Andy Fletcher, Founding Member of Depeche Mode, Dead at 60

Keyboardist Andy Fletcher, one of many founding members of Depeche Mode, has died on the age of 60.

The information was confirmed on the band’s official social media accounts, although no additional particulars concerning the reason for demise got.

“Fletch had a real coronary heart of gold and was at all times there once you wanted assist,” a tweet from Depeche Mode learn, “a full of life dialog, a very good giggle or a chilly pint.”

Born in Nottingham, England, on July 8, 1961, Fletcher and his schoolmate Vince Clarke fashioned their first band, No Romance in China, within the late ’70s. Shortly afterward they met Martin Gore in an area pub and fashioned a brand new group, Composition of Sound. When singer Dave Gahan arrived, the band settled on its ultimate title: Depeche Mode.

Fletcher’s function within the band modified usually — he may simply as simply be discovered taking part in bass as keyboards and synthesizers. In 101, D.A. Pennebaker’s 1989 documentary movie in regards to the band, Fletcher addressed his shifting tasks with a memorable quote: “Martin’s the songwriter, Alan [Wilder]’s the nice musician, Dave’s the vocalist and I bum round.”

At factors when the band was with out a full-time supervisor, Fletcher additionally often dealt with enterprise and authorized issues. “Typically it’s irritating to not be taken critically,” he mentioned in a 2009 interview. “In spite of everything, you could possibly additionally say my job is an important; with out me there can be no band anymore. But it surely’s the identical in massive companies — the those that do a very good job within the background don’t get as a lot consideration as those who’d get onto the microphone and announce the nice quarterly figures.”

Depeche Mode’s rise to fame was gradual however regular. It took a number of years for his or her music to construct a following in Europe, the U.Ok. and, ultimately, the U.S., however by the point their seventh album, Violator, was launched in 1990, there have been one of many largest acts on this planet. Violator reached No. 7 within the States, stayed on the chart for 74 weeks and was licensed triple platinum. The immensely fashionable World Violation Tour adopted.

In 2020, Depeche Mode have been inducted into the Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame. “Rising up, listening to music on the radio and having music, it actually type of helped us to really feel regular, really feel a part of one thing,” Gahan mentioned throughout their acceptance speech. “That’s what music does for folks, and I believe that’s what Depeche Mode has completed for many individuals. I believe music actually brings folks collectively, and God is aware of we’d like that extra in the present day than it appears every other time.”

“We have been practical – we thought we’d have a number of hits, after which we’d go away,” Fletcher instructed Consequence in 2017. “Actually, it’s like a dream come true to be right here now, to have completed a lot, to have so many followers. It’s only a improbable feeling.”