Andrew Fletcher (musician)
Encyclopedia
Andy Fletcher known as "Fletch", is a co-founder and member of the English synth band Depeche Mode
.
in a band with Vince Clarke
, but moved on to play synthesizer
s in the group Composition of Sound with both Clarke and Martin Gore
. In 1980, these three musicians formed Depeche Mode with vocalist David Gahan
. He is the only member that has never written a song for the band although it is indicated in one interview that he had attempted it in the past.
writer Gavin Edwards once noted: "Depeche Mode's unique division of labor 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 Andrew Fletcher shows up for photo shoots and cashes the checks."
Fletcher has stated that he plays bass in Depeche Mode; programmed on the synthesizer, in addition to electric bass as played on the Playing the Angel album. He can also be seen playing keyboards live and in rehearsal videos.
With the band never having employed a full-time manager, Fletcher has also concerned himself with many of the band's business, legal, and other non-musical interests over the years.
More recently, this has included acting as the band's "spokesperson", with Fletcher often being the one who announces Depeche Mode news (such as album details for Exciter
in 2001, Playing the Angel
in 2004 and 2005 and Sounds of the Universe
in 2008) to the press
.
He is also said to be the member that brings the band together, as he was one of the main factors in helping build a compromise that settled the serious dispute between Gahan and Gore over songwriting duties for Playing the Angel. In one of the scenes in 101, he describes each member's unique role as the following: "Martin's the songwriter, Alan's the good musician, Dave's the vocalist, and I bum around."
" on Playing the Angel
according to the album's producer Ben Hillier
, and is seen playing bass for "The Sinner in Me" on his own Fletchcam. He's also seen playing bass in the "bare" rendition videos of Clean and Surrender from the Playing the Angel
sessions, seen on the Playing the Angel bonus disc and the Depeche Mode Receiver respectively.
Despite the barracking, Fletcher is said to be an integral component of modern day Depeche, and plays a number of major synthesised chords during live shows, the more complex arrangements being assigned to Peter Gordeno, who has been with the band ever since keyboardist Alan Wilder departed in 1995.
When Wilder joined the band in early 1982, Fletcher had begun to take on the role of a manager and in the convening years, his musical input has been limited to contributing generic ideas to preformulated Gore/Gahan songs.
in the studio canteen. It was recorded during the Some Great Reward
sessions in 1984. All the songs on the album are cover songs on which he sings lead vocals. The album features Alan Wilder
and/or Martin Gore on the piano
and the cover photo was taken by Wilder. The "project" was seen as a diversion from serious studio work, and was recorded in a light-hearted fashion. The joke goes that Gore & Wilder presented the album to Mute Records' Daniel Miller and pleaded for him to release it, but Miller declined for obvious reasons. Recordings of the session therefore exist only in rare copies, so it will never likely see the light of day. Fletcher has been criticised for his voice, and is the only member of Depeche Mode
who does not sing (except for the interlude "Crucified" on Violator
, the four-part harmony at the end of the song "New Life" (singing the root note), the song "Condemnation" where he's said to have sung with Martin and Alan for the background vocals, the high pitched backing vocals in the verse of "Barrel of a Gun" (as well as "whatever, whatever"), and "The Sun and the Rainfall" where he can be heard towards the end of the song singing the "All that I'm saying..." refrain in the right speaker of the mix). Although he is seen singing during live performances, it is usually only heard through his stage monitors.
As well as this, he also DJs. Initially most of his DJ gigs came about while on tour with Client, but he went to tour in his own right as a DJ, playing festivals and clubs in Europe and South America. One of his more famous DJ gigs was documented as "One Night in Warshaw". In July 2011, it was announced via Depeche Mode's website that Andy Fletcher will be DJing in Romania, Ukraine, Belarus, United Arab Emirates, Australia, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, China and Korea. It was stated that he plans on going to places where Depeche Mode hasn't visited in a long time. He's also been playing some new DM remixes from the new remix album during his sets.
Fletch also appeared in a cameo role in the low budget, Client music video "Client" which was produced and directed by Laurence Akers (assisted by Barry Holloway) and shot in and around Soho and St. John's Wood.
was signed to Toast Hawaii
he made the extended mix for every single they released:
Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
.
