SRF NMA Everything Counts is one of my favourite songs and you ve just ruined it for me. I cant listen to the chorus without hearing your line anymore. 😅😂
George Michael was once asked, what the actual role of Andrew Ridgeley (his band fellow in Wham!) was. George was writing all the songs, singing them, looking better, and getting most of the attention of the fans and media. And he said: "Without Andy, Wham! would not even exist. He was my best friend and the driving force that made me, as a rather shy guy, go on stage at all!" Consider this!
Exactly. It should also be noted that while George was clearly the driving creative force behind Wham!, Andrew did co-write a couple of songs, including their biggest hit "Careless Whisper."
the same was asked about Pet Shop Boys, that Chris Lowe does nothing and should be fired. But in reality Chris done most of synth arrangements, and he is very proficient musician. But he decided to be in the back seat, don't talk too much and his stage presence almost unnoticeable. There's even joke that Chris is the only one statue that can play keyboard
Fletch quit the last leg of the 'Songs Of Faith And Devotion' tour in 1994 citing 'mental instability'. That tour was too long, one of the longest tours ever undertaken by any band. Martin said in an interview later on: "it felt like we were on tour for the rest of our lives...". Fletch said later that the pain in his head wouldn't go away, he thought it was a tumour, he couldn't sleep or think straight - he then discovered it was a breakdown he was having. He left the tour, went home to his wife who was pregnant with either their first or second child - I'm not sure which - and the baby was born soon after. I've found this online about that tour, I've copied and pasted: Depeche Mode begin their Devotional tour in Lille, France. They reach new levels of excess on the trek, culminating with lead singer Dave Gahan having a heart attack during a show. The tour sets off with a crew of 120, including a psychiatrist who is on hand largely to support Gahan, who is deep into heroin abuse and has taken on a messianic personality, detaching from his bandmates in private rooms filled with candles. The shrink proves ineffective as Gahan never sees him and the rest of the band act out their rock and roll fantasies with a surfeit of drugs and groupies. Gahan and Alan Wilder have their own limos, and every member is assigned a different floor at every hotel stay in an effort to partition the inevitable parties, including one that gets them banned from the Intercontinental hotel in Berlin. On September 8 in Montreal, Gahan is arrested after punching a concierge at the hotel and spends a night in jail. A month later he collapses backstage before the encore at their show in New Orleans after suffering a heroin-induced heart attack. The band does the encore without him while he is taken to the hospital. Gahan, by now a hopeless addict, doesn't heed doctor's warning and returns to the tour. Martin Gore's drug use also spirals out of control, and in November he is arrested in Denver for disturbing the peace in a hotel incident involving a boombox and a petulant attitude. The tour ends in December, but picks up again in February 1994 as the "Exotic Tour." Fletcher quits the tour in March, and in June, Gahan bites reporter Andrew Perry on the neck as part of his fascination with vampires. At the final show, July 8 in Indianapolis, Gahan attempts a stage dive that goes horribly wrong, and he is sent to the hospital with cracked ribs. The tour becomes the stuff of legend as roadies and insiders spread tales of orgies, overdoses and destruction. Q magazine names it "The Most Debauched Rock and Roll Tour Ever." Depeche Mode takes some time off and predictably, Gahan has more near-death adventures with drugs, including a 1996 overdose where paramedics have to jump start his heart Pulp Fiction style. He cleans up later that year, and in 1997 the group returns with their next album, Ultra. They don't tour for that one.
I think it was on the 101 movie. Fletch was being interviewed and said Dave's the frontman, Martin's the songwriter, Alan's the Musician and I bum around.
That's just sad. Wilder did all the work and created those beautiful, majestic sounds we know and love so much and this fool bums around. Lord have mercy.
As a person who struggled to have a successful band (but failed) you realize the hardest part is managing. I’m not even a Fletch fan, but writing /singing/producing are natural extensions of artists, phone calls/making contacts/gigs/scheduling/money ARE NOT. Musician types are typically shy and can’t be bothered dealing with business types. It sounds to me like Fletch fills this essential role
101 concert film and performance was good but the Devotional film and performance was on an even incredible and higher level. Alan Wilder was stunning not only playing keyboards but drums as well. His high caliber of playing made Fletch look even more laughable in comparison.
There's also videos of the band recently in rehearsal with Andy playing very much live. It's minimal what he does but it's real. It's like a extra hand so the rest can do their amazing stuff. ☺️
Fletch left the Devotional Tour after the South African stint due to depression. Darrel I believe was part of the stage crew, and they chose him because he had some piano experience, as a temp stand in. According to their biography back in 97, out of print now, Fletch and Alan took home the same pay. Which upset Alan because he felt that he did more than Fletch. The counter argument from Martin being that Fletch internal management of the band was worth it.
