#dave gahan daughter

[iamveronica]

Stella Rose Gahan for Enfants Riches Déprimés F/W ‘23

[petiplacha]

Dave Gahan and Atlanta Noo — daughter of Amanda de Cadenet [ british photographer and wife of John Taylor bassist of Duran Duran ] in Santa Monica, May 1997

photo from book "Rare birds" by Amanda from 2005

[iasmelaion]

I was stuck in traffic a bunch today, and I spent the time contemplating cover songs and/or duets I wish existed, some of which are tragically impossible:

Jeff Buckley and Elizabeth Fraser doing a cover of Tim Buckley's "Song to the Siren" as a duet. Like yes, Elizabeth Fraser already covered it with This Mortal Coil. But I submit that this song would be agonizingly beautiful as a duet, if it had the appropriate amount of pure yearning, and these two could have done it. Like, "Here I am, here I am / Waiting to hold you" as a call and response?? It would have been heartbreakingly gorgeous. (They did perform at least one duet together: "All Flowers in Time Bend Towards the Sun", which is truly lovely.)

Hozier and Florence + the Machine should swap songs. At first I thought Hozier should do a cover of "Blinding," but then I realized that no, surely Hozier could do a deeply horny, bluesy cover of "Big God". And Florence should do either one of his songs with a big sound like "Francesca" or get properly witchy with one of his creepy ones, like "As It Was." I would say they should do a duet, but that seems like it could be Too Powerful.

Miguel should do a cover of fka twigs' "Two Weeks". Please. It would be so sexy ;___; I wouldn't mind hearing Dave Gahan or Depeche Mode cover this either, actually. They could add a neat industrial vibe, and Dave Gahan could be excellently breathy and moany with the vocals.

Ethel Cain should cover Arcade Fire's "Abraham's Daughter", but make it, like, more unhinged and ominous yet with an undeniable tinge of triumph.

The Civil Wars should cover an Iron & Wine song. Obviously this is never happening, not least because they are very broken up. But I think they could do a beautifully harmonious cover of "Upward Over the Mountain"! Or a suitably seething cover of "Woman King"!

I think The National could make Phosphorescent's "Song for Zula" even more emotionally devastating! Also, I'd like to hear the Dessners' arrangement of this one.

[chaoticdesertdweller]

My daughter just told me that Dave Gahan's last name is the sound you make when you see him and she just blew my mind.

[davegahandevotion]

Usually, I like to confine posts to being about Dave only, but here is something worth sharing: Stella Rose Gahan, Dave’s daughter, has released her very first single called “Muddled Man”.  Here is the official video for that single!

[salty-cs]

"unproblematic people" lol went to check. from the top: tiko has multiple accounts. bats was mentioned here previously. metal and dave gahans husband are scummy. tigtigrou + breezeyheart are multi accounts and are the same person parading around as pretending mother+daughter. and if i was to guess, clueless and red0river are either scammers or multi accounters. judging by their post history id say multi accounters

.

[senorarelojes]

Fic: Heaven (1/1)

Thanks to @pinksyndication‘s recent take on a femslash version of Dilder, this idea came up. It’s a sort of sequel to the very first femslash Dalan fic I wrote last year. However, this is just a shameless excuse for smut though. Heed the tags below!

Additional tags: Femslash, pregnancy, kidfic, lactation kink, porn without plot

When the doorbell rang, Dav heaved a sigh of relief. She took the stuffed animals she’d been picking up off the floor and tossed them into Paris’s already overflowing toy chest, dusting her hands off before heading towards the door and swinging it open. As expected, it was a grinning Martina and Andie, carrying gift bags of yet more toys. “Where’s my goddaughter?” Andie demanded in lieu of a proper greeting, making her way into the flat as Martina trailed behind her.

“Hello to you too,” Dav muttered, although she was too exhausted to care about social niceties. Ever since she and Lana had welcomed Paris into their lives six months ago, uninterrupted sleep had become a luxury. Naturally, when a sympathetic Martina and Andie had offered to babysit Paris for a day so Dav and Lana could get some much-needed rest, they’d jumped at the offer.