Depeche Mode
Fletch had originally played bassBass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
in a band with Vince Clarke
Vince Clarke
Vince Clarke is an English synthpop musician and songwriter. Clarke has been involved with a number of successful groups, including Depeche Mode, Yazoo, The Assembly and Erasure....
, but moved on to play synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
s in the group Composition of Sound with both Clarke and Martin Gore
Martin Gore
Martin Lee Gore is an English songwriter, lyricist, singer, guitarist, keyboardist, remixer and DJ. He is a founding member of Depeche Mode and has written the vast majority of their songs...
. In 1980, these three musicians formed Depeche Mode with vocalist David Gahan
David Gahan
Dave Gahan is an English singer-songwriter, best known as the baritone lead singer for the British electronic music band Depeche Mode since their debut in 1980. He is also an accomplished solo artist, releasing albums in 2003 and 2007...
. He is the only member that has never written a song for the band although it is indicated in one interview that he had attempted it in the past.
Role
Fletcher’s role within Depeche Mode has been a topic of confusion for the media, as Rolling StoneRolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
writer Gavin Edwards once noted: "Depeche Mode's unique division of labor 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 Andrew Fletcher shows up for photo shoots and cashes the checks."
Fletcher has stated that he plays bass in Depeche Mode; programmed on the synthesizer, in addition to electric bass as played on the Playing the Angel album. He can also be seen playing keyboards live and in rehearsal videos.
With the band never having employed a full-time manager, Fletcher has also concerned himself with many of the band's business, legal, and other non-musical interests over the years.
More recently, this has included acting as the band's "spokesperson", with Fletcher often being the one who announces Depeche Mode news (such as album details for Exciter
Exciter (album)
Exciter is Depeche Mode's tenth studio album, which was released on 14 May 2001 in the UK and May 15 in the US. It uses more digital music technology compared to their other albums. It was produced by Mark Bell of Björk and LFO fame...
in 2001, Playing the Angel
Playing the Angel
Playing the Angel is the eleventh studio album by English electronic band Depeche Mode, released in the United Kingdom on 17 October 2005 by Mute Records and in the United States and Canada on 18 October by Sire Records and Reprise Records. It was supported by the Touring the Angel...
in 2004 and 2005 and Sounds of the Universe
Sounds of the Universe
Sounds of the Universe is the twelfth studio album by English electronic band Depeche Mode, released in Europe on 20 April 2009 and in the United States and Canada on 21 April 2009...
in 2008) to the press
Mass media
Mass media refers collectively to all media technologies which are intended to reach a large audience via mass communication. Broadcast media transmit their information electronically and comprise of television, film and radio, movies, CDs, DVDs and some other gadgets like cameras or video consoles...
.
He is also said to be the member that brings the band together, as he was one of the main factors in helping build a compromise that settled the serious dispute between Gahan and Gore over songwriting duties for Playing the Angel. In one of the scenes in 101, he describes each member's unique role as the following: "Martin's the songwriter, Alan's the good musician, Dave's the vocalist, and I bum around."
Popularity
Fletcher is often teased by the media and fans for apparently not contributing much to songs. He did play more during the early days and plays much more today. He plays bass for "A Pain That I'm Used ToA Pain that I'm Used To
"A Pain That I'm Used To" is the second single and opening track of the album Playing the Angel by Depeche Mode, and the forty-second DM single overall. The single was released on 12 December 2005 by Mute Records. The single contains remixes by UK Mute label mates Goldfrapp, and Jacques Lu Cont ....
" on Playing the Angel
Playing the Angel
Playing the Angel is the eleventh studio album by English electronic band Depeche Mode, released in the United Kingdom on 17 October 2005 by Mute Records and in the United States and Canada on 18 October by Sire Records and Reprise Records. It was supported by the Touring the Angel...
according to the album's producer Ben Hillier
Ben Hillier
Ben Hillier is a British songwriter and pop-rock music producer who is part of the creative team 140dB. He has produced such popular and critically acclaimed albums as Playing the Angel and Sounds of the Universe by Depeche Mode, Think Tank by Blur, Some Cities by Doves and Cast of Thousands by...
, and is seen playing bass for "The Sinner in Me" on his own Fletchcam. He's also seen playing bass in the "bare" rendition videos of Clean and Surrender from the Playing the Angel
Playing the Angel
Playing the Angel is the eleventh studio album by English electronic band Depeche Mode, released in the United Kingdom on 17 October 2005 by Mute Records and in the United States and Canada on 18 October by Sire Records and Reprise Records. It was supported by the Touring the Angel...
sessions, seen on the Playing the Angel bonus disc and the Depeche Mode Receiver respectively.
