After taking an unexpected hiatus from their international tour last month, Depeche Mode [ tickets ] returned to its Tour of the Universe Monday night (6/8) in Germany.

Approximately 50,000 fans packed the stadium in Leipzig, Germany for the new-wave pioneers' concert, the first since frontman Dave Gahan's surgery to remove a low-grade malignant tumor in his bladder, according to a press release.

"I'm grateful to the fans for showing their support and thankful to my family, friends and all of the doctors who looked after me so well," Gahan said in a press release. "Being back onstage is an incredible feeling and I'm looking forward to each and every show."

Gahan fell ill with gastroenteritis before the band's May 12 show in Athens, resulting in the cancellation of the Greek performance. Other scheduled shows, including stops in Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia and Croatia were also cancelled.

The world tour now continues through mid-July as originally planned, while ticketholders for the previously canceled shows are asked to hold on to their tickets pending information on rescheduled dates, according to the band's website.

Depeche Mode will kick off the North American portion of the trek July 24 in Toronto and continue performing across the US through early September.