Depeche Mode brings its ‘Global Spirit’ tour to Tampa

They’ve been called “the most popular electronic band the world has ever known,” and it’s difficult to argue with that.

Depeche Mode has been making music for 37 years, starting way back in the new wave and MTV video eras, and they’re still together (all three members have been with the band continuously since 1981, though a couple of other guys who have and gone in the meantime) and they’re still popular. The latest Depeche Mode album, “Spirit,” came out in March and debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 200 chart.

Singer Dave Gahan, keyboardist guitarist (and main songwriter) Martin Gore and keyboardist/bassist Andy Fletcher (plus a couple of backing musicians) will be in Tampa on Wednesday when Depeche Mode’s “Global Spirit” tour stops at the MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre.

After its first international hit, the cheery dance number “Just Can’t Get Enough,” original member Vince Clarke opted out of the band. He had been the main songwriter up until then, and once he left Gore, whose music has a darker sound even though his lyrics are often positive, took over most of the songwriting duties. That’s when the band made its mark, with such singles as “Personal Jesus,” “People Are People” and “Enjoy the Silence.”

The opening band is Warpaint, a great art-rock band whose 2016 album “Heads Up” was on several music writers’ lists of the best albums of the year.

Details: 7:30 p.m. Sept. 13, MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, 4802 U.S. 301, Tampa. $24-$255. 813-740-2446, livenation.com.

This story was originally published September 6, 2017 at 4:31 PM with the headline "Depeche Mode brings its ‘Global Spirit’ tour to Tampa."