Andrew John Fletcher (8 July 1961 – 26 May 2022),[2] also known as Fletch, was an English keyboard player and founding member of the electronic band Depeche Mode.

[10] Influences on their work included Siouxsie and the Banshees, the Cure, Kraftwerk, the Human League and Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD).

[13] One year later, he had to leave the Exotic Tour/Summer Tour '94 due to a nervous breakdown, and the band played without him in South America and the United States.

In a key scene 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.

"[20] In his review of 2005's Playing the Angel, long after Wilder's departure from the band, Rolling Stone writer Gavin Edwards riffed upon Fletcher's statement with the opening line: "Depeche Mode's unique division of labour has been long established, with each of the three remaining members having a distinct role: Martin Gore writes the songs, Dave Gahan sings them and Andy Fletcher shows up for photo shoots and cashes the checks.

In later years, this included acting as the band's "spokesman",[25] with Fletcher often being the one to announce Depeche Mode news (such as record album and tour details).

Although he can be seen singing in videos of Depeche's past live performances, usually Fletcher's vocals were either mixed very low or heard only through his own stage monitors.

[34] He coordinated the recording of their eponymous 2003 debut and 2004's City, while also producing "extended remixes" for their subsequent singles "Price of Love", "Rock and Roll Machine", "Here and Now", "In It for the Money", "Radio", and "Pornography" (featuring Carl Barât of the Libertines).

[35] He made a series of bad investments in the mid-1990s that led to a number of financial settlements involving Lloyd's of London and Daniel Miller.

Fletcher attributed his mental health struggles to an obsessive–compulsive disorder he inherited from his father and the loss of his sister in her early twenties.

[1] Former Depeche Mode member Alan Wilder stated that learning of Fletcher's death was "a real bolt from the blue".

"[42] Other artists who expressed condolences following Fletcher's death included OMD, Alison Moyet, New Order, Gary Numan, Limmy and Erasure (the latter of whom was founded by former Depeche Mode bandmate Vince Clarke).