What Was Andy Fletcher’s Role in Depeche Mode? The Musician Who Did Not like the Spotlight

Electronic music fans worldwide grieve the death of Depeche Mode keyboardist and founder Andy Fletcher, the musician who preferred to stay away from the spotlight.

On May 26, 2022, Depeche Mode shocked everyone by announcing Andy Fletcher’s death. He was 60. Apart from calling Fletcher a dear friend and family member, they said he had a heart of gold and was always ready to provide support when needed.

The band did not disclose Fletcher’s cause of death. Although he was part of one of the most successful electronic music bands of the 1980s and 1990s, he kept most personal life details away from the spotlight. Here’s everything you need to know about Andy Fletcher.

Andy Fletcher on July 7, 2018 in Arras, France | Source: Getty Images

WHO WAS ANDY FLETCHER?

Born in July 1961 in Nottingham, England, Fletcher fell in love with music early. After moving to Basildon, Essex, he developed a tight friendship with his schoolmates Vince Clarke and Martin Gore and formed Composition of Sound. 

When singer Dave Gahan joined the band, they changed their name to Depeche Mode. They released their debut album, “Speak & Spell,” in 1981, shortly before Clarke left the group.

Depeche Mode’s Andy Fletcher, Dave Gahan and Martin Gore on March 8, 2017 in New York City | Source: Getty Images

Alan Wilder was Clarke’s replacement, and he helped the band become one of the most influential music acts throughout the 1980s and early 1990s. Some of their biggest hits were “Just Can’t Get Enough,” “Personal Jesus,” and “People Are People.” Wilder left in 1995, though.

Andy Fletcher’s Depeche Mode was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2020. Although they could not attend the Cleveland ceremony due to coronavirus restrictions, they expressed gratitude in a four-minute video.

WHAT WAS ANDY FLETCHER’S ROLE IN DEPECHE MODE?

In the 1989’s “101” documentary of Depeche Mode, Fletcher said his role in the band was to “bum around.” He later revealed he didn’t mean it that way, adding that he played bass, guitar, and keywords. 

Musicians paid tribute [to Fletcher] on social media.

Die-hard Depeche Mode fans had an image of Fletcher as the one who kept the group together, mainly because he served as the makeshift manager during the first half of their careers.

Fletcher said they didn’t have a manager back then, so he took care of that part of the job because he was interested in it. Eventually, he discovered he preferred to be in the background as a band cannot exist if everyone wanted to be in the limelight. 

Still, Andy Fletcher and the rest of the Depeche Mode band members pursued solo careers. In Fletcher’s case, he became a successful DJ.

WAS ANDY FLETCHER MARRIED?

Fletcher avoided sharing details of his personal life with the public, including his relationship with Grainne Mullan. They married in the early 1990s and welcomed two children, daughter Megan and son Joe. 

After Depeche Mode announced Andy Fletcher’s death online, other musicians paid tribute on social media. The Cure founding member Lol Tolhurst said he considered Fletcher his friend and shared condolences to his family and friends.

The synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys wrote that Fletcher was a friendly and funny man who loved electronic music and shared pieces of advice about the music industry. Rest in peace, legend.

Anomama