More than 20,000 Depeche Mode fans who had gathered at Athens’ Terra Vibe Park for the May 12 concert were told the show would not go ahead after Gahan reportedly fell ill in the dressing room just prior to the show.

The Athens gig is part of Depeche Mode’s tour to promote the bands latest Sounds of the Universe album and includes concerts booked through this and next year, including performances in the USA from July through September 2009.

Organizers have suggested that Gahan may be suffering from gastroenteritis but no details on his condition have been made public.

The cancellation of the show angered some fans even more when organizers failed to refund ticket prices, which ranged from €60 to €100 (about $US82 to $US137).

Depeche Mode are scheduled to headline at this year’s Lollapalooza Festival in Chicago and last month more than 12,000 Depeche Mode fans tuned in to watch the British synth-rock icons perform on Jimmy Kimmel Live – the largest audience the show has attracted since its launch in 2003.

Depeche Mode emerged in the 1980s and has sold more than 75 million albums worldwide.