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Andrew John Leonard Fletcher (8 July 1961 – 26 May 2022) - Fletch was an English keyboard player, DJ, and founding member of the electronic band Depeche Mode, formed in Basildon in 1980 and inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2020. Though, Depeche Mode's origins date to 1977, when schoolmates Vince Clarke and Andy Fletcher formed a band called No Romance In China, later influenced by The Cure, with Clarke on vocals and guitar and Fletcher on bass guitar.
Fletcher's role within Depeche Mode was often a topic of speculation. In early incarnations of the band, he played (electric and later synth) bass. In D.A. Pennebaker's 1989 documentary film about the band, Fletcher clarified these roles: "Martin's the songwriter, Alan's the good musician, Dave's the vocalist, and I bum around." Namely, Fletcher was the only member of the band who did not receive a songwriting credit.
With the band having not always employed a full-time manager, Fletcher handled many of the band's business, legal, and other non-musical interests over the years. In later years, Fletcher became the band's "spokesperson", being the one to announce Depeche Mode news (such as record album and tour details).
He was also said to be the member who was "the tiebreaker", and the one that "brings the band together". According to interviews, Fletcher built the compromise between Gahan and Gore that settled their serious dispute following 2001's Exciter album and tour over future songwriting duties within Depeche Mode.
In the studio and during live shows, Fletcher contributed a variety of supporting synthesizer parts, including bass parts, strings, drone sounds, and various samples. Fletcher was the only member of Depeche Mode who did not sing. Although he can be seen singing in videos of Depeche Mode's past live performances, usually Fletcher's vocals were either mixed very low or heard only through his own stage monitors. Fletcher sang on the interlude "Crucified" on Violator. According to Alan Wilder, a former member of Depeche Mode, every band member participated in the choir on the song "Condemnation" from Songs Of Faith And Devotion, and Wilder confirms this on the press kit of the same album.
Fletcher died from natural causes at his home on 26 May 2022, aged 60. RIP. Link
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