Depeche Mode’s Dave Gahan Admits New Music ‘Not on the Cards’

Depeche Mode fans may need to enjoy the silence for some time, with vocalist Dave Gahan noting that new music isn’t a priority for the band at this time.

Gahan’s comments were made in a recent interview with NME which saw him reflecting on the loss of musicians such as close friend and collaborator Mark Lanegan ahead of a 60th birthday celebration for the late musician in London.

Lanegan, who passed away in February 2022, had risen to fame as a member of alt-rock outfit Screaming Trees before joining Queens of the Stone Age in the early ’00s. Not long after, he and Gahan founded a friendship which resulted in the pair working together collaboratively, including on songs recorded as part of Soulsavers and Humanist.

During his comments, Gahan turned his attention to the topic of writing, claiming that he’s been feeling inspired by his daughter, Stella Rose, and her own musical experiences. However, he admitted that while he’s discussed new music with bandmate Martin Gore, fans will need to hold tight before anything comes to fruition.

“Martin and I have talked. We actually saw each other recently, and it was really nice,” Gahan explained. “We spent some time in Italy where Anton Cobijn and his wife were renewing their wedding vows in a really nice spot just outside of Rome.

“We had a really nice time without any work or show pressure. I actually did ask Martin if he’d been writing and he was like, ‘Nah!’” he added. “That’s normal – especially when you’ve worked intensely for a couple of years. It takes a while. Wait and see. I wouldn’t rule out as getting together at some point, but it’s not on the cards at this point.”

Depeche Mode wrapped up their Memento Mori World Tour in April, havng played 112 shows around the globe in support of 2023’s Memento Mori – their first new album in six years. The album and tour was the band’s first since the passing of co-founding keyboardist Andy Fletcher in 2022.