A band splitting the money evenly from touring is quite common, regardless of who does what on stage. The Rolling Stones have always split the money from touring evenly, even though you could say Jagger is more of a focal point for the audience than some of the other members.
@@jeffoliver2298 yeah i agree. Although with MODE, they didn't split things equally. Fletch and Andy got the same. Dave got 2ble what they each got, as he is the lead singer, and Martin took double Dave, is he was singer/songwriter. Alan felt that he deserved more than Fletch, cause he arranged all the music & sequences for tour. Martin disagreed feeling Fletch management was also as valuable.
@@spencerholmes1047 If what you say is correct then it was unfair on Alan. He should have got the same as Dave - Alan and Dave didn't write the songs but had a large job to do on stage. One band where the splitting of money caused major problem was for The Eagles, when they reformed after years apart Don Henley and Glenn Frey arranged for themselves to receive double what the other three band members received. Their argument was that they had done more to keep The Eagles name alive during the years the band was apart than the others had, therefore when big crowds would come to the forthcoming concerts it was more because of them than the other three. Joe Walsh and Tim Schmit agreed, but Don Felder refused - and he quit. Felder argued that he had been a major part of the band when they were together, he wrote most of the guitar parts for Hotel California and others, therefore him receiving half what Henley and Frey received was unfair. He quit, the other four did the tour with a session player doing Felder's guitar parts.
@@jeffoliver2298 what I'm saying is based on the biography released in 1997, which I thought was quite candid. Unfortunately out of print and I loaned my copy to friend back then. And it's gone now
The nerd image of Fletch, that's what he did in 80's. People saw him and saw a keyboard genius or something like that. But the real genius leaved the band. 🤔
Nice followup to the other Fletch video, I also tend to hate it when concerts are full of people holding their phones up, but there have been a couple times when I've missed concerts and have been grateful to people filming with their phone, most notably the last Nick Mason concert in New York where Roger showed up to play the gong and sing. Lol brilliant montage with Fletch and "Do You Think Im Sexy"
@@VaughnGeorge i just wished I found you sooner! Thank goodness the COSMOS finally reached out to me and pointing me to your direction especially to get those Blasphemous Rumors sorted out, and now we can celebrate the fact that we've seen the back of another black day. See what I did there. LOL
Fletch is a legend. Everybody wants to earn lots of money with minimum work. He has a job of the dreams. On stage he is triggering samples, sometimes, FX effects etc and in studios he is reading newspapers. He has been doing this for many many years and nobody fired him yet, perfect job 😁
Steven hi!! Yeah LOL!! I know its crazy!! Its not like he has a day job and he does not have time and most of the keyboard parts are easy to play so I really don't know what the excuse is!! V:-)
there's been a lot of bashing, but most (non musicians) don't see that some band members are holdings band together and alive. The only thing I don't like about fletch was his envy on Alan Wilder ...
And he had a lot to be envious of. Alan Wilder’s contribution was so momentous yet apparently taken for granted. For me, as a massive DM fan, after he left, they were never the same. Fletcher’s contribution is only that he’s been there since the start snd being a good mate if Martin’s obviously has benefited him. The very fact that everyone questions what he does shows that.
I'm the one who talked about Fletch putting the band's in danger, and I have to clarify that it wasn't related to any managerial decision or anmything like that. The truth is that he'd been really nasty to Dave at least since the Music for the Masses tour (Alan admitted he and Fletch did came to blows, because the latter criticized Dave's performance at a certain gig, which Alan found "too much coming from Fletch"), and he didn't stopp in 1990. I can't give details, but Dave really wanted to leave the band in the middle of the tour, and I've been assured it was Alan and Daniel Miller who managed to persuade him not to leave. Martin was too apathetic at the time to really care. From memory, according to Steve Malins' DM biography, the problem seems to be that Fletch developed an inferiority complex that showed itself a quite agressive way. I'm glad it seems everybody has matured enough to being able to still work together, but it really irks me when Fletch says about himself that he's the lukewarm water that keeps the band together (quoting Spinal Tap). As for the comment that everything on 101 is pre-recorded, I don't think it goes to that extent, although, it's been tacitly admitted by Alan that there are some overdubs in the record... like almost everybody else did.
