World Violation Tour

World Violation Tour
Tour by Depeche Mode
Associated albumViolator
Start date28 May 1990 (1990-05-28)
End date27 November 1990 (1990-11-27)
Legs3
No. of shows
  • 43 in North America
  • 38 in Europe
  • 6 in Asia
  • 1 in Oceania
  • 88 in total
Depeche Mode concert chronology

The World Violation Tour was a 1990 concert tour by English electronic group Depeche Mode in support of the act's seventh studio album, Violator. The tour started in May 1990 and ran through the end of that year, and was the first Depeche Mode tour to see the band regularly play stadium-sized venues.

Buoyed by their most successful album (Violator), and on the heels of their Music for the Masses (1987) and 101 (1989) albums, by the end of the tour, Depeche Mode had toured to over one million fans.

Background

Depeche Mode's previous tour, the Music for the Masses Tour, had run from late 1987 to the middle of 1988, and was supported by the live video and record release of 101 in early 1989.[1] These two albums had brought Depeche Mode a level of popularity internationally that was, until that point, unknown to them.[2] Violator was released in March 1990[3] and had already seen two successful singles to support it by the time the tour started – "Personal Jesus"[4] and "Enjoy the Silence".[5] The day before Violator was released, the band attended a record-signing event in Los Angeles at a record store, but the event drew so many fans that the band had to be escorted out, and LA riot police had to be called in to control the large crowds who had come to see the band.[6]

Tour details

The tour ran from May to November 1990[7] over 88 shows.[8] Due to the popularity the band had cultivated over the past few years, and the success of Violator and its singles, the band played mostly stadiums for the first time.[9] The band rehearsed for the tour in Pensacola, Florida, the same city where the tour kicked off.[10] It was the first time the band has performed live in the state, and the band received some flak from locals who didn't understand their appearance; Alan Wilder was quoted to Rolling Stone saying "I've been called a faggot about twenty times today, mostly from guys leaning out of trucks. This is sort of a backward place, isn't it?"[10]

The tour kicked off with a North American leg in late May, finishing up in early August in Los Angeles at Dodger Stadium. The North American dates were met with high demand with sellouts in Dallas, Chicago, Orlando, Tampa and Miami;[10] 42,000 tickets for the concert at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey had reportedly been sold within four hours of going on sale, while the Dodger Stadium shows had sold out on the first day of sale.[11] Later in the month, the group played a sole date in Australia, in Sydney, prior to a six-date tour of Japan in September. Following the Japanese dates, the band commenced a European tour, beginning in Brussels in late September. The leg included three dates at the Palais Omnisports Bercy in Paris, where the group performed to approximately 50,000 people.[12] The leg lasted two months and concluded with the final show of the tour in Birmingham, England, in late November.

The stage and projections for the tour was designed by frequent collaborator Anton Corbijn.[8] The tour required approximately 100 stage crew and 11 trucks to transport the set and equipment.[11]

Industrial band Nitzer Ebb opened for the band in North America[13] and Europe.[14]

The band felt they had successfully crossed over from a synth band to a rock band who happened to use synthesisers.[9] Said Wilder of the scale of the tour, "We've been building to this over the last ten years."[9] By the completion of the tour, Pulse! magazine estimated that over 1.2 million fans had attended the tour.[15]

Tour incidents and cancelled shows

A show in Salt Lake City, Utah, had to be postponed a day and required a venue change after a thunderstorm forced a cancellation of the original outdoor venue.[9] Despite this, Wilder remembered it as one of the best shows the band played on that tour.[9] The show in Ottawa, Canada had to be cancelled when asbestos was discovered at the venue.[16] A show in Melbourne, Australia had to be cancelled when singer Dave Gahan was told by a doctor he needed to give his voice a rest; the show could not be rescheduled due to the impending Asian leg of the tour.[16] Tennis star Steffi Graf was in attendance of the show in Frankfurt, Germany.[17] Although Gahan was married to Jo Gahan Fox at the time, Gahan started an affair with the band's US publicist Teresa Conroy, later saying he started to fall in love with her during the tour.[18] Gahan would divorce Fox in 1991[19] and marry Conroy in 1992.[20]

