Artist News

Depeche Mode’s Andy Fletcher dies

By Andy Malt | Published on Friday 27 May 2022

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

“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 had a true heart of gold and was always there when you needed support, a lively conversation, a good laugh, or a cold pint”.

“Our hearts are with his family, and we ask that you keep them in your thoughts and respect their privacy in this difficult time”, they conclude.

Born in Nottingham, Fletcher moved to Basildon with his family as a teenager. 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. They were then joined by Martin Gore and soon afterwards switched to playing synthesizers.

Vocalist Dave Gahan joined later that year – suggesting the change of name to Depeche Mode – and the band released their debut album, ‘Speak & Spell, in 1981. Clarke left the group shortly after that initial release, but Fletcher, Gore and Gahan have remained constant in the line-up ever since.

The only member of the band to have no songwriting credits, off stage Fletcher focussed more on the business side of the operation, acting as the band’s manager for periods of their career.

In 2002, he also launched his own record label as an imprint of Mute, signing Client. The band released two albums on the label – 2003’s ‘Client’ and 2004 ‘City’ – before moving on.

Depeche Mode, of course, have continued to have considerable success throughout their more than 40 year career. And in 2020, Fletcher, Gahan and Gore were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame during a virtual ceremony.

The band’s most recent album, and the last to feature Fletcher, was ‘Spirit’, released in 2017.