Alejandro hello mate!! Thank you for contributing to the discussion !! I personally was unaware of the tension between Fletch and Gahan and I'm sure that many other fans were unaware of this too. Thank you for this !! V :-)
@@VaughnGeorge you may want to check the aforementioned biography by Steve Malins. It's unofficial and maybe a tad sensationalist when it comes to the drug period (but who could blame the writer, and nevertheless I think it's tactful enough), but Alan himself said most of it it's true. The episode I talked about during the World Violation tour isn't there, though, not anywhere else as far as I know.
I think “101” is mostly if not entirely prerecorded or Massively overdubbed. There’s no way in hell that the vocals are live. Remember, this show was number 101 of their tour...Dave’s voice could not be in such perfect condition at that point. Also, note that every “Yeah!” etc is so much lower and distant compared to the main vocal. I listened to 101 once, and consider it a waste of time.
The fight between Fletch & Alan took place before walking out onstage for the encore (Music for the Masses Tour). Alan stated that after the fight they had to go play Just Can’t Get Enough (which he dreaded playing). He always thought the song was too poppy.
No, we don't understand his role on dm, he is new clapping machinne called Korg auto clapping hands, x6475 or something like this. Good vídeo your video show us a new perspective, thanks
Fernando: Hello mate hahhahhaha yeah I like the idea of the "Korg auto clap". Probably explains why these days he looks so grumpy on stage and hardly ever claps anymore !! V :-)
Fletch is important for the group dynamics. There is a psychological role he plays. Maybe the group wouldn't exist without him. A musical talent is important for playing music, but a group of people who works together for such a long time needs as well other gifts to stay together.
I watched DM DVD in Berlin frim 2013 and in fairness to fletch the others don't seem to be doing very much live on stage apart from Dave and the drummer, most of it is pre recorded even Martin who is playing guitar for most of it is only playing a few notes over the layers of keyboards.How much fletch contributes to the sound in studio is another matter however he must have a substantial input otherwise he wouldn't be there.
Exactly, let's remember than none of them have ever been Mozart or Paganini. Most of their songs can be played with 4 fingers and minimal musical knowledge. Mixing tracks and putting all elements together is an essential part, that cannot be reproduced when on stage.
I think it has to be said there’s a massive difference in what goes on in the studio and what happens on tours. I feel Fletch has little to do once the production is over and by the time we get to see them perform. Remember they spend months in the studio and I’m sure his input is complete more or less. Christian on drums and Peter on keyboard join up for the tours and Daniel Miller or Flood along with Fletch prob have their job in the can by then.
Exactly. His most imortant contribution is music engineering, during production. He transforms Martin's masters in audible hits. Of course with producers' help, but he is the one who keeps DM in the electronic side, as dave is more rock-oriented, and Martin is more on the experimental side. We just need to listen to their solo albums!
@@rubenlopezusa That's why Alan Wilder left. Martin would give him the rudimentary songs written on acoustic guitar, then leave Alan and whoever the producer was to do the rest. All the samples and keyboards were crafted by them. But all the credit and songwriting royalties went to Martin. No wonder Alan left DM.
@@greva2904 sorry, that's not true. The best evidence is that Alan has donr nothing worth mentioning since he left DM. What happened with such a genius, while DM kept doing amazing music? Alan abused the repetitive cycles in a song, which was good for the 80s and boring for the 90s. That created a lot of discussion and tension. Forget magazines, just listen to their interviews, especially older ones. The music producted by Fletch with his own level reminds of DM, while not even the music made by Dave or Martin solos sound like DM. Read all B-sides in SOFAD for example and you will understand, always produced by Fletch, itinerating by studios all over the world, in cooperation with someone. WALKING IN MY SHOES, best example, 8 official remixes produced by Fletch and other engineers in different countries. Amazing results. That, for me, is the best of DM, rather that studio songs, because that's what you could hear in clubs.
Fletch has friends that play in a band called Depeche Mode. Think of this,Alan doing all the work from production to live shows and getting paid the same as Fletch did....Paranoid?
I always believed 101 was simply playback/miming,for someone to flag this up confirms my suspicions all along,whether they played 'Live' and then doctored the concert afterwards for an official release is debateable unless you were actually there but it does detract from the release because who wants to listen to the pristine studio recording as opposed to a warts and all Live performance?
I was never fond of 101, today I put it on in the car, it is an unenergetic backing track with screams from the audience layered on top. Compared to the extremely high energy live performance Hamburg 1985 that I ordered from a dodgy website on DVD and CD after the tip off by Vince. I really would have like to have seen it in the hey day. >) Never saw devotional, it on my list. I started listening to their albums around 1984..