Drug use

The previous Music for the Masses Tour had seen a rise in drug use among the band, with Gahan using cocaine more regularly.[21] For the World Violation Tour, drugs were more prevalent.[22] Said band member Martin Gore, "there were different levels of debauchery for all the different members of the band. I think I was worse on the World Violation Tour – there was a lot of ecstasy still lying around. We used to go out all the time and take quite a lot," although bandmate Andy Fletcher said he "spat it out" when it was offered.[22]

Equipment

The band used an Emax II Turbo sampler to play back sounds and songs during the tour.[23] Wilder, songwriter Martin Gore and Andy Fletcher each had two keyboards in front on them on stage, but one was a backup in case the first failed.[23] The two keyboards were linked so that in the event of a switch, the backup keyboard was ready to play the right sounds.[23] Both Fletcher and Gore played electronic percussion pads on stage, which triggered samples on the Emax II, which was kept out of site under the stage to avoid visual clutter.[23] Wilder played a special set of electronic tom-toms, which can play sampled sounds controlled by his keyboard, or could work as drums themselves.[23] The band used two TASCAM MR16 tape machines for their shows, one of which was a backup synched by computer in case the primary one failed.[23]

Reviews

Rolling Stone called out the tour as one of the highlights of the 1990 summer music scene, saying "These British synth poppers offer post-industrial melancholy you can dance to. And their misery certainly loves company – on their last tour, they sold out the Rose Bowl."[13] A review of the show in Sounds for the concert in Los Angeles was positive, with the reviewer saying "Two encores, and the entire show is CD perfect, the ideal opportunity to witness 50,000 maniacs having one hell of a good time."[24]

The tour was nominated for "Best Tour of the Year" at the 1991 International Rock Awards.[25]

Recordings

Depeche Mode did not release any official live album or video from the World Violation Tour, which Wilder attributed to their label, Mute Records, who felt that there was too little time lapsed since their previous live album, 101, had been released the previous year.[26] At least one of the three shows in Paris was officially recorded for publishing purposes, but the recording remains unreleased.[27]

Two concerts of the American leg of the tour, one in San Francisco and one in LA, were recorded by the staff of the stadium; the band issued 90-second snippets of each song from the LA show on their website in 2012.[28]

Subsequent events

Mute label owner and producer Daniel Miller said of that tour, "A lot of things happened to the individuals in the band during and after the Violator tour. They never changed as people, they were always very down to earth, but they'd been elevated into superstars and that does have an effect on people."[29]

During the tour, Gahan's father died, and after the tour, he split from his wife Joanne Fox Gahan and young son and moved to Los Angeles to live with his new girlfriend, Teresa Conroy.[30] This began the slide into heroine addiction for Gahan, which almost led to the break-up of the band a few years later.[31] After Gahan's recovery in the late 1990s, he said of his time on the World Violation Tour, "I had everything that I could possibly want but I was really lost. I didn't feel like I even knew myself anymore. And I felt like shit because I constantly cheated on my wife and I went back home and lied."[32]

Before the tour began, the band anticipated taking a break for several years at the conclusion of the tour. Said Gore, "We've been doing it [recording music and touring] for 10 years without any huge breaks. All of us in the band could use a long stretch of sanity."[33] Despite this, at the end of the tour, the band agreed to take only a year-long break, although that break was interrupted in mid-1991 when the band returned to the studio to record a new track titled "Death's Door" for Wim Wenders' film, Until the End of the World (1991).[34] In February 1992, the band reconvened in Madrid to start work on their follow-up album, Songs of Faith and Devotion (1993).[35]

Musicians

Set list

The following is the setlist for the show in Los Angeles on 4 August 1990.[28]

  1. "Kaleid"
  2. "World in My Eyes"
  3. "Halo"
  4. "Shake the Disease"
  5. "Everything Counts"
  6. "Master and Servant"
  7. "Never Let Me Down Again"
  8. "Waiting for the Night"
  9. "I Want You Now" (*) (acoustic)
  10. "World Full of Nothing" (*) (acoustic)
  11. "Clean"
  12. "Stripped"
  13. "Policy of Truth"
  14. "Enjoy the Silence"
  15. "Strangelove"
  16. "Personal Jesus"
    Encore 1
  17. "Black Celebration"
  18. "A Question of Time"
    Encore 2
  19. "Behind the Wheel"
  20. "Route 66" (Bobby Troup cover)

Notes:

