike, Jaqueline, Jenny,
Patrick, Dirk, Brit,Mor Amor, Björn, Uwe, Cori, Manuel, Sabine, Mike, Sandy, Thomas, Timo, Miriam, Markus, Andy, Julia, Tanja, Anette, Nancy, Frank, Steffi, Alessandro, Cecilia, Pat, Cathi, Sven, Adil, Jean George, Saliha, Hauke and many many more.
Drinking, singing and dancing with you all over Europe, what a pleasure!!!!!!!

In Dusseldorf, first concert in the summer, I took my children the first time with me to a Depeche Mode concert. It was a wonderful evening for us, they liked it and we waved together our arms to " Never let me down", amazing!

I think the best moment with friends was the second Paris concert in winter with my friends Martin, Wilfried and Myriam. It was such a feeling of happiness, unique in life and I will never forget my whole life. The emotions overwhelm me when I'm thinking to it.

I had the honor to meet Vince Clarke in Madrid, so fantastic. Thank you, Pat!!!

I could say so much more, I will miss to write this blog and if you like I will tell you stories from past concerts from time to time.
This site had more than 8000 guests. Thank you!!!

And I had to thank you, Depeche Mode, for the great concerts and the unbelievable long tour.

In the beginning there was rumors that the tour will end in the summer of 2014.
There was no statement of you why the tour ended now and why you didn't play in South America.
You began in a unbelievable good mood. At the end it was only a sad imitation.
The atmosphere on stage was so bad, I couldn't understand.
On the last concert in the last sound of " Precious", Dave acted as he was going to shoot the small white dog on the video screen. He shot my hope for an upcoming tour.
Although Martin Gore thanked Dave before the last song started, I had no hope for a future of Depeche Mode.
Maybe they have only a tour depression. I had a tour burn out two weeks before the tour ended and they made 70 concerts more than me, but I saw profound aversion between them.

We have to wait, the time will bring it with you.
I'm sure to see Dave Gahan on a solo tour and I'm looking forward to this.

I like to thank David Gahan, because he is my Personal Jesus, for the unbelievable and unforgettable moments he gave to me ( specially in Bremen!!!). His movements, his singing, the whole performance.
He is the best, the best, the best.....

And I want to end with a few words from the song which was one of the best of this tour:

" I just can't get enough" !!!!

See you next time!!!!!