Has any band been remixed more often than Depeche Mode

On June 6, the pioneering synthpop band will release Remixes 2: 81-11, the follow-up to 2004’s Remixes: 81-04. Like its predecessor, the collection presents new and classic remixes spanning Depeche Mode’s entire career, stretching back to their 1981 debut, Speak And Spell. Making the second volume especially noteworthy are the inclusion of mixes by two former bandmates, Vince Clarke (“Behind The Wheel”) and Alan Wilder (“In Chains”), included on the expanded edition. Read complete details of the tracklisting for Remixes 2: 81-11 here.

Today, a pair of new remixes of “Personal Jesus” from 1990’s Violator were made available for download, crafted by Alex Metric and Stargate. Both edits will appear on Remixes 2.

“It was an honor and a privilege to be able to get my hands on a classic record like ‘Personal Jesus,'” says Metric. “I hope I did it some justice with my new version. I can clearly remember the first time I heard Depeche Mode as a teenager, and they made quite an impression on me, so to be able to work with the band in some way has been amazing.”

“Personal Jesus” (Alex Metric Remix)

“Personal Jesus” (The Stargate Mix)

There’s more where those two came from, coming soon. An expanded “Personal Jesus 2011” package is scheduled for release in late May, rounded out by revamps from Eric Prydz, M.A.N., and Sie Medway-Smith.

Could today’s release of Depeche Mode’s resurrected “Personal Jesus” be a bit of loosely-tied pre-Easter PR? Match the Alex Metric and Stargate mixes with Lady Gaga’s new “Judas” single, and you’ve got the rise of a Passion Playlist for your weekend party plans. (Oh, the blasphemy!)

Purchase Depeche Mode – “Personal Jesus 2011” (Alex Metric Remix and Stargate Remix) via iTunes.