Andy Fletcher

Fletcher helped define the sound of 1980s and '90s alternative music through hits including 'Just Can't Get Enough,' 'Personal Jesus' and 'People Are People ...

Depeche Mode, which was founded in 1980 by Fletcher, singer Dave Gahan and keyboardists Martin L. Gore and Vince Clarke, in Basildon, England, ascended to become one of the most successful rock acts of its time. We crossed many of the same pathways as younger men. Andy Fletcher of Depeche Mode has passed,” wrote the Cure’s Lol Tolhurst on Twitter. “I knew Andy and considered him a friend.

"We are shocked and filled with overwhelming sadness with the untimely passing of our dear friend, family member, and bandmate Andy 'Fletch' Fletcher," ...

The band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark tweeted Tributes to Fletcher began to pour in shortly after the band's announcement of his death. The announcement did not specify a cause of death.

Andy “Fletch” Fletcher, keyboardist and one of the founding members of iconic British electronic band Depeche Mode, has died. He was 60.

“As a rock star, you are a king for one night whenever you enter a town — especially in the States. For one night, we’d own the saloon, the gambling tables, the alcohol and the girls. I’m the only one left in the band who fancies a drink. Talking with Die Welt in 2009, Fletcher said the group had been a sedate one for many years. I always tell this story, but we had these accountants when we started to make a bit of money, and they drew up a plan — that we’d only last for two or three years. In a 2009 interview with the German newspaper Die Welt, Fletcher explained, “I’m the opposite of Dave. I’m a musician but on the street nobody will recognize me. We had offers in the beginning from major labels, and they promised us a lot of money, but instead we chose a man that was offering us no money.” “Fletch had a true heart of gold, and was always there when you needed support, a lively conversation, a good laugh, or a cold pint,” the post reads. In America and Europe, they tend to be more loyal.” But, he added, “These days, most interviews we do, almost everyone seems to like us.” Within the band, I contribute the element of pop. And because I don’t push myself to the fore, many mistake me for the fifth wheel." There is this big misunderstanding that in guitar bands real men are working real instruments — evening after evening — while in a synthesizer band like Depeche Mode nobody works, because it’s all machines." "Sometimes a band can’t stand each other but that electricity makes for great music.

By Doug Faulkner, BBC. Depeche Mode keyboardist Andy Fletcher has died, the band has announced. (FILES) In this file photo taken on April 26, ...

In a statement posted on social media, the band said: "Fletch had a true heart of gold and was always there when you needed support, a lively conversation, a good laugh or a cold pint." The statement went on to say that the keyboard player had a "heart of gold" and their "hearts are with his family". The band said they were "shocked and filled with overwhelming sadness with the untimely passing of our dear friend, family member, and bandmate".

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Andy “Fletch” Fletcher, the unassuming, bespectacled, red-headed keyboardist who for more than 40 years added his synth sounds to Depeche ...

With Gore, who Fletcher met at a pub in Basildon in 1980, they formed the trio Composition of Sound, with all three playing synthesizer. A fan of soccer team Chelsea FC with a penchant for chess, Fletcher assumed a low-profile in the group. As usual, Fletcher let his bandmates do nearly all the talking. “We are shocked and filled with overwhelming sadness with the untimely passing of our dear friend, family member and bandmate Andy ‘Fletch’ Fletcher,” the band's posts said. “Since we were 10,” Moyet tweeted Thursday. “Same estate. Gahan, Fletcher and Gore had to accept the honor remotely along with all the other inductees in the pandemic year.

"We are shocked and filled with overwhelming sadness with the untimely passing of our dear friend, family member and bandmate Andy 'Fletch' Fletcher," ...

Fletch” played for the British synth pop giants for more than 40 years.

“We are shocked and filled with overwhelming sadness with the untimely passing of our dear friend, family member and bandmate Andy ‘Fletch’ Fletcher,” the band’s posts said. His death leaves Gahan and Gore as the only permanent members of the band. Fletcher assumed a low-profile in the group, his face never as familiar as those of his bandmates.

Andy Fletcher, the keyboard player with electronic music giants Depeche Mode, has died at the age of 60, the band has announced.

And Pet Shop Boys said in a post on Facebook: "We're saddened and shocked that Andy Fletcher of Depeche Mode has died". Carol Decker, lead singer for the band T'Pau, described Fletcher as "a lovely guy", adding: "Sending all my love to his family friends and band members". In a statement, Depeche Mode said: "We are shocked and filled with overwhelming sadness with the untimely passing of our dear friend, family member and bandmate.

Fletch” played for the British synth pop giants for more than 40 years.

“We are shocked and filled with overwhelming sadness with the untimely passing of our dear friend, family member and bandmate Andy ‘Fletch’ Fletcher,” the band’s posts said. His death leaves Gahan and Gore as the only permanent members of the band. Fletcher assumed a low-profile in the group, his face never as familiar as those of his bandmates.

Born in 1961 in Nottingham, Fletcher befriended schoolmate Vince Clarke in the '70s and formed the band No Romance in China, in which he played bass. In 1980 he ...

Clarke departed the group in 1981, and Alan Wilder joined in 1982 (though he too left in 1995), though Fletcher remained in the group up until the present day. Born in 1961 in Nottingham, Fletcher befriended schoolmate Vince Clarke in the ’70s and formed the band No Romance in China, in which he played bass. “Our hearts are with his family, and we ask that you keep them in your thoughts and respect their privacy in this difficult time.”

Andy Fletcher, the keyboarding and co-founder of Depeche Mode, has died. He was 60.

