Andy "Fletch" Fletcher - A synth icon sadly gone

Where do i start with this passing, well i think i'll start with "F**K".

First reaction off Taylor Hawkins passing was shock, first reaction of Andy Fletchers passing was sadness.

1981, Depeche Mode "New Life", Top of the Pops. The vision i saw was a front man with terrible stage presence, bad moves and new romantic blouse with leather trousers BUT the sound was awesome. Accompanying Dave Gahan were a leather clad Vince Clark, bondage attired Martin Gore and on the other side of the stage was a tall awkward looking man who seems to have been dressed for the part but looked out of place, this man was Andy Fletcher.

41 years they have been a part of the soundtrack to my life, seen them live in Manchester, Birmingham twice and Athens with another Athens concert missed due to ferry strike.

Within 4 months 2 members of my favourite bands have passed away, Taylor Hawkins and now Andy Fletcher.

Music icons become your heroes and you see your heroes as immortal, never thinking of them linked with death. Even though each and everyone of us will die at some point these musical icons we worship at the live stage altar we believe as immortal, gods. Like all good heroes and gods throughout mythical history they will never die so when i read in a news flash Fletch had passed away it was a "That can't be true" moment.

Andy was never someone for the limelight, he was all about the music. Dave and Martin were the flamboyant face of Depeche Mode with Andy just quietly stood in the shadows creating his magic on synth. Like Hawkins and the Foo's Andy and Depeche Mode were the heart of the band. Like i said about the Foo's, i doubt we will ever see Depeche Mode tour again and there is no problem with that as it just wouldn't be the same.

I have 3 go to songs that if i'm in a dark place they can pull me back from it, Foo Fighters - Times Like These, Linkin Park - New Divide and Depeche Mode - Never Let Me Down.

At a concert you would never have known Andy was there until Dave would announce him, he just stood at the back behind his keyboard and the most flamboyant thing he ever did was raise his hands in the air, that was it. 

He was also a huge influence on other bands such as Smashin Pumpkins, Placebo, Pet Shop boys and The Killers to name but a few.

A huge loss to the music industry and to his family, Depeche Mode family and fans.

How many bands that are 40 years old can still sell out 80 - 100,000 stadiums all over the world including Athens where i went, not many, a handful, there are present day British bands who could never sell out that size concerts in the UK let alone the world.

When i told Sian i was taking her to see them in Athens in 2017, Sian said "What, that synth pop group?" she was very sceptical as Sian loves rock music, i explained they aren't like that, that was the early stuff. We didn't get to see them in Athens May 2017 so that same year i took Sian to Birmingham to see them in November and she loved it, so much so she was looking forward to when they would tour again, unfortunately now that will never be.

We really have lost a true icon and a music hero of mine but the memories will always live on, thank you Andy and your Depeche Mode family. Enjoy the Silence.