“Oh, there she is!” Andie’s tone melted into sheer gooey delight when Lana emerged from the bedroom with Paris in her arms. Lana was the picture of exhaustion, with deep circles under her eyes and her hair in a carelessly tied ponytail. But Dav thought Lana had never looked more beautiful than she did now, even in an old t-shirt and yoga pants.

Back when they’d gotten married and decided to have a baby, they’d discussed it at length and consulted a fertility doctor. When the results showed Lana had the higher odds of carrying a pregnancy to full term with a sperm donor, it was something they both agreed on after much thought and discussion. Dav had done everything possible to help Lana during the pregnancy, but she understood that it had taken a physical toll on Lana regardless. They’d opted for a C-section, and Lana had also wanted to breastfeed Paris as much as possible.

Admittedly, since they’d become parents, it was harder and harder to muster the effort for romance. Paris slept in a crib in their room, and most nights Dav was too exhausted after work to do anything other than make sure both Lana and Paris had everything they needed. Dav couldn’t remember the last time she and Lana had made love, so she was hoping that they could take advantage of Martina’s and Fletch’s generous offer.

After Martina and Andie had finished cooing over Paris, Lana shuffled back to the bedroom while Dav handed over all the things her friends would need, such as Paris’s diaper bag, some bottles of breast milk that Lana had pumped earlier and a few changes of clothes, just in case.

“Call us if there is anything, all right?” Dav said to Martina and Andie, pressing farewell kisses all over Paris’s chubby pink cheeks. It pained her to actually let go of her daughter and watch her go off with someone else, but Dav knew Lana needed the break more than her. At least Dav got to leave the house for work, while poor Lana was stuck at home 24 hours a day.

“Have a good time, you two,” Martina called out, while Andie took Paris’s tiny hand and made her wave goodbye to Dav.

Closing the door with a sigh, Dav wondered where Lana was. Heading to the bedroom, she couldn’t help smiling when she saw Lana had already passed out on the bed, snoring softly. Tucking a blanket over her wife, Dav pressed a kiss to her forehead before going out to the living room to scroll through her phone and see if she could order them something nice for dinner.

***

Dav awoke with a start when her phone rang. She blinked sleepily, realising she must have been so tired that she had nodded off on the sofa, her phone still in her hand. It was Martina, who was calling to update her on a very happy Paris getting spoiled rotten at Auntie Andie’s house. “We’ll be happy to keep her as late as you want,” Martina offered. “Go have dinner, a nice bath-- something non-baby related.”

“Thanks mate,” Dav said, before yawning. It was only now that she realised Lana’s blanket was now draped over her instead. As she hung up, she saw on her phone clock that it was already past seven. Fucking hell, had she slept that long?

Getting up and stretching, Dav went to the bedroom to check on Lana, but the bed was already empty and neatly made. However, there was light under the bathroom door, as well as soft music playing. Dave knocked on the door, opening it when Lana softly called out, “Come in!”

When Dave laid eyes on a fully naked Lana soaking in the bath, her brain short-circuited.

Lana had her glossy brown hair piled up on top of her head in a messy bun, a few loose tendrils sticking to her damp cheeks. She was resting one foot on the edge of the bath, and Dav’s gaze roamed up the smooth pink length of her leg, right till where it disappeared into the water. Dav could also see the rounded tops of her breasts, peeking just above the water level. Lana’s breasts had expanded by about two cup sizes or so during pregnancy, which made Dav’s back ache in sympathy because Lana was already a C-cup before she got pregnant.

“Hey, love.” Lana flashed her a lazy smile, her eyes especially blue in the fluorescent light of their bathroom. “I saw you passed out on the sofa and didn’t want to disturb you.”

“Mmmm.” Dav licked her lips, taking in her fill of Lana’s breathtakingly beautiful body - or rather, the teasing glimpses of it not hidden under the bathwater. “Mart called, she said they’ll keep Paris as late as we want tonight.”

The corner of Lana’s mouth quirked up in a secretive little smile. “Whatever will we do with those few extra hours?”

Dav went over to kneel beside the tub, her hand cupping Lana’s peachy cheek as she bent down, their faces closer. “Oh, I can think of a few things.”

