Depeche Mode’s Andy Fletcher Dead At 60

Stereogum ^ | May 26, 2022 | James Rettig

[Carpe Cerevisi]

Depeche Mode’s Andy Fletcher has died at 60. “We are shocked and filled with overwhelming sadness with the untimely passing of our dear friend, family member, and bandmate Andy ‘Fletch’ Fletcher,” reads a statement that was posted on the band’s social media accounts. “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.”

Fletcher was born in 1961 in Nottingham, England, and moved to Basildon when he was a child. It was there that he met future Depeche Mode founding member Vince Clarke. In the late ’70s, he started a band with Clarke called No Romance In China; after meeting Martin Gore, they all formed a different trio called Composition Of Sound. In 1980, Dave Gahan joined the group and they changed their name to Depeche Mode.

Though Clarke would leave the band after the release of their debut album Speak And Spell in 1981, Fletcher continued as an active member, playing keyboard throughout their entire career. Along with Martin and Gore, he released 17 albums with Depeche Mode, the most recent of which was 2017’s Spirit. He was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2020.

[Tired of Taxes]

You’re right - just looked it up - Clarke played for Erasure, Yaz, and other bands.

I can’t say I remember too much about any of these bands. Just that their music was the soundtrack to life in the mid to late 80’s, which was a great time to be alive.

[Bikkuri]

Erasure played (remade) many 50s and 60s songs, and a few of their own. Some really good.

Yaz, most in the states didn't know of them, I learned of them (singer plus Vince Clarke) because I went to dance clubs about 3x per week during Uni 🤩..
Actual name is Yazoo (UK), but there was some name conflict here in the states, so band was called Yaz here.

If you went clubbing back in mid-late 80s, you should know a couple of Yazoo's songs:

Yazoo - Don't Go (Official HD Video)

Yazoo - Situation
(got chillbumps after hearing this one again.. memories 😏😜)

[Tired of Taxes]

Definitely remember those two songs by Yaz (Yazoo).

And I always loved Erasure’s “Chains of Love” and “A Little Respect.”

Yes, the memories... sigh... fun times.

[Bikkuri]

Sorry to keep dragging this on, but it reminded me of a time when I was walking through the Base Exchange at Patrick AFB, and over their sound system I heard a group I thought was Depeche Mode.
I found a worker there and asked if Depeche Mode had made a new album, and he laughed. He told me that several people a day ask him the same question. The name of the group is Cause & Effect. I went and found the cd (impossible to find anymore :/), and bought it.

Cause & Effect.

Give 'em a listen 😉.

[Bikkuri]

Sorry.. promise, last post.. The link I gave you is to only 1 song (with a mix on the side).

This link is to the actual album (with all of the songs on the album): Cause&Effect


Looked them up on Wiki (WIKI) Cause_and_Effect_(band), and now understand why they are hard to find. 1 of the 2 man band died of heart failure in 1992 while on tour, opening for Information Society (and the original cd from 1990 has been discontinued (but remade later on later cds)).

Ok, apologies for all of the OT (and late) posts. Night all 😴

[Cowgirl of Justice]

Will do!!!

Have you heard ‘Face Up’ by NO?

I cry every single time. I had no idea what it was about until I read the lyrics.

[Tired of Taxes]

I see what you mean. Cause & Effect really does sound like Depeche Mode.

It’s sad that one of the founding members died so young.

[Bshaw]

Wow, thanks for sharing! And post til your heart’s content!

How have I never heard of this group?!?

I’ve also thought the same about the group Camouflage, bvery similar sound: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6s1-caKRtQ

[Bshaw]

Spot on, I own nearly everything that they have ever done, love them!

Even their less commercially successful albums like Playing the Angel includes amazing music, (Nothing’s Impossible). I actually have some oddity discs, (mini-discs) from my time in the Military in Germany in the late 80’s early 90s, which include songs like:

- Happiest girl
- Dangerous
- Kaleid

Few groups in this genre enjoy current such fan support and longevity.

[Bshaw]

I would be remiss if I did not recommend this song in honor of Andy’s passing. This is from the album “Until The End of The World.”

I have very much enjoyed this album over time and it includes ‘Death’s Door’ by Depeche Mode. RIP Andy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-_BPDG-CAA

[Bikkuri]

"I’ve also thought the same about the group Camouflage"

I was going to mention them, but I figured I had already worn the thread out >.

[Bikkuri]

That will definitely bring your blood pressure down.. Sad :/

[Bikkuri]

Even their darker music was great, like Fly on the Windscreen. It was just.... Depeche.

[Bikkuri]

OH! Did you get the special (I think it was limited time) CD from DM Ultra?
It had hidden songs on it. If I remember correctly, you had to play it on the computer (may have been video, I don’t remember)...
I wish I still had the originals, but I left all of my CDs back in Japan :(
I think it had special versions of Home and Barrel of a Gun, but I can’t remember :P

[Bshaw]

“OH! Did you get the special (I think it was limited time) CD from DM Ultra?”

I have downloaded most of my music to iTunes, but still have all of my CDs stored in several large storage bins. I don’t recall anything special presenting itself when downloading...

Sounds like I may have a winter project to see exactly what I have.

[Bikkuri]

"Sounds like I may have a winter project to see exactly what I have."

Better schedule it as an all day event. You'll probably be there for hours (if not days) reminiscing.. 😉

[Bikkuri]

BTW, I had a hard drive with 96 gig of music that I livestreamed in chat (LiveLeak) a few times a week.
The darn thing crashed, so anything that wasn’t from my CDs, I was never able to recover (about half was stuff I had collected from the net since way before WWW (or windows, for that matter) existed. The rest was recorded/transferred from my CDs).

Most of the lost songs were unrecoverable.. and also included music that I had made (as a hobby).
Was a slap in the face about how important making back-ups are.

[RckyRaCoCo]

Same, I'd heard of Depeche Mode and thought Shout was theirs(Tears)...just listened to a compilation of Depeche Mode/Greatest Hits on YouTube...must admit, I've never heard of any of them. So many groups of that era sounded the same to me.

(OK 'boomer...I get it)