Depeche Mode keyboardist Andy Fletcher dies unexpectedly - initial cause of death reports
Created: 05/27/2022, 09:34
By: Armin T. Linder
The music world mourns the loss of Andy Fletcher: The Depeche Mode keyboardist died at the age of 60.
He gives the first reports on the cause of death.
LONDON - Keyboardist for British synth-pop band Depeche Mode, Andy Fletcher, has died at the age of 60.
"We are shocked and filled with immense sadness at the untimely death of our dear friend, family and band member Andy "Fletch" Fletcher," the band wrote on Twitter Thursday night.
Fletcher leaves behind his wife and two children.
Depeche Mode keyboardist Andy Fletcher dead - 'He had a true heart of gold'
"Fletch had a true heart of gold and was always there when you needed support, a lively conversation, a laugh or a cold beer," Depeche Mode continued.
Hearts are with his family and we ask that their privacy be respected at this difficult time.
Depeche Mode keyboardist Andy Fletcher dies unexpectedly - initial cause of death reports
No official information was given about the cause of death.
Andy Fletcher died of natural causes, a person close to the band told the AP.
Who the insider is is not named because he is not authorized to make official statements.
The source goes on to say Andy Fletcher died at his home in England.
Rolling Stone
magazine also
reports that he died of natural causes.
So far, nothing was known about Andy Fletcher's serious health problems - instead he made headlines with a bicycle accident in April 2022 in which he broke his wrist while on holiday in Barcelona.
His wife shared photos on Instagram at the time and wrote, "This isn't exactly how we imagined the first weekend of our vacation to be.
No more cycling for a while.”
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Death of Andy Fletcher plunges music world into mourning
The news of death now caused great sadness among supporters and colleagues.
Former The Cure drummer Lol Tolhurst wrote on Twitter that he thought Fletcher was a friend.
"We crossed many of the same paths as young men." And the Pet Shop Boys wrote on Facebook that they were sad and shocked.
"Fletch was a warm, friendly and funny person who loved electronic music and could also offer sound advice about the music business."
Andy Fletcher (left) was only 60 years old.
The photo from 2016 shows him with frontman Dave Gahan (centre) and guitarist Martin Gore.
© Lena Klimkeit/dpa
Fletcher, who was born in Nottingham, founded Depeche Mode in Basildon in 1980 with Dave Gahan and Martin Gore.
Depeche Mode rose to fame as part of the new wave scene with debut album Speak And Spell and hit single Just Can't Get Enough.
With pop classics like "Everything Counts", "Enjoy The Silence" or "Personal Jesus", which went far beyond the synth sound of other artists of their time, Depeche Mode became one of the world's most successful bands - with more than 100 million worldwide sound carrier sold.
Most recently, the album "Spirit" was released in 2017.
The band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame two years ago.
Frontman Dave Gahan recently turned 60.
(dpa/lin)
