Pioneering British electronic band confirm his death on social media, saying ‘Fletch had a true heart of gold’

The news was announced via Depeche Mode’s official Twitter account, which posted the news Thursday afternoon. “Fletch had a true heart of gold, and was always there when you needed support, a lively conversation, a good laugh, or a cold pint,” the post reads. A cause of death was not confirmed.

Fletcher was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020, alongside bandmates Vince Clarke, Dave Gahan and Martin Gore. The British keyboardist and bassist was instrumental to the origins of the band, which date back to 1977 during his schooling years. In 1980, Clarke and Fletcher rebranded their band Composition of Sound to Depeche Mode, adding Gore as a member and transitioning to an electronic sound. Regarded as one of the most influential new wave artists, the band has sold more than 100 million records globally and holds 54 tracks on the UK Singles Chart.