Depeche Mode announce world tour

Paris - Depeche Mode announced on Tuesday they will kick off a world tour following the release of their new album next year, taking in 25 European countries before heading to North America.

The British New Wave trio, whose last tour dates back to 2010, will launch the new tour on 7 May 2013 in Tel Aviv, heading from there to Europe for 34 dates across the continent, they told a Paris press conference.

European gigs are to include Britain - with a single date in London on 28 May - Greece, Bulgaria, Turkey, Russia, Italy, Germany and France, as well as festivals like Spain's BBK in Bilbao.

Dave Gahan, Martin Gore and Andy Fletcher expect to play to some 1.5 million fans before heading to North America.

"We will be doing warm-up dates but we haven't decided where," Fletcher told reporters.

Untitled album

The tour will come on the heels of their 13th studio album, the first since Sounds of the Universe in 2009, set to hit shelves next year. The album title and release date have yet to be unveiled.

"Recording is always a joy, and I think we had a lot of fun," Gore said of preparations for the new album.

"Basically we have a laugh and we do the thing that we love to do. Making music, it's a miracle that we're still able to do it."

The best-selling electronic music band in history, Depeche Mode has sold more than 100 million albums since it was founded in 1979, winning over a global audience with such hits as Personal Jesus and Just Can't Get Enough.