They slowly kissed for a good few moments, luxuriating in the short freedom of being allowed to do whatever they wanted without having to listen for Paris crying. Dav slipped her tongue into Lana’s soft, wet mouth, her nipples tightening at the sound of Lana sighing into their kiss.

When they broke apart, Dav deliberately kept their faces close, their lips brushing against each other’s whenever they said something. “Waiting for me in the bath like that,” she whispered. “Such a tease, aren’t you?”

Lana arched an eyebrow at her. “Me? A tease?” Her smile was widening. “I’m only a tease if I don’t follow through, Gahan.”

“Oh, you know exactly what you do to me.” Dave’s hand slipped under the water, a finger circling Lana’s left nipple and making her gasp. “Teasing me with your soft, wet, round tits like that--”

“Like them?” Lana’s grip circled around Dav’s wrists. “Been thinking about you touching them all day.”

Dav laughed against her mouth. “So you’ve not been wearing a bra on purpose then?”

Lana’s eyes widened with false innocence. “But I’m a good girl,” she said demurely, even as she spread her legs, pulling Dave’s hand down between them.

Dav couldn’t help moaning when she slipped her fingers into Lana's slickness. Lana’s beautiful blue eyes rolled up in pleasure as Dav slowly fucked her with careful impatience, Lana gasping when Dav’s thumb started circling her clit as well. They started kissing again, Lana playing with her own nipples while Dav ached to drag Lana out of the tub and into their bed.

As Lana’s hips started to thrust up against Dav’s hand, the water sloshed out of the tub and all over the floor, getting Dav’s clothes wet as well. Not that Dav cared, since both of them were just wearing whatever was comfortable and clean whenever they were home, but Lana stopped moving, her hands tugging on Dav’s hair in concern. “Your knees,” she muttered, even as Dav blinked at her. “They must be killing you.”

As reluctant as Dav was to stop touching Lana, she had to agree that her wife had a point. “Bed, then?”

“Agreed,” Lana said, before there was a glint of mischief in her eyes. “If we stay here, I can’t eat you out the way I want anyway.”

“Fuck the bathtub then.” Dav was up so fast and tearing off her wet clothes that Lana couldn’t stop laughing.

***

After the quickest of showers, they both moved to the bed, trading deep and slow kisses which were making Dav crazed with desire. Lana was insanely wet too, judging from how slick Dav’s fingers were when she slid them inside her folds again. Dav laughed as Lana pouted when Dav withdrew her fingers, just to playfully tease her, but it backfired when Lana started playing with herself, her hand delving between her thighs. The devious Lana proved she was more than Dav’s match as she brought her wet fingers up to her nipples, teasing them to hardness and leaving them moist.

“Fuck, Lana.” Dav couldn’t resist leaning down and sucking on those pink nubs, humming in approval when she could taste Lana’s slick all over them. Lana’s moans were getting louder and more and more broken as Dav lavished attention on those magnificent tits, gently squeezing them and massaging them, her mouth forming a seal over Lana’s right nipple as she began sucking in earnest.

At this Lana lost her mind and her usual cool composure, cursing and swearing as her fingers dug into Dav’s hair. Lana’s breasts were also leaking, and Dav moaned at the sweet, silky taste of her milk, her tongue running in figure-eights around her stiff nipple. No one could blame Dav for being obsessed with Lana’s tits, which were already magnificent to begin with. Motherhood had made them even fuller and rounder, and sometimes Dav daydreamed about feeling Lana up in public whenever they were at the shops or at a restaurant.

Well, nothing was going to stop her from taking her fill of Lana’s beautiful breasts now.

Dav’s mouth moved from left to right, nipple to nipple, making Lana sigh and moan and writhe under her like the world’s best temptress. Unfortunately Dav had to sacrifice a hand, letting go of Lana’s right breast so she could reach between Lana’s open legs and give her the first of many orgasms. Dav fucked Lana with her fingers while lapping up the pearly-white droplets of her milk, raising her head to watch when Lana shuddered through her first orgasm, wrecked and beautiful and ruined, her hair a messy halo around her head.