Tour dates

Date City Country Venue/Event
North America
28 May 1990 Pensacola United States Pensacola Civic Center
30 May 1990 Orlando Orlando Arena
31 May 1990 Miami Miami Arena
2 June 1990 Tampa USF Sun Dome
4 June 1990 Atlanta Coca-Cola Lakewood Amphitheatre
6 June 1990 Columbia Merriweather Post Pavilion
8 June 1990 Saratoga Springs Saratoga Performing Arts Center
9 June 1990 Mansfield Great Woods Center for the Performing Arts
10 June 1990
13 June 1990 Philadelphia The Spectrum
14 June 1990
16 June 1990 East Rutherford Giants Stadium
18 June 1990 New York City Radio City Music Hall
21 June 1990 Montreal Canada Montreal Forum
22 June 1990 Toronto CNE Grandstand
24 June 1990 Burgettstown United States Coca-Cola Star Lake Amphitheater
25 June 1990 Cincinnati Riverbend Music Center
26 June 1990 Cuyahoga Falls Blossom Music Center
28 June 1990 Clarkston Pine Knob Music Theatre
29 June 1990
30 June 1990 Milwaukee Marcus Amphitheater
2 July 1990 Tinley Park World Music Theatre
3 July 1990
5 July 1990 The Woodlands Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
6 July 1990
8 July 1990 Dallas Coca-Cola Starplex Amphitheatre
9 July 1990
11 July 1990 Morrison Red Rocks Amphitheatre
12 July 1990
14 July 1990 Calgary Canada Olympic Saddledome
16 July 1990 Vancouver Pacific Coliseum
18 July 1990 Portland United States Memorial Coliseum
20 July 1990 Mountain View Shoreline Amphitheatre
21 July 1990
22 July 1990 Sacramento Cal Expo Amphitheatre
25 July 1990 Salt Lake City Salt Palace
27 July 1990 Phoenix Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
28 July 1990 San Diego San Diego Sports Arena
29 July 1990
31 July 1990
1 August 1990 Universal City Universal Amphitheatre
4 August 1990 Los Angeles Dodger Stadium
5 August 1990
Oceania
31 August 1990 Sydney Australia Hordern Pavilion
Asia
4 September 1990 Fukuoka Japan Shimin Kaikan Dai Hall
6 September 1990 Kobe World Memorial Hall
8 September 1990 Kanazawa Ishikawa Kōsei Nenkin Kaikan
9 September 1990 Nagoya Nagoya Civic Assembly Hall
11 September 1990 Tokyo Nippon Budokan
12 September 1990
Europe
28 September 1990 Brussels Belgium Forest National
29 September 1990 Dortmund West Germany Westfalenhallen
30 September 1990
2 October 1990 Copenhagen Denmark Valby-Hallen
3 October 1990
5 October 1990 Gothenburg Sweden Scandinavium
6 October 1990 Stockholm Stockholm Globe Arena
8 October 1990 Frankfurt Germany Festhalle Frankfurt
9 October 1990 Hanover Messehalle Hanover
11 October 1990 Lyon France Halle Tony Garnier
12 October 1990 Zürich Switzerland Hallenstadion
14 October 1990 Frankfurt Germany Frankfurt Festhalle
15 October 1990 Stuttgart Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle
17 October 1990 Munich Olympiahalle
21 October 1990 Paris France Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy
22 October 1990
23 October 1990
25 October 1990 Liévin Stade Couvert Régional
26 October 1990 Rotterdam Netherlands Rotterdam Ahoy
28 October 1990 Hamburg Germany Alsterdorfer Sporthalle
29 October 1990
31 October 1990 Berlin Deutschlandhalle
1 November 1990
3 November 1990 Strasbourg France Rhénus Sport
5 November 1990 Barcelona Spain Palau Sant Jordi
7 November 1990 Madrid Palacio de Deportes
9 November 1990 Marseille France Palais des sports de Marseille
11 November 1990 Milan Italy Palatrussardi
12 November 1990 Rome PalaEur
14 November 1990 Bordeaux France Patinoire de Mériadeck
15 November 1990
17 November 1990 Brest Parc des expositions de la Penfeld
19 November 1990 London England Wembley Arena
20 November 1990
22 November 1990 Birmingham NEC Arena
23 November 1990 London Wembley Arena
26 November 1990 Birmingham NEC Arena
27 November 1990