Daryl Bamonte was the tour manager at the time, he did end up replacing Fletch for a number of shows, however this is all in the touring the angel bonus footage.
I have seen them live in NY 2 times . You could tell both times they played a few songs a bit off . Not bad off just different. It did not sound pre recorded. I'm a musician and I'm a stickler for sound . I love the show and thank you for all the depeche mode information. Keep it up .
Everyone has their strengths - and Fletch is NOT a musician, by any stretch of the imagination, but there is so much more to keeping a band going, touring, making money and being a success. Perhaps we will never know what Fletch's contributions are, but I feel sure that without his enduring presence and work behind the scenes the band would have crumbled long, long ago.
This is exactly correct. Being part of a band doesn't just mean doing things on stage. Fletch was known for bringing the band together and being their manager in a way. I'm sure he contributed to the band musically (they probably would have kicked him out if he didn't) but you don't need to be the star of the show to have a role, influence, or importance in the band
The 101 concert a good bulk of it would have been pre recorded, but the very nature of their music means some of it HAS to be pre recorded At the time they had no drummer so the drums had to be pre recorded, Martin's guitars and Dave's vocals were definitely live, that leaves songs with six keyboard parts playing simultaneously and only one proper keyboard player, but every synth band has always had to do that out of necessity, Chris Lowe of The Pet Shop Boys plays live but do you really think he's playing literally every note of music you're hearing? It's logically not possible
Incidentally, this principle is called backtracks and means that there are ready-made tracks for such concerts, to which everything that can not be played live (in the case of Depeche Mode Drums, other keyboard sounds, other sound elements etc) will be recorded in the studio beforehand and then to the Live sound will be played. But is a common principle and is also used for a relatively long time, including other rock bands like the Rolling Stones or Pink Floyd then (or where do you think it was at the wall concerts of the school choir at 22 clock at Another Brick ... come here "The backtracks of Depeche Mode are also available for research on the Internet.
Fletcher has not contributed one bleep on any DM song throughout their whole career. He makes Ringo Starr look like a genius. Wilder deserved Co-production on the albums not Depeche Mode. If you read the album covers you'd presume that Fletcher had as much input as Wilder. The only thing he does is make coffee for the boys. Fletcher is so useless he can't even clap in time!!!!
scottsanders1414 thank you bro !! People like you are what rock my world and I am so grateful to you for your support !! See you soon on the next vid!! V :-)
@@robertgarscadden!!!! Are you joking, anyone with half a brain knows Fletcher has had no musical input into any DM song. I assume by your post that you can't accept any criticism of Depeche Mode and probably think Exciter was a great album!!!
Makes me wonder, how they ended Alan going out & letting this guy stay... that Andy's comments certainly speaks volumes of amount the very discrepancies within the band & internal strife.
Once again a great video. Now there is one thing you said, that also got me thinking for decades now: why is a guitar more "live", more "exciting" to see on stage than a keyboard being played? And there is one artist who was working on this very aspect since the start of his career in the 70s and has many answers and solutions for this problem, Jean-Michel Jarre: basically what he is saying that those classic instruments were made for performing, and they were made before we were able to record things. So it is all about the performance, and later there were solutions to be found how to record their sound. Synths however are the exact opposite way: they were made in the laboratory with only one thing in mind: to record very special sounds. They were not made for performance. You can easily record from a synthesizer, much easier than a violin or guitar or drums. The other thing that results from that is that we know what kind of sounds we can expect when someone holds a violin or goes to his drums with a drum stick in his hand, before one single note or hit is played. We have absolutely no idea whatsoever what will happen when someone is behind a keyboard, or a modular synth or a computer, because ANY kind of sound can come from those machines. So when we see someone behind a modular synth or so in a band we don't know: which part of the sound is he actually generating? You can see a discussion about these exact things with Jean-Michel Jarre in these two videos (don't be put of the German title, the talks in both videos are completely english, and only the intro speech is in German, but you can enable english subtitles): 1. ua-cam.com/video/Cai4NlZDuPU/v-deo.html this is by the way the best interview or TALK I *EVER* saw with a musical artist. It is EXTREMELY inspiring for ANYone doing ANY kind of artistic stuff, incl. musicians (electronic or not), painters, photographers, game designers, film makers, … I HIGHLY recommend watching this as a whole! 2. ua-cam.com/video/i1GnXuZvxD4/v-deo.html this one is the continuation of that day, where Jarre was put to a "blind date" with DJ Richie Hawtin and they talk similar things in a much extended form, you need much more time for that talk, and it has less than the talk above, but still is a great talk to watch. There are two more videos from that day, which are also worth seeing by the way :)… One of them shows how a German artist called Martin Fischer tries to mimick and explain the music of Jarre and how he did it, and the second is Jarre reacting to that result and where these two guys discuss how good Martin Fischer was :).