“So fuckin’ gorgeous,” Dav whispered, leaning down to kiss her again. She thought Lana was still tapped out, so she was stunned when Lana cupped Dav’s tits, rolling her nipples between those talented long fingers. Dav loved the way Lana ogled her tits whenever she put on a sports bra or even a bralette, or would sometimes rest her head on Dav’s chest after a particularly tiring day.

“You’re so sexy.” Lana smiled up at her as she played with Dav’s breasts, her cheeks flushed with her earlier orgasm. “I want to just watch you ride me. Can we do that?”

Whimpering, Dav nodded eagerly as she clambered onto her knees, Lana reaching over into their bedside table for one of the dildos they kept there. Since Dav was already so wet, they didn’t even bother with the lube; Lana easily slid it into Dav’s body, watching with an open mouth as Dav rocked back and forth over Lana.

“Look at you, so eager to get fucked,” Lana said admiringly, her eyes roaming up and down Dave’s body. “You’re the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen.”

“Fuck me,” Dav begged, reaching down to play with her own clit while her other hand played with her nipples. “Please, Lana--”

“After I watch you come on this, I’m going to take this out of you.” Lana gave a particularly hard thrust with the dildo, which made Dav sob with pleasure. “And lick all your juices off it. Then I’ll eat you out until you can’t walk--”

Bending down, Dav’s mouth sloppily crashed on top of Lana’s, the two of them frantically kissing as Lana sped up her movements, Dav’s body swallowing the entirety of the dildo except for its flared base. Dav was teetering on the edge, so close to orgasm until Lana slid out the dildo and replaced it with her fingers instead, her intent blue eyes watching as Dav moaned her release in Lana’s arms.

***

It was almost eleven when the doorbell rang again. Dav’s eyes flickered open when she heard Lana making her way to the door, then muffled voices as she thanked Martina and Andie for watching over Paris. After a while, there was silence again - which meant their friends had left. Dav sleepily made a mental note to text them a thank-you when she was more awake later - and less wrecked - and perhaps add a gift voucher to Martina and Andie’s favourite spa.

Lana padded back into the bedroom, gently carrying a sleeping Paris in her arms. Laying their daughter back down into the crib, Lana started packing away the bags Dav had passed to Martina and Andie. When Lana spotted Dav’s half-open eyes, she smiled. “Go back to sleep, love.”

One last important thing on Dav’s mind. “Baby?”

“She looks well. We should blackmail Mart and Andie to get them to do this again.”

Snuffling a laugh against the pillow, Dav patted the bed. “C’mon to bed, love.”

Dav had almost nodded off to sleep again when she felt the warm press of Lana’s lips against her forehead. “I’ll be right there.”

[savages-weapons]

MOTH TO A LIGHT - a romancek mix for Roman Godfrey & Peter Rumancek ("all I need is your hand to drag me out again...") [+playmoss]

◯

i.do you ever feel cursed - david torn // ii.bloodwork - steve tibbetts // iii.song for clay (disappear here) - bloc party // iv.the loneliness and the scream - frightened rabbit // v.moth to a light - betty and the boy // vi.claws - son lux // vii.smother - daughter // viii.crashed - daughtry // ix.prelude 12/21 - afi // x.suite from restless - christophe beck // xi.through the looking glass - robert j. kral // xii.blood theme - daniel licht // xiii.saw something - dave gahan // xiv.i want love - akira yamaoka & melissa wiliamson // xv.heart heart head - meg myers // xvi.protect me from what i want - placebo // xvii.leave a scar - marilyn manson // xviii.how to break a heart - emilie autmun // xix.staring at me - m83

[the-cackling-magpie]

undefined

Dave Gahan, on Trump’s America and his daughter’s response to the election

[keepsporstlover]

Dave Gahan Lifestyle 2018 ★ Net Worth ★ Biography ★ House

[livinginsynth]

Stay, written by Dave Gahan for his daughter, Stella Rose Gahan.

[spazmonkeydb]

Moth To A Light by oximore

all I need is your hand to drag me out again...

