Here’s the skinny: Starting September 13 and running through the 26th, pre-order the digital download from iTunes, and you’ll receive a password giving you a chance to purchase up to four tickets via Ticketmaster.com for selected dates on the band’s upcoming U.S. tour.

For those of you keeping track, Depeche Mode tickets for the general public will not go on sale until September 24, and “Playing The Angel,” will not appear in music stores until October 18. Those who do pre-order the album / ticket combo package will be able to download the tracks from iTunes on the release date.

Doing it up digitally seems to come naturally for DM. Back in ‘98, the band became the first to sell advance concert tickets by ordering a CD online. Back then it was the “The Singles 86 – 98” anthology release, which was also combined with tickets via a special arrangement with Ticketmaster.

“Depeche Mode is once again pushing the wire for its fans and utilizing cutting edge technology to lead toward a better and faster way for fans to access new music and concert tickets,” Jonathan Kessler, DM’s manager, said in a statement announcing the promotion.

Additional info for the digital download concert ticket pre-sale is available at the band’s official Web site as well as Ticketmaster.com and iTunes.