If you want to know what Fletchers role is all about read the biography by Steve Malins called Black Celebration. I guess you sure have read it, if not - its great. I did not know f. E. that OMD was supporting act for the legendary 101 concert. Amazing. And concerning Fletch. He is the best friend of Martin. And for long years he had a kind of diplomatic role to play between Martin and Dave. Read and enjoy.
As soon as he started talking I knew he was going to quote from something 'Rolling Stone magazine' said about Andy, which appears on Andy's Wikipedia page. Here is the text from Wikipedia, word for word ... "Rolling Stone writer Gavin Edwards: "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 Andy Fletcher shows up for photo shoots and cashes the checks." ... I don't agree. Andy has a bigger role in Depeche Mode than some people think.
@@VaughnGeorge I am a recent fan of DM but even I have already been wondering what Fletch does actually do. Thanks for your explanations! And I've checked your stats today, and it seems like your channel is just flying! So glad such original creators get the audience they deserve! Keep it up!
I sometimes wonder what would Depeche Mode be like if Martin Gore had left the band instead of Alan Wilder? I feel both Gore and Wilder's contributions are equally worthwhile.
I think as musicians we sometimes forget what the perspective is from the audience. There was a period in the 90’s that Fletch looked like the sophisticated one at the back wearing specs, Dave was jumping around in his vest and the rest of it, but when you saw the Fletch clap it was like “yeah! These guys mean it”! We can never underestimate what someone brings to a performance, composition or group. Look at Bez in the Happy Mondays! That’s not a comparison, just an example. Great videos by the way, thanks for doing these.
As Fletch was an insurance clerk he was trusted with dealing with DM's bank account & talking with their bank manager, at least in the 80s. Maybe after Teutonic success , or that in the rebellious american colonies, this task must have been grappled away from him?
DM music is too complex to be played by 4 people, so you have to have some things played by a machine of some kind. They did they best to play things they could live, so having something prerecorded playing in this case is not bad. On a lighter note.... now you have almost 8K subscribers. Good work. I won't be surprised if it reaches 10s of Ks. Keep going.
Alan Wilder should still be in the band. It's a crime the way that man was treated. It's disgusting. Fletcher is no mediator. He's Martin's bestie. He's along for the ride and he's laughing all the way to the f'n bank. I'd love that job. Being a "mediator" with no musical skills pays real well doesn't it?
I think Fletch is (and was) the glue that kept/keeps the band togheter. The others all got into trouble with themselves or drugs or alcohol. He may not be the ultimate musiscian, but who cares, you need someone to keep a band togetherer or they would all have been split up and and gone their own way to achive nothing. Alan leaving cripled them; but didn't kill them. If martin would write about love in stead of politics again, I think they'll top the charts in every country again...
I would posture an alternative argument - I think Fletch caused a lot of the issues, and would MUCH rather have seen him leaving than Alan. Fletch leaving would have had pretty much zero impact, from what I can see. Still - it is what it is - DM post 95 is not for me. A few good song, sure - nothing more. Sad but true.
I would love some analysis of Giorgio Moroder’s vast catalogue. His work with Donna Summer is what got me into electronic music. He’s certainly a pioneer.
@@VaughnGeorge I'll stay tuned then. Your first Fletch video was amazing, so hats off to you! It was great to see how such great compositions were played live.
Hello, you are right on the point again I believe. As for 101 and their concerts in general, I believe Wilder must have been too proud not to play live. Evenmore to play fake, over the prerecorded. Of course there were prerecorded parts, you can not play everything... Hey could you find a video recording of Fletcher actually playing something, I mean showing his fingers playing an audible.. something? Cheers
On the Devotional DVD there's a part in Everything Counts where you can clearly see he's actually playing a part live. I think he has done a lot of non playing over the years but I think it was only as recently as 2013 when he truly stopped playing altogether
Not likely. If his keyboard had actually been 'plugged in', the result would've been a sonic atrocity. He couldn't even FAKE playing a synthesizer. I saw them quite a number of times and have watched a lot of video. I know what I saw (and heard).
On Speak and Spell, Fletch is playing bass, and playing bass is hardest thing when you playing live gig. So give him credid for thet. Also on 101 Dave voice is play back. You can hear it when he scream in middle of singing how distant is his voice from singing line.