Depeche Mode were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2020. Depeche Mode were officially founded in 1980, and the band would go on to release 14 studio albums with Fletcher playing on all of them. Andy Fletcher, the keyboarding and co-founder of Depeche Mode, has died.

Fletch” played for the British synth pop giants for more than 40 years.

“We are shocked and filled with overwhelming sadness with the untimely passing of our dear friend, family member and bandmate Andy ‘Fletch’ Fletcher,” the band’s posts said. His death leaves Gahan and Gore as the only permanent members of the band. Fletcher assumed a low-profile in the group, his face never as familiar as those of his bandmates.

Founding member of Depeche Mode Andy Fletcher has died, aged 60. No cause of death has yet been officially announced.

In 1980, he formed Depeche Mode – initially under the name Composition Of Sound – with schoolfriend Vince Clarke, with Clarke on guitar and vocals and Fletcher on bass. And in 2020, Fletcher, Gahan and Gore were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame during a virtual ceremony. “We are shocked and filled with overwhelming sadness with the untimely passing of our dear friend, family member, and bandmate Andy ‘Fletch’ Fletcher”, say the band in a statement.

Fletch” played for the British synth pop giants for more than 40 years.

“We are shocked and filled with overwhelming sadness with the untimely passing of our dear friend, family member and bandmate Andy ‘Fletch’ Fletcher,” the band’s posts said. His death leaves Gahan and Gore as the only permanent members of the band. Fletcher assumed a low-profile in the group, his face never as familiar as those of his bandmates.

Andy Fletcher, founding member and keyboardist of Depeche Mode, has died at the age of 60, the band announced.

Lol Tolhurst, drummer with The Cure, also paid tribute to the late keyboardist online, writing: “I knew Andy and considered him a friend. There, he met future Depeche Mode founding member Vince Clarke, with whom he formed a band called No Romance in China. After meeting Martin Gore, they formed a different group named Composition of Sound, changing their name to Depeche Mode in 1980 with the addition of Dave Gahan. Though Clarke departed the band following the release of their 1981 debut Speak & Spell, Fletcher remained an active member throughout their entire career, which spans 14 studio albums. Andy Fletcher, founding member and keyboardist of Depeche Mode, has died at the age of 60.

Fletcher assumed a low-profile in the group, but was a uniting figure and often the tiebreaking vote in the squabbles of his more famous bandmates.

With Gore, who Fletcher met at a pub in Basildon in 1980, they formed the trio Composition of Sound, with all three playing synthesizer. A fan of soccer team Chelsea FC with a penchant for chess, Fletcher assumed a low-profile in the group. As usual, Fletcher let his bandmates do nearly all the talking. "We are shocked and filled with overwhelming sadness with the untimely passing of our dear friend, family member and bandmate Andy 'Fletch' Fletcher," the band's posts said. "Since we were 10," Moyet tweeted Thursday. "Same estate. Gahan, Fletcher and Gore had to accept the honor remotely along with all the other inductees in the pandemic year.

For more than 40 years, he added his synth sounds to Depeche Mode hits like “Just Can't Get Enough” and “Personal Jesus.”

The oldest of four children, Andrew John Leonard Fletcher was born in Nottingham, England, on July 8, 1961. He also occasionally played bass in the band, which was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2020. A fan of soccer team Chelsea FC with a penchant for chess, Mr. Fletcher assumed a low-profile in the group.

Fletcher assumed a low-profile in the group, but was a uniting figure and often the tiebreaking vote in the squabbles of his more famous bandmates.

With Gore, who Fletcher met at a pub in Basildon in 1980, they formed the trio Composition of Sound, with all three playing synthesizer. A fan of soccer team Chelsea FC with a penchant for chess, Fletcher assumed a low-profile in the group. As usual, Fletcher let his bandmates do nearly all the talking. "We are shocked and filled with overwhelming sadness with the untimely passing of our dear friend, family member and bandmate Andy 'Fletch' Fletcher," the band's posts said. "Since we were 10," Moyet tweeted Thursday. "Same estate. Gahan, Fletcher and Gore had to accept the honor remotely along with all the other inductees in the pandemic year.

Andy Fletcher, the keyboard player with electronic music giants Depeche Mode, has died at the age of 60, the band has announced.

And Pet Shop Boys said in a post on Facebook: "We're saddened and shocked that Andy Fletcher of Depeche Mode has died". Carol Decker, lead singer for the band T'Pau, described Fletcher as "a lovely guy", adding: "Sending all my love to his family friends and band members". In a statement, Depeche Mode said: "We are shocked and filled with overwhelming sadness with the untimely passing of our dear friend, family member and bandmate.

Keyboard player and business brain of Depeche Mode who pushed the electronic band to long-lasting success.

Gahan became sober in the late 90s and the group resumed recording and playing live. Andy joined the Christian organisation the Boys’ Brigade and remained a member until he was 18, during which he became actively religious. He attended church seven days a week, and with fellow member Vince Clarke, preached in the Brigade coffee bar. The band’s musical direction was shaped by Gore, who had bought a then-revolutionary synthesiser, while their image, according to Fletcher, was “post-Blitz kids with frilly shirts”. He got a job as a clerk at SunLife Insurance, and stuck with it until he was fairly sure he could make a living from music. Fletcher was a keyboardist and passionate proponent of electronics, glorying in the synthesiser’s role in overturning the convention of music being made with guitars and drums. Without his tenacity, exercised over 42 years, Depeche Mode would have splintered long before they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2020.