Do You Ever Feel Cursed by David Torn || Song For Clay (Disappear Here) by Bloc Party || The Loneliness and the Scream by Frightened Rabbit || Moth to a Light by Betty and the Boy || Claws by Son Lux || Smother by Daughter || Crashed by Daughtry || Prelude 12/21 by AFI || Suite from Restless by Christophe Beck || Blood Theme by Daniel Licht || Saw Something by Dave Gahan || I Want Love (Studio Mix) by Mary Elizabeth McGlynn || Protect Me From What I Want by Placebo || Leave a Scar by Marilyn Manson || Poem: How To Break a Heart by Emilie Autumn || Staring At Me by M83

[michaelcosio]

Oct 14, 2015

Depeche Mode singer Dave Gahan discusses the musical interests of his daughter, Stella Rose, in this excerpt of an interview with WSJ's Lee Hawkins.

from Wall Street Journal

[101dmpl]

Odkąd zespół zrobił sobie przerwę w trasie koncertowej pojawiło się całkiem sporo informacji z… ekhm towarzystkiego życia Dave’a w Nowym Jorku. Do wznowienia trasy zostało już jednynie 9 dni, tym czasem zapraszam na krótki raport ze ścianek i innych miejsc, gdzie telefony poszły w ruch…

Planned Parenthood’s 2018 Spring Into Action Gala

Planned Parenthood’s 2018 Spring Into Action Gala

Planned Parenthood’s 2018 Spring Into Action Gala

Dave Gahan został uznanym za najlepiej ubranego faceta przez magazyn GQ. Sąd ten uczyniono po uchwyceniu Dave na ściance Planned Parenthood’s 2018 Spring Into Action Gala w Nowym Jorku

Wygląd Gahana uderza w idealną równowagę pomiędzy elegancją, a rock’n’rollem (nie żebyśmy oczekiwali czegokolwiek mniej od jednego z mistrzów dźwięku stojących za Depeche Mode).

#DaveGahan with his wife and daughter arriving to the #plannedparenthood #gala

Post udostępniony przez Depeche Mode México 💻 🎵 🎶 (@depechemodemexico) Maj 1, 2018 o 6:49 PDT

Potem Dave dał się przyłapać dzięki swojej żonie, która nie oszczędziła go i ogłosiła miastu i światu, że Dave nie umi zamówić taksówki. Chłopak chciał w staromodnym stylu złapać podwózkę klasycznym machaniem. Niestety życie w trasie sprawiło, że nie zauważył, iż obecnie zamawia się Yellow Cabs po przez aplikację, w ostateczności na telefon. Prawda czasu, prawda ekranu…

#taaaaaxi #funny #copyright @jennifer_sklias_gahan #getanapp #davegahan #newyork #depechemode #depeche #devotees #fans #depeche_mode #depechemodefans #bestbandever #david #gahan #forever #poland #is #waiting #seeyousoon @opener_festival #berlin #final #shows #globalspirittour

Post udostępniony przez MusicTravellers.Pl (@musictravellers) Maj 4, 2018 o 7:33 PDT

Najświeższa ścianka pochodzi raptem z mijającego tygodnia, gdy Dave wraz z żoną zostali uwiecznieni na premierze nowego filmu produkcji HBO – Farnheit 451

Premiera Farenheit 451 (HBO)

Premiera Farenheit 451 (HBO)

Hmmm… Znajdź 5 różnic między zdjeciami opublikowanymi w tym wpisie. Dobrze, że wznowienie trasy coraz bliżej i będzie można znowu narzekać na setlistę, oklepane numery i te same znane ruchy… Stęskniłem się już za tym…

Dave udziela się towarzysko

[depechemodespiritera]

Depeche Mode frontman Dave Gahan is having a wistful moment of gratitude, gazing out the picturesque window of his Beverly Hills hotel room at the sunshine that radiates like a golden blanket over steadily swaying palm trees and dreamy, magazine-ready homes in the hills beyond.

"L.A. has been there for us from day one, really," he says of his band's Angeleno fan base. "We were playing smaller places, but there was a cult aspect to the way people came to our shows and knew our music, before they even knew who the band was."

It's late April, and Gahan and his longtime partner in Depeche, Martin Gore, are doing interviews in their rooms at the Four Seasons as they gear up for a secret fan show at Hollywood Forever Cemetery's Masonic Lodge, a warm-up gig for an international tour in support of their latest album, Spirit. (The band's third member, Andy Fletcher, was not present.) Both speak enthusiastically about their love of L.A. and their fervent fan base here, which helped them sell out a record-breaking four nights at the Hollywood Bowl, something no other group has ever done.