References

  1. ^ Raggett, Ned. "101 – Depeche Mode". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  2. ^ Freeman, John (25 October 2012). "A Strange Love: Depeche Mode's Music For The Masses Revisited". Quietus. Archived from the original on 23 September 2025. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  3. ^ Smith, Robin (17 February 1990). "This Week – The Next Seven Days in View: Releases". Record Mirror. p. 28. ISSN 0144-5804.
  4. ^ "Personal Jesus". archives.depechemode.com. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  5. ^ "New Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 3 February 1990. p. 38. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  6. ^ Giles, Jeff (12–26 July 1990). "Depeche Mode Want Your Respect". Rolling Stone. No. 582/583. New York. pp. 60–65. ISSN 0035-791X. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  7. ^ Burmeister & Lange 2017, p. 203.
  8. ^ a b Miller 2003, p. 437.
  9. ^ a b c d e Hallard & Lane (2006)
  10. ^ a b c Giles, Jeff (12–26 July 1990). "This Band Wants Your Respect". Rolling Stone. No. 582/583. pp. 60–65.
  11. ^ a b Miller 2003, p. 299.
  12. ^ Miller 2003, p. 301.
  13. ^ a b "Rolling Stone Summer Music Guide 1990", Rolling Stone magazine insert, 1990, page 4
  14. ^ Paoletti, Ariana (24 September 2013). "The Ebb and Flow of Nitzer Ebb". Thump.vice.com. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  15. ^ Weidenbaum, Marc (May 1993), "Fashion Victims", Pulse! Magazine (114): 48–53
  16. ^ a b Fanger, JD (1990). "World Violation – Cancelled Shows". Bong. No. 11. p. 17.
  17. ^ Bamonte, Daryl (1991). "Post Violation". Bong. No. 12. p. 10.
  18. ^ Shaw, William (1993). "In the Mode". Details. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  19. ^ Miller 2003, p. 458.
  20. ^ Gittins 2018, p. 158.
  21. ^ Gittins 2018, p. 132.
  22. ^ a b Miller 2003, p. 460.
  23. ^ a b c d e f Roberts, Jonathan (1990). "Depeche Mode Live: A spectacular show, a technical nightmare". Bong. No. 10. pp. 15–16.
  24. ^ Schmidt, Craig (18 August 1990). "Depeche Mode @ LA (review)". Sounds. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
  25. ^ "Montage". Bong. No. 14. 1991. p. 7.
  26. ^ "Q&A: Archives: Depeche Mode: Live – part 2". oldsite.recoil.co.uk. Archived from the original on 27 September 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2025. The 'World Violation' tour was too soon after the 'MFTM' tour to warrant a live LP. By the time 'Devotional' came along it was felt that enough time had passed to release another one.
  27. ^ Brown, James (3 November 1990). "Success All Areas". NME. Archived from the original on 27 October 2007. Retrieved 1 February 2026 – via sacreddm.net. We do have loud monitors but the screaming last night was particularly loud. [...] It was a bit weird for us, the whole gig, because we were recording it and there was a whole concentration.
  28. ^ a b Barassi, Daniel. "Depeche Mode: The Archives". Depeche Mode: The Archives.
  29. ^ "Classic Album: Depeche Mode – Violator". 12 April 2025. Retrieved 25 December 2025.
  30. ^ Miller 2003, pp. 452–453.
  31. ^ Gittins 2018, pp. 175–185.
  32. ^ Gittins 2018, p. 133.
  33. ^ Hunt, Dennis (8 May 1990). "Depeche Mode attracts cult following". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  34. ^ Miller 2003, p. 471.
  35. ^ Baker, Trevor (25 April 2013). Depeche Mode – The Early Years 1981–1993. Bonnier Zaffre. ISBN 978-1-78606-156-0. Retrieved 7 October 2023.

Works cited

  • Burmeister, Dennis; Lange, Sascha (2017). Depeche Mode: Monument. New York: Akashic Books. ISBN 978-1-61775-593-4.
  • Gittins, Ian (2018). Depeche Mode: Faith and Devotion. London: Palazzo Editions. ISBN 978-1-78675-064-8.
  • Hallard, Ross (director); Lane, Phil Michael (director) (2006). Depeche Mode: 1989–90 (If You Wanna Use Guitars, Use Guitars) (DVD). Mute Records.
  • Miller, Jonathan (2003). Stripped: The True Story of Depeche Mode. Omnibus Press. ISBN 1-84449-415-2.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.