Bloody hell, I’m shocked by this. What are we going to joke about now?
We’ve gone from Alan White at 72, to Ray Liotta at 67, to Fletch at 60. 72 is a bit young to be departing. Can it stop now please. I think today thinks it’s still 2016.
What follows next is going to be interesting for Depeche Mode. They could easily continue with the live band set up they have had for about 25 years and making new music in the studio is unaffected by Fletch’s death. So -what’s the problem?
The thing is, Fletch was Gore’s best friend. Fletch had the humour and people skills that Gore lacks. Although he has a ready smile and a placid, friendly nature, he will not (and perhaps cannot) communicate on the important stuff. Many of his lyrics talk of his frustration at not being able make himself understood. Alan Wilder left because there was very little recognition for the work he put in. Fletch would veto things that Wilder had spent days perfecting, for example. Or, if he liked it, it would simply be left in there without comment or a “thank you” or even a pat on the back. During his messy mid-90s, Dave Gahan was similarly frustrated but when he became clean, he worked on it and eventually got more of what he wanted from the Gore/Fletch axis.
This is why I think Depeche Mode will stop now. I don’t think Gore will want to continue without his best friend. It’s possible a brief statement will be made, and we’ll hear no more of it from him. Dave Gahan, I think, will continue and perhaps take the band with him. So “Dave Gahan presents the music of Depeche Mode” would still be a lucrative live show.
I suspect Gahan will embark on more of the Soulsavers direction, even hoping so. From being a member of the collective, he now gets billed as Dave Gahan &, with the core duo of SS now halved to one. Always wondered whether that represented some difference of opinion between them, possibly even DG related. DOI: I can live without der Mode, but I bloody love Soulsavers. Well, apart from 3/4 that shite covers album.
Kinda interesting sidebar – tomorrow Nottingham Forest are at Wembley for their playoff final. Like Celtic, the fans have taken to singing Just Can’t Get Enough when a goal is scored – so listen out for it if you are watching.
Aaaaaah fuck!!!
Flippin’ eck Tucker!
I’m in that stunned phase. There would be have been no Depeche Mode without him.
I always thought Andy was the Stu Sutcliffe of ver Mode (in a good way). RIP, sir, you did well
He had a permanent look on his face like he couldn’t quite believe what he was doing, in a good way. A huge part of a huge band. Very sad.
This is the only song I can recall that has Fletch on lead vocal. It’s only one word – a heavily distorted “crucified!” at about 41 seconds.
Bloody hell, I’m shocked by this. What are we going to joke about now?
We’ve gone from Alan White at 72, to Ray Liotta at 67, to Fletch at 60. 72 is a bit young to be departing. Can it stop now please. I think today thinks it’s still 2016.
Ooh that’s too young. How awful
Lovely piece.
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/may/27/andrew-fletcher-the-pop-loving-everyman-who-held-depeche-mode-together
Excellent piece, yep. And the top comment is v moving, too.
Thats great
What follows next is going to be interesting for Depeche Mode. They could easily continue with the live band set up they have had for about 25 years and making new music in the studio is unaffected by Fletch’s death. So -what’s the problem?
The thing is, Fletch was Gore’s best friend. Fletch had the humour and people skills that Gore lacks. Although he has a ready smile and a placid, friendly nature, he will not (and perhaps cannot) communicate on the important stuff. Many of his lyrics talk of his frustration at not being able make himself understood. Alan Wilder left because there was very little recognition for the work he put in. Fletch would veto things that Wilder had spent days perfecting, for example. Or, if he liked it, it would simply be left in there without comment or a “thank you” or even a pat on the back. During his messy mid-90s, Dave Gahan was similarly frustrated but when he became clean, he worked on it and eventually got more of what he wanted from the Gore/Fletch axis.
This is why I think Depeche Mode will stop now. I don’t think Gore will want to continue without his best friend. It’s possible a brief statement will be made, and we’ll hear no more of it from him. Dave Gahan, I think, will continue and perhaps take the band with him. So “Dave Gahan presents the music of Depeche Mode” would still be a lucrative live show.
Anyway – early days – let’s see what happens.
If they did play live again they can plug Fletch’s keyboard in now!
I suspect Gahan will embark on more of the Soulsavers direction, even hoping so. From being a member of the collective, he now gets billed as Dave Gahan &, with the core duo of SS now halved to one. Always wondered whether that represented some difference of opinion between them, possibly even DG related. DOI: I can live without der Mode, but I bloody love Soulsavers. Well, apart from 3/4 that shite covers album.
Kinda interesting sidebar – tomorrow Nottingham Forest are at Wembley for their playoff final. Like Celtic, the fans have taken to singing Just Can’t Get Enough when a goal is scored – so listen out for it if you are watching.
Also:
Enjoy the Silence from over there
It Doesn’t Matter Two Nil
Who’s The Bastard Dressed In Black
Let me see your away strip to the bone…