Much has been made of L.A.'s Morrissey obsession, but it could be argued that Depeche Mode, who play those sold-out Bowl shows starting this week, enjoy an even more fanatical following here. There are club nights devoted to them and a popular DM convention held here every year, and the band's hits have never left rotation on L.A. radio, not just KROQ (where they got their first airplay) but mainstream pop stations as well.

Many Angelenos who came of age in the '80s and '90s feel a kinship with Depeche Mode and their songs' themes of sorrow and struggle, shameless romance and eternal outsider-dom. It's the same reason the goth scene is so popular here. Depeche Mode's music speaks to those of us who have always felt that the stereotypical image of sunny SoCal — wherein everyone is blond and beachy — is false and at odds with our true depth and dark proclivities. In an ironic way, dark music like Depeche's connects in L.A. more than anywhere else in the world. And you can dance to it.

Gore's ability to write emotive yet edgy songs with infectious hooks, and Gahan's visceral interpretations of them, have made them one of the most potent pairs in music. Personality-wise they could hardly be more different — Gahan the outgoing, dramatic frontman, Gore the quiet, sensitive songwriter. But they have much in common, too, including an obvious fondness for L.A. Gore lives with his wife and two baby daughters not far away in Santa Barbara. Gahan, who resides in New York, says his 18-year-old daughter, at the time of our interview, was considering attending USC. Still, their connection to L.A. runs even deeper than most people know.

Gore recalls the band being more of an underground phenomenon when they first came to L.A. during the "Just Can't Get Enough" era circa 1982, and how the crowds swelled when they returned around '85. "That was when it blew up," he says. "It seemed like alternative radio had taken hold of the country, but especially here in L.A. ... We went from playing small theaters to big ones, playing to 15,000 people. That was incredible for us at the time."

Gahan has a soft spot for early days, too, recalling the smaller shows when they were unknowns playing the Roxy and the now-shuttered Perkins Palace. He peers intently out his window once again, this time as if he's looking for something. "When I first came here, I was like, 'I wanna live here!'?" he says, pointing at the skyline.

In 1989, Gahan left his first wife and moved in with the band's PR director, Teresa Conroy, whom he later married. His second wife is a big link to Gahan's L.A. story, one that many fans don't know much about. (Full disclosure: I have been friends with Conroy since 2008, after I profiled her in L.A. Weekly's 2008 People issue. Gahan brought her up during our interview unprompted.) What little they do know has, for the most part, been negative, with stories painting her as the scapegoat for Gahan's well-documented drug problems. With our conversation spotlighting L.A. and its influence on the band, the frontman seems eager to set the record straight.

"I fell in love with her during tour," he says. "We just connected and at the end, I told my wife in England I was not coming back. ... I showed up on Teresa's doorstep on Sweetzer and Fountain Avenue with my little suitcase and said, 'Hey!'

"We ended up getting married. We lived near Santa Monica, in Nichols Canyon and Benedict Canyon for a while. We moved around, but what brought that all down for me was I just wanted ..."

He pauses for a long moment. "Substances?" I ask.

"Yes. That's what I liked to do most," he admits, "and it tore us apart, so that was the end of it. I moved to New York around '97 and changed my life. My behavior was not gonna change in L.A.

"Some of what people thought about her might have been my doing, just blabbing my mouth off. I realized after being clean 10 years later, it was like, wow ... at the time, as long as I had what I needed, I didn't give a fuck about anybody else. And I didn't think I was that person, but I was that person."

Gahan, now 55 and married to his third wife for 18 years, has been clean and sober for more than two decades. He looks healthy and trim in a black T-shirt and dark-rimmed glasses, with hints of gray on his chin and temples. But back then, he nearly died a few times from heroin overdoses, once at the Sunset Marquis where the band rented a villa on a frequent basis. Today, however, he seems to associate L.A. and his second marriage not so much with his addiction but with inspiration.