Despite the barracking, Fletcher is said to be an integral component of modern day Depeche, and plays a number of major synthesised chords during live shows, the more complex arrangements being assigned to Peter Gordeno, who has been with the band ever since keyboardist Alan Wilder departed in 1995.
When Wilder joined the band in early 1982, Fletcher had begun to take on the role of a manager and in the convening years, his musical input has been limited to contributing generic ideas to preformulated Gore/Gahan songs.
Almost solo
According to a Depeche Mode biography, Fletch recorded a solo album entitled Toast Hawaii, named after his favourite dishRecipe
A recipe is a set of instructions that describe how to prepare or make something, especially a culinary dish.-Components:Modern culinary recipes normally consist of several components*The name of the dish...
in the studio canteen. It was recorded during the Some Great Reward
Some Great Reward
Some Great Reward is the fourth album by the British electronic group Depeche Mode, released in 1984. The album peaked at #5 in the UK and at #51 in the US. The title comes from the last lines of the bridge in "Lie to Me" when it repeats near the end....
sessions in 1984. All the songs on the album are cover songs on which he sings lead vocals. The album features Alan Wilder
Alan Wilder
Alan Charles Wilder is a British musician, formerly of Depeche Mode. His current musical project is called Recoil, started as a side project to Depeche Mode. When he left the latter in 1995, it became Wilder's primary project...
and/or Martin Gore on the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and the cover photo was taken by Wilder. The "project" was seen as a diversion from serious studio work, and was recorded in a light-hearted fashion. The joke goes that Gore & Wilder presented the album to Mute Records' Daniel Miller and pleaded for him to release it, but Miller declined for obvious reasons. Recordings of the session therefore exist only in rare copies, so it will never likely see the light of day. Fletcher has been criticised for his voice, and is the only member of Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
who does not sing (except for the interlude "Crucified" on Violator
Violator (album)
Violator is the seventh studio album by the English electronic group Depeche Mode, released by Mute Records on 19 March 1990.Preceded by the hit singles "Personal Jesus" and "Enjoy the Silence" , Violator propelled the band into international stardom. The album yielded two further hit singles,...
, the four-part harmony at the end of the song "New Life" (singing the root note), the song "Condemnation" where he's said to have sung with Martin and Alan for the background vocals, the high pitched backing vocals in the verse of "Barrel of a Gun" (as well as "whatever, whatever"), and "The Sun and the Rainfall" where he can be heard towards the end of the song singing the "All that I'm saying..." refrain in the right speaker of the mix). Although he is seen singing during live performances, it is usually only heard through his stage monitors.
Toast Hawaii/DJ career
In 2002 Andy Fletcher started his own record label and signed the band Client. However Client are no longer signed to the label and the label seems to be lying dormant currently.As well as this, he also DJs. Initially most of his DJ gigs came about while on tour with Client, but he went to tour in his own right as a DJ, playing festivals and clubs in Europe and South America. One of his more famous DJ gigs was documented as "One Night in Warshaw". In July 2011, it was announced via Depeche Mode's website that Andy Fletcher will be DJing in Romania, Ukraine, Belarus, United Arab Emirates, Australia, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, China and Korea. It was stated that he plans on going to places where Depeche Mode hasn't visited in a long time. He's also been playing some new DM remixes from the new remix album during his sets.
Fletch also appeared in a cameo role in the low budget, Client music video "Client" which was produced and directed by Laurence Akers (assisted by Barry Holloway) and shot in and around Soho and St. John's Wood.
Remixes
As long as ClientClient (band)
Client are an English electronic musical group from London. They are most popular in Germany where they have had limited commercial success...
was signed to Toast Hawaii
Toast Hawaii (record label)
Toast Hawaii is a record label founded by Depeche Mode's Andrew Fletcher and named after his reported fondness for the sandwich. The label is independent, but its North American releases are distributed by Mute Records.-History:...
he made the extended mix for every single they released:
- "Price of Love" (Extended mix)
- "Rock and Roll Machine" (Extended mix)
- "Here and Now" (Extended mix)
- "In It For The Money" (Extended mix)
- "Radio" (Extended mix)
- "Pornography" (Extended mix)