Depeche Mode keyboard player Andy Fletcher dies aged 60 

Legendary band Depeche mode has announced the death of keyboard player Andy Fletcher at the age of 60.

In a statement tonight on Twitter, the band said, ‘We are shocked and filled with overwhelming sadness at the untimely passing of our dear friend, family member and bandmate Andy ‘Fletch’ Fletcher.

‘Fletch had a true heart of gold and was always there when you needed support, a lively conversation, a good laugh or a cold pint.

‘Our hearts are with his family and we ask that you keep them in your thoughts and respect their privacy at this difficult time.’

Fletcher co-founded the group with bandmates Dave Gahan and Martin Gore in Basildon, Essex, in 1980.

The chose their name from French fashion magazine Depeche Mode, with frontman Gahan explaining: ‘It means hurried fashion or fashion dispatch. I like the sound of that.’

The played their first gig at school in 1980 and went on to make demo tapes, personally delivering them to record companies.

The eventually recorded their first single ‘Dreaming of Me’ in Deecember 1980 for independent label Mute Records, whose founder Daniel Miller was interested in their unique electronic sound.

It reached number 57 in the UK charts. Buoyed by their early success, the band recorded a follow-up single, “New Life”, which made it to number 11 in the charts and landed their first appearance on Top of the Pops.

Memorably, the band travelled to the BBC studio in London by train, taking their synthesizers with them.

It was thir third single, ‘Just Can’t Get Enopugh’ that propelled the group to stardom and scored their first top ten hit.

Around this time, original synthesist Vince Clarke left the band to form Yazoo with Alison Moyet, but Depeche Mode followed their 80s success with other hits, including ‘Enjoy the Silence’, ‘Strangelove’ and ‘Personal Jesus’.

Fletcher married in 1993 and had two children. He admitted to suffering depression and endured a breakdown in 1994 but continued performing throughout the years.