BASILDON rockers Depeche Mode will be “coming home “ next summer after announcing their first UK stadium gig for 23 years alongside the launch of a new album.

At a press conference in Milan, Italy, the electronic music pioneers announced their 14th studio album, Spirit, expected next year.

The band, who formed in Basildon in 1980, will play the London Stadium, formerly the Olympic Stadium, on June 3 next year as part of a 32-date European tour.

They last played a stadium gig in the UK in 1993 at the Crystal Palace Athletic Sport Centre.

Spirit is expected “early next spring” according to frontman Dave Gahan, with the Global Spirit Tour kicking off in Stockholm on May 5.

They will also play Milan’s San Siro, Berlin’s Olympic Stadium, the Stade de France in Paris and a host of other European cities.

During the announcement they played a teaser from the album, with Gahan saying it would be “thought-provoking”.

He added: “We’re exceptionally proud of Spirit’s sound and energy and we’re excited to get back on tour to share it with our fans around the world.

“It is something we have been looking forward to doing for quite some time”

Since their emergence during the New Romantic era in 1980, Depeche Mode, having made their mark initially with sytnth pop hits such as New Life and Just Can’t Get Enough, evolved into one of the world’s best and most successful live acts.

Albums such as Violator and Songs of Faith and Devotion saw them at the peak of their powers with a much heavier rock sound and also enabled them to crack the lucrative American market.

Now a trio, comprising vocalist Gahan, 54, chief songwriter, guitarist and synthesiser player Martin Gore, 55, and keyboardist Andy Fletcher, 55, the band remain at the peak of their considerable powers and the tour is expected to be a sell-out.

Spirit, their first album since Delta Machine in 2013, was recorded in Santa Barbara and New York, and was produced by James Ford of Simian Mobile Disco fame.

Described as “dark, brooding and blues-influenced”, it is scheduled to be released in April next year.