“We are shocked and overwhelmed with overwhelming sadness over the untimely death of our dear friend, family member and bandmate Andy‘ Fletch ’Fletcher,” the band said in a statement posted to Instagram and Twitter on Thursday. “Fletch had a real heart of gold and was always there when you needed support, a lively conversation, a good laugh or a cold look.” You have them in your thoughts and you respect their privacy in this difficult time. “
The ad did not specify the cause of death.
The British electronic band was officially founded in 1980 by Fletcher, Dave Gahan, Martin Gore and Vince Clarke. Fletcher remained a member of the band for over 40 years and appeared on 14 studio albums, from their 1981 debut “Speak & Spell” to 2017’s “Spirit”.
Considered a pioneer of synth-pop, electronica and new wave, the band – including former members Clarke and Alan Wilder – was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2020. Their hits included ” Personal Jesus “and” Enjoy the Silence “. from the band’s 1990 album, “Violator”.
Tributes to Fletcher began to arrive shortly after the band’s announcement of his death.
The band Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark tweeted that their Thursday night concert “will be touched by great sadness as we all say goodbye to Andy Fletcher of Depeche Mode. A lovely person in an amazing band.” “I knew Andy and considered him a friend. We’ve crossed many of the same paths as younger men,” tweeted Lol Tolhurst, a founding member of The Cure. “My heart goes out to his family, his bandmates and DM fans. RIP Fletch.”