He sang live on the night of the show, he wasn't miming, but his vocals were re-recorded in the studio after the fact for the 101 release. They left his interaction with the crowd and it sounds very different.
my first DM experience was a set of cassettes, quite poorly recorded (illegally re-recorded to be precise). it was a set of compilations which are long forgotten called X2: Cinco, Sex, CeMb etc. it was a live part of it that blew me away. I didn't care for the quality cos I was amazed by the music, the groove etc - it was something very new to me. it was much later when I realized, that no matter how perfect studio recordings sound, the live version of them may be shite or simple bleak. since then, I've been a great fan of DM, however never heard a live version of any of their songs which could surprise me in good way. absolutely the same goes with my other obsession - Pet Shop Boys (BTW - here's the idea for some of your future videos :-) )
Only Joe Jackson's big world is a live (original & with instruction to audience to be quiet!) album with no post production, for a ' pop)rock' album that I know of.
Just a precision about my last question. Everybody claim that Alan Wilder is a genius. Why not... So give me your favourite playlist of the production of this genius musician/producer since he left DM. In more than 20 years he must have produced fantastic songs ? So help me...
portfoliomanager73 I don’t think I understand the question ? Are you asking me for my favourite Alan song for the last 20 years ? We all know of course that Alan did his Recoil project but has recently stopped producing . V👍
@@portfoliomanager73 AHA!! Yep I get your point and its a good point you've made!! Yes Recoil's sound is very much concept music and yes its hard to mention my favourite ones because they are all concept type compositions and not the kind of music I would often listen to as my "go to favourites". As I've said, Wilder strength is sound and production and being able to improve the source material. Give him song and he will take it to the next level. V:-)
I've been a fan of DM since the Speak and Spell Days. I get the negative views on Fletch and his dynamics within the band. In your video about what Fletch played was an eye opener, whoever on current tours is he really playing live? Moving off the subject, I would like you to do a video of the Early Human League. It is a subject I feel a lot of your viewership would be interested in and something that hasn't really been covered. Regards Darren
Darren thank you for your kind words and feedback!! I really think that Fletch is playing less live these days than ever. He does look increasingly uninterested on stage these days. I will certainly do a video on early Human League !! Thanks again for your support and keep following the channel!! V :-)
It must be the relationship between Martin and Fletch that keeps the latter guy still left in the band. If Dave or Alan had as much to say as Martin in this case Fletch would have been kick out from Depeche already back in the 90:s I think. Of everyone in the band I think Alan did cope best with Dave back then.
With WVT problem is that this tour didn't use the Violator momentum. One of the shortest tours ever. Arrangements are questionable. Some are fantastic like Everything Counts others like Enjoy The Silence are crap. Compare with arrangement opus magnum from Devotional Tour. You can read on the internet or magazines that Devotional tour was that tour with drugs and alcohol. This is not true. WVT fast the first one. Dave took tones of extasy and alcohol. Same Martin. That was one of the reasons why Dave left Jo and his son and moved to California. There is no concert in 1990 that Dave is loaded and drunk. Every night. All of them did a lot of things which they don't want to talk these days. From the management point of view. The band could juicy more from Violator album and the tour. Another leg in the States, South America & Europe in 1991 with the different setlist. Halo/Clean - double AA single as it was planned after World In My Eyes. live album, live video, etc. If the would record Violator in late '90s or '00-10s we could have reeditions, limited editions, collectors editions, live versions, a remix album, Christmas edition, Hanuka limited edition and many, many more. This is what I mean saying that they didn't fully use Violator momentum.
I give Fletch credit for negotiating the number of songs Dave could write on a album. Dave really wanted some of his own songs to be on a DM album or he would leave the band ( I believe it was right before recording Playing the Angel). Fletch helped make a deal with Dave. I think the deal was that Dave could write 3 songs for every album and that one of those songs had to be a single.
Hylton McCabe hello my friend and I’m glad to hear our tastes are similar !! I know Heaven 17 but I’m not very familiar with their music . I guess I should give it a listen 😎👍V
I've often felt that it's a slap in the face to the rest of the band and the audience to be up there bouncing around, waving, clapping, eating... When he should at least be looking like he's trying to play the keyboard. I mean... It's no secret that Lol Tolhurst could hardly play anything on the keyboards when he was in the Cure and piss drunk at times... but at the very least he looked like he was playing along.
