Depeche Mode fans gather at Prague's Charles Bridge

Fans of the British electronic rock band Depeche Mode are gathering at Prague's Charles Bridge to recreate an iconic 1988 photograph. A daily queue has formed at the Pietà sculpture, a new fixture on the 14th-century landmark that traditionally drew visitors to the statue of St John of Nepomuk.

The original monochrome image was captured by Dutch photographer Anton Corbijn during the band's visit to communist Czechoslovakia. The photograph features band members Dave Gahan and Martin Gore standing beside the Pietà and was later published in the book ‘Depeche Mode: Strangers.’

While devotees have visited the site for years, a recent surge in popularity has been fueled by social media trends on platforms like TikTok and Pinterest, as well as images of large crowds during the band's 2024 Prague performances. The trend has resulted in millions of views online as tourists seek to replicate the historic shot.