Andy “Fletch” Fletcher was a founding member of the British cult band that wrote music history with hits like “Just Can't Get Enough” or “People are People”. The keyboard player only lived to be 60 years old.
Depeche Mode keyboardist Andrew Fletcher passed away on May 26th, 2022 at the age of 60
“We are shocked and saddened by the untimely passing of our dear friend, family member and bandmate Andy 'Fletch' Fletcher,” British band Depeche Mode posted on Twitter late Thursday.
“Fletch had a true heart of gold and was always there when you needed support, a lively conversation, a good laugh or a cold beer.”
According to AP sources, Fletcher died of natural causes died at home in the UK.
Influence on electro-pop music
Fletcher, who was born in Nottingham, England in 1961, founded together with Vince Clarke, Martin Gore and Dave Gahan 1980 Depeche Mode. The band developed into a pioneer of British electropop.
Depeche Mode's debut studio album Speak & Spell, released in 1981, catapulted them into the spotlight of the British New Wave scene. It included the hits “New Life” and “Just Can't Get Enough”.
Andrew Fletcher is survived by a wife and two children
To date, Depeche Mode has sold more than 100 million albums and continues to delight audiences around the world with songs like “Personal Jesus”, “People Are People” and “Enjoy The Silence”.
The last studio album by the Band, “Spirit”, was released in 2017.
Fletcher, who, unlike his bandmates, tended to stay out of the spotlight throughout his life, was a supporter of London football club Chelsea FC and had a fondness for playing chess. He did not sing or write any songs himself.
Together with his bandmates he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2020.
He toured with his group until his death. Only in 1994 did he sit out a tour due to mental health problems.
In 2002 Fletcher even founded his own record label “Toast Hawaii”. He also DJed at concerts with the band CLIENT.
Fletcher leaves behind a wife and two children. After his death, Gahan and Gore are now the only remaining members of Depeche Mode. Vince Clarke left the band back in 1981.
Condolences on social media
The music world is deeply saddened by Fletcher's death. On social media, many of his fans and fellow musicians expressed dismay and paid tribute to the keyboardist.
The Pet Shop Boys wrote on Twitter that he was “a warm, friendly and fun person, who loved electronic music”.
The pop band Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark tweeted that he was a “wonderful person in an amazing band”.
Fletcher's childhood friend, singer Alison Moyet, wrote: “We've known each other since we were ten. We lived on the same property. We were classmates, then label mates. He kept the old one Gang's loyalty and they him. It just doesn't make sense. Fletch, I'm at a loss for words.”
Moyet formed the band Yazoo (in the Known as Yaz in USA).
Carol Decker, the lead singer of the band T'Pau, tweeted: “Oh no!!! Fletch was a lovely guy, Depeche Mode one of my absolute favorite bands, sending all my love to his family, friends and the band members.”
For Lol Tolhurst, drummer of The Cure, Fletcher's death is “very sad news”.
“I knew Andy and considered him a friend. Many paths crossed for us when we were young men. My heart goes out to his family,” according to Tolhurst on Twitter.
mm/rs/kt/ash (AFP, AP, Reuters)