If I remember correct Daryl learned to play Fletch’s part(s) within a few days while Mart and Dave were off for holiday. Daryl btw. is the brother of Cure‘s Perry Damonte. I once read they also had two tapes running in sync: one for the audience and one for the front monitors with extra parts (shorts and fading out) so they knew when to play important parts at the right time (guitar intros, extra FX, some synth lines etc. (Alan said that in an article/faq years ago after he’d left DM. I’m sure Fletch really needed this for his few parts. Just saying ’cos you mentioned his ‚tightness‘ in an earlier vid.
Colin Cosmo thank you so much for this!! I had no idea Daryl was related to a member of the Cure !! Really appreciate your input and the story of the 2 synced tape machines is very interesting too!! Welcome to the channel bud and thank you !!👍😎V
Piano & Keyboard Artist Every Band from 77-83 is related to other bands. OMD played as support for Gary Numan and we’re inspired by Human League. Cure played very early gigs with Depeche (Bamonte, he?). Robert Smith, Siouxie, Billy Idol and Boy George used to visits Visages Steve Strange Club in London, as well as some members of Spandau Ballet (they all were the ‚IN crowd‘ mentioned in a Song by Roxy Music). Billy Currie of Numan played in Ultravox, John McGeoch started with the Band Magazine - with Howard Devoto from the Buzzcocks (R Smiths favorite band in the 70ies)- and joined the Banshees. Smith played with the Banshees 82-84. Barry Adamson from Magazine played Bass on Visages first Albums and later @ Nick Caves Birthday Party and the Bad Seeds (and he mixed some DM songs).
Piano & Keyboard Artist Yes. DM started with Synthesizers ‘cos they liked the songs of OMD, Human League and Numan. Especially Vince. Martin was more in Folk/ Blues and Country, Dave in Punk (Buzzcocks and Generation X). So it’s a Circle. All connected.
The clapping hands claps all they can....
SRF NMA Everything Counts is one of my favourite songs and you ve just ruined it for me. I cant listen to the chorus without hearing your line anymore. 😅😂
Boss Tanaka lol, I won’t forget your answer too😝😝😝😝
😂😂😂
Fletch doesn´t clap, he tells the meaning of life through morse code.
Haha brilliant
you make my day !
That's deep man. It makes me want to stand up and CLAP!
George Michael was once asked, what the actual role of Andrew Ridgeley (his band fellow in Wham!) was. George was writing all the songs, singing them, looking better, and getting most of the attention of the fans and media. And he said: "Without Andy, Wham! would not even exist. He was my best friend and the driving force that made me, as a rather shy guy, go on stage at all!" Consider this!
Exactly. It should also be noted that while George was clearly the driving creative force behind Wham!, Andrew did co-write a couple of songs, including their biggest hit "Careless Whisper."
the same was asked about Pet Shop Boys, that Chris Lowe does nothing and should be fired. But in reality Chris done most of synth arrangements, and he is very proficient musician. But he decided to be in the back seat, don't talk too much and his stage presence almost unnoticeable. There's even joke that Chris is the only one statue that can play keyboard
Fletch quit the last leg of the 'Songs Of Faith And Devotion' tour in 1994 citing 'mental instability'. That tour was too long, one of the longest tours ever undertaken by any band. Martin said in an interview later on: "it felt like we were on tour for the rest of our lives...". Fletch said later that the pain in his head wouldn't go away, he thought it was a tumour, he couldn't sleep or think straight - he then discovered it was a breakdown he was having. He left the tour, went home to his wife who was pregnant with either their first or second child - I'm not sure which - and the baby was born soon after. I've found this online about that tour, I've copied and pasted:
Depeche Mode begin their Devotional tour in Lille, France. They reach new levels of excess on the trek, culminating with lead singer Dave Gahan having a heart attack during a show. The tour sets off with a crew of 120, including a psychiatrist who is on hand largely to support Gahan, who is deep into heroin abuse and has taken on a messianic personality, detaching from his bandmates in private rooms filled with candles. The shrink proves ineffective as Gahan never sees him and the rest of the band act out their rock and roll fantasies with a surfeit of drugs and groupies.
Gahan and Alan Wilder have their own limos, and every member is assigned a different floor at every hotel stay in an effort to partition the inevitable parties, including one that gets them banned from the Intercontinental hotel in Berlin.
On September 8 in Montreal, Gahan is arrested after punching a concierge at the hotel and spends a night in jail. A month later he collapses backstage before the encore at their show in New Orleans after suffering a heroin-induced heart attack. The band does the encore without him while he is taken to the hospital. Gahan, by now a hopeless addict, doesn't heed doctor's warning and returns to the tour.
