Depeche Mode: Keyboarder Andy Fletcher died - First insider statements on the cause of death
Created: 05/28/2022, 08:31
By: Armin T. Linder
The music world mourns the loss of Andy Fletcher: the Depeche Mode keyboardist died unexpectedly at the age of 60.
There are first reports on the cause of death.
LONDON - The keyboardist for British synth-pop band Depeche Mode, Andrew "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.
Photo left: Andy Fletcher (left) with Dave Gahan and Martin Gore in Milan 2017. Photo right: His wife posted photos from Barcelona at Easter 2022 after Fletcher broke his wrist.
© Francesco Castaldo/Mondadori Portfolio/dpa / Grainne Fletcher on Instagram
Depeche Mode: Keyboardist Andy Fletcher is 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: Keyboarder Andy Fletcher died unexpectedly - First reports on the cause of death
No official information was given about the cause of death.
Andrew 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.
Depeche Mode: Insiders report Andy Fletcher died of natural causes
Rolling Stone
magazine also
reports that he died of natural causes.
A "source close to the band" also told the major music portal Pitchfork.com that Fletcher died of natural causes.
It remains unclear whether all three different reports are about the same insider.
Depeche Mode: Keyboarder Andy Fletcher is dead – his wife posted photos from Barcelona at Easter
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.” She wished them a happy Easter.
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Depeche Mode: 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
Depeche Mode: Andy Fletcher was a co-founder of the cult band
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.
"One of our legacies is to popularize electronic music among the masses," Fletcher said in an interview with AFP in 2017, when the band's last studio album was released.
Frontman Dave Gahan recently turned 60.
(dpa/lin)
