Depeche Mode's Andy "Fletch" Fletcher passed away last month, and his surviving bandmates have shared a statement on the death of their keyboardist and founding member.
On Instagram, the group's Martin Gore and Dave Gahan revealed Fletcher's cause of death at the request of the keyboardist's family. "Andy suffered an aortic dissection while at home on May 26," they wrote. "So, even though it was far, far too soon, he passed naturally and without prolonged suffering."
"We had a celebration of Andy's life in London last week, which was a beautiful ceremony and gathering with a few tears, but filled with the great memories of who Andy was, stories of all of our times together, and some good laughs," Gore and Gahan continued. "Andy was celebrated in a room full of many of his friends and family, our immediate [Depeche Mode] family, and so many people who have touched Andy's and our lives throughout the years. All being together was a very special way to remember Andy and see him off."
Read their complete statement below.
Fletcher's playing can be heard on each of Depeche Mode's studio albums, from 1981 debut Speak & Spell through the band's most recent album, 2017's Spirit. Along with Gore and Gahan, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2020.
We wanted to take a moment and acknowledge the outpouring of love for Andy that we've seen from all of you over the last few weeks. It's incredible to see all of your photos, to read your words, and to see how much Andy meant to all of you. As you can imagine, it's been a strange, sad, disorienting few weeks for us here, to say the least. But we've seen and felt all of your love and support, and we know that Andy's family has too.
A couple weeks ago we received the result from the medical examiners, which Andy's family asked us to share with you now. Andy suffered an aortic dissection while at home on May 26. So, even though it was far, far too soon, he passed naturally and without prolonged suffering.
We had a celebration of Andy's life in London last week, which was a beautiful ceremony and gathering with a few tears, but filled with the great memories of who Andy was, stories of all of our times together, and some good laughs. Andy was celebrated in a room full of many of his friends and family, our immediate DM family, and so many people who have touched Andy's and our lives throughout the years. All being together was a very special way to remember Andy and see him off.
So thank you for all of the love you've shown Andy and his family and friends over the last few weeks. It honestly means the world to all of us. Andy, you'll be missed, but certainly not forgotten.
Love, Martin & Dave
On Instagram, the group's Martin Gore and Dave Gahan revealed Fletcher's cause of death at the request of the keyboardist's family. "Andy suffered an aortic dissection while at home on May 26," they wrote. "So, even though it was far, far too soon, he passed naturally and without prolonged suffering."
"We had a celebration of Andy's life in London last week, which was a beautiful ceremony and gathering with a few tears, but filled with the great memories of who Andy was, stories of all of our times together, and some good laughs," Gore and Gahan continued. "Andy was celebrated in a room full of many of his friends and family, our immediate [Depeche Mode] family, and so many people who have touched Andy's and our lives throughout the years. All being together was a very special way to remember Andy and see him off."
Read their complete statement below.
Fletcher's playing can be heard on each of Depeche Mode's studio albums, from 1981 debut Speak & Spell through the band's most recent album, 2017's Spirit. Along with Gore and Gahan, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2020.
We wanted to take a moment and acknowledge the outpouring of love for Andy that we've seen from all of you over the last few weeks. It's incredible to see all of your photos, to read your words, and to see how much Andy meant to all of you. As you can imagine, it's been a strange, sad, disorienting few weeks for us here, to say the least. But we've seen and felt all of your love and support, and we know that Andy's family has too.
A couple weeks ago we received the result from the medical examiners, which Andy's family asked us to share with you now. Andy suffered an aortic dissection while at home on May 26. So, even though it was far, far too soon, he passed naturally and without prolonged suffering.
We had a celebration of Andy's life in London last week, which was a beautiful ceremony and gathering with a few tears, but filled with the great memories of who Andy was, stories of all of our times together, and some good laughs. Andy was celebrated in a room full of many of his friends and family, our immediate DM family, and so many people who have touched Andy's and our lives throughout the years. All being together was a very special way to remember Andy and see him off.
So thank you for all of the love you've shown Andy and his family and friends over the last few weeks. It honestly means the world to all of us. Andy, you'll be missed, but certainly not forgotten.
Love, Martin & Dave
