It has taken me four months to finally write a blog post about the passing of Andy Fletcher of Depeche Mode. And I still can’t believe I’m even typing this, like right now. This is just going to be off the cuff, with little editing because I am truly sad about this. Anyone who knows even just a little bit about me knows that Depeche Mode is my all time favorite band. So when Richard Blade of 1st Wave on Sirius XM made an announcement between songs on the afternoon of May 26, 2022 with a very uncharacteristic somber voice, bearing sad and urgent news, I wasn’t sure what to expect. When he said something to the effect of “…announce the untimely passing of Andy Fletcher of Depeche Mode…” I felt the wind get knocked out of me and I sat down in my desk chair, and let out an audible “NO!”, which caused my son to come running into my home office to find out what happened. My husband was already there, and I just burst into tears.
They didn’t say much, because they knew. As I said in my Instagram post, this hit different. I even went on a worldwide Zoom meeting that week with the Depeche Mode Global fan group, just to be with other fans and celebrate the life of Fletch (it was co-hosted by musician, YouTuber and Depeche Mode enthusiast, Vaughn George). My friends reached out to me in sympathy, to find out how I was, because they knew as well.
I think part of the disbelief came from the fact that they just got into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, class of 2020. Fletch had just gone on vacation in Spain the month prior to his death, and was even seen at a soccer match. I feel like he was alive and well one moment, and gone the next.
I still can’t find words to convey the emotions I feel. I know I was sad when Alan Wilder left, but at the time, he was still putting out his own music and had a tour. But Fletch is just gone, and didn’t just leave Depeche Mode. This is a band that has carried me from junior high, comforting me with their music, creating a major part of the soundtrack of my life. I have only missed one major tour since 1985, and have even taken my husband and son to see them in concert with me, just so I could share the music of my band, live with them. I’ve gone to see Strangelove, my favorite Depeche Mode tribute band, many many times, because I just love their music so much. Classmates from junior high and high school have said to me, that when they hear Depeche Mode songs, they think of me. One of my friends even tagged me in a video while she was shopping, because a Depeche Mode song came over the loud speaker. I got tagged easily 10+ times when DMK videos hit the internet (the Depeche Mode family tribute band), because friends from all walks of life thought of me. My blog name is the name of a song from their first album. They permeate all parts of my life, all the time.
People who know Depeche Mode, understand and realize that Fletch was the heart of the band. Not only was he a founding member, he was the foundation and the one who brought them all back together, no matter how long they had been apart, to get them together and make another go at new music. The official Depeche Mode Instagram page recently had a picture of Martin Gore and Dave Gahan, in a music studio with the caption “Finding stability in what we know and love, and focusing on what give life meaning and purpose.” I think they’re providing hope that they would still produce new music, but there’s still uncertainty.
I think I just needed to say something…anything, on my blog, about Fletch, because I had to. Rest in peace, and my deep condolences go out to his family, friends, bandmates and my fellow Devotees. Fletch, you will be missed…