"I haven't talked about it enough, but that time in L.A. was wonderful. The few years I did spend here when we were just hanging out and I didn't work for a couple of years, there were all these great bands playing, like Jane's Addiction, Guns N' Roses. Going to clubs like Cathouse. There was this great music coming out of L.A. There was an energy in some of the new music coming up that I was feeling and seeing here."

Gahan's personal style at the time was influenced by the L.A. rock scene (more tattoos, longer hair, leather), and he sought to steer Depeche's music that way, too. When he went back into the studio to make Songs of Faith and Devotion after 1990's Violator, the career-changing album that included worldwide hits "Personal Jesus," "Policy of Truth" and "Enjoy the Silence," Gahan says, "I was like, 'Guys, we've gotta change it up! This is just too clean, too neat!'?" But Gore and the rest of the band "didn't like at all where I was coming from."

Gore, the band's primary songwriter, was the more provocative dresser in Depeche's early days. He fancied lots of guyliner and became a fan of bondage getups — often purchased, he says, at Trashy Lingerie, not far from the Four Seasons. It gave the band an androgynous edge that "the girls seemed to like," and complemented Gore's sensitive lyrics and rhythm-driven compositions. Depeche were huge after Violator, so it's no surprise that Gore didn't want to change the winning formula, even if music in general was having a heavier moment.

Looking tan and content during our conversation (the bondage attire is long gone, replaced by a fitted black ensemble not unlike Gahan's), Gore, 56, concedes that letting go of creative control has always been something of a challenge. He describes how the early dynamics of the band evolved, putting him "behind the wheel" in terms of writing the songs and shaping the band's sound.

"When we first started we were 18 and 19, and the main driving force behind the band was Vince Clarke. He was the main songwriter, and we were just along for the ride, really," Gore says. "And then he announced to us that he was leaving before the first album was released. So because we were young and didn't really think too much about anything, we just booked some studio time and went in and carried on laying down with a three-piece, as you would at 19 and 20. We never expected it to be a huge commercial success, especially at the time. But then we grew up a little bit."

With Clarke moving on to other projects (notably Yazoo with Alison Moyet and Erasure with Andy Bell), Gore just naturally took the reins, and his talent for songwriting grew as he did. "By the time we got to the third album, we'd traveled the world quite a lot and seen a lot more," he says. "I started to get, not exactly dark by the third album [Construction Time Again], but a little bit more worldly, maybe."

Though Gahan felt like he "wanted to take it to another level," after his time in L.A. in the '90s, he didn't officially contribute to actual Depeche songwriting until 2005's Playing the Angel. It was all Gore until then. Still, the edgier aesthetics and more visceral performance style Gahan honed did steer the band into grittier territory, which fans (particularly female fans) found dramatic and sexy.

Both Gore and Gahan admit their relationship has had its tempestuous and trying moments over the years. But Gore says that after working on their latest, highly political album, Spirit, it's "as good as it's ever been."

For this tour and the Hollywood Bowl shows, Gore promises to take lead vocals on the tender numbers fans have come to expect from him, plus lots of groove-driven guitar work on songs both old and new. Depeche's massive catalog of memorable, emotionally charged music aside, their live show is why they continue to sell out stadiums at this point in their career.

I was lucky enough to attend both a rehearsal at SIR Studios in Hollywood before our interviews and the warm-up "secret" show at Hollywood Forever, and the band are as good as they've ever been onstage. With stellar production (including visuals by famed photographer and video director Anton Corbijn) and support from a solid backing band, Depeche Mode are almost certain to deliver the transcendent experience their fans expect. The Global Spirit Tour is aptly named, and Gore and Gahan hold nothing back, complementing each other in the kind of caustic yet comfortable way that only the most iconic duos do.

"Sometimes a band needs to have a bit of friction. ... The best stuff sometimes comes out of this need to be heard," Gahan explains. "Creatively we're old enough to realize that we respect each other's differences, and we know that we need each other. That's what Depeche Mode is. It's a weirdness between the two of us."

DEPECHE MODE: GLOBAL SPIRIT TOUR | Hollywood Bowl | 2301 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood | Thu., Oct. 12; Sat., Oct. 14; Mon., Oct. 16; Wed., Oct. 18; 7:30 p.m. all shows | $45 and up | hollywoodbowl.com