Martin Gore's drug use also spirals out of control, and in November he is arrested in Denver for disturbing the peace in a hotel incident involving a boombox and a petulant attitude. The tour ends in December, but picks up again in February 1994 as the "Exotic Tour." Fletcher quits the tour in March, and in June, Gahan bites reporter Andrew Perry on the neck as part of his fascination with vampires.
At the final show, July 8 in Indianapolis, Gahan attempts a stage dive that goes horribly wrong, and he is sent to the hospital with cracked ribs.
The tour becomes the stuff of legend as roadies and insiders spread tales of orgies, overdoses and destruction. Q magazine names it "The Most Debauched Rock and Roll Tour Ever." Depeche Mode takes some time off and predictably, Gahan has more near-death adventures with drugs, including a 1996 overdose where paramedics have to jump start his heart Pulp Fiction style. He cleans up later that year, and in 1997 the group returns with their next album, Ultra. They don't tour for that one.
This came up on my feed. RIP Fletch. We made jokes about your clapping but we all loved you. And we will miss you.
Agree with you Nat!! RIP Fletch!! VG :-)
Lors of people and fans are laughing about fletch but 100%of them would love to be at his place....
RIP Andy… we love you
Yes.
Is simplicity best or simply the easiest? ... the band has held together for all these years and I'm simply grateful.
I remember my acting teachers telling us decades ago, "There are no small parts, only small actors." I guess that goes for musicians, too.
Those are words of wisdom indeed!! V:-)
definitely true!
I think it was on the 101 movie. Fletch was being interviewed and said Dave's the frontman, Martin's the songwriter, Alan's the Musician and I bum around.
That's just sad. Wilder did all the work and created those beautiful, majestic sounds we know and love so much and this fool bums around. Lord have mercy.
Fletch was the local bank manager who liked to play synths, the rest is history
As a person who struggled to have a successful band (but failed) you realize the hardest part is managing. I’m not even a Fletch fan, but writing /singing/producing are natural extensions of artists, phone calls/making contacts/gigs/scheduling/money ARE NOT. Musician types are typically shy and can’t be bothered dealing with business types. It sounds to me like Fletch fills this essential role
That mixing of Rod's Do you think I'm sexy song with Fletch's ridiculous non keyboard playing antics was so so so brilliant!
Thank you Myles!! VG:-)
101 concert film and performance was good but the Devotional film and performance was on an even incredible and higher level. Alan Wilder was stunning not only playing keyboards but drums as well. His high caliber of playing made Fletch look even more laughable in comparison.
There's also videos of the band recently in rehearsal with Andy playing very much live. It's minimal what he does but it's real. It's like a extra hand so the rest can do their amazing stuff. ☺️
Andy always gave the impression that he would love to play something. ;-) R.I.P Andy.
fletcher told in person that in fact he did management of the finances
Wilder played more notes in one minute than Fletch played in his whole career.
Fletch left the Devotional Tour after the South African stint due to depression. Darrel I believe was part of the stage crew, and they chose him because he had some piano experience, as a temp stand in. According to their biography back in 97, out of print now, Fletch and Alan took home the same pay. Which upset Alan because he felt that he did more than Fletch. The counter argument from Martin being that Fletch internal management of the band was worth it.
Thanks for this Spencer and welcome to the channel!! V:-)
A band splitting the money evenly from touring is quite common, regardless of who does what on stage. The Rolling Stones have always split the money from touring evenly, even though you could say Jagger is more of a focal point for the audience than some of the other members.
@@jeffoliver2298 yeah i agree. Although with MODE, they didn't split things equally. Fletch and Andy got the same. Dave got 2ble what they each got, as he is the lead singer, and Martin took double Dave, is he was singer/songwriter. Alan felt that he deserved more than Fletch, cause he arranged all the music & sequences for tour. Martin disagreed feeling Fletch management was also as valuable.
@@spencerholmes1047 If what you say is correct then it was unfair on Alan. He should have got the same as Dave - Alan and Dave didn't write the songs but had a large job to do on stage. One band where the splitting of money caused major problem was for The Eagles, when they reformed after years apart Don Henley and Glenn Frey arranged for themselves to receive double what the other three band members received. Their argument was that they had done more to keep The Eagles name alive during the years the band was apart than the others had, therefore when big crowds would come to the forthcoming concerts it was more because of them than the other three. Joe Walsh and Tim Schmit agreed, but Don Felder refused - and he quit. Felder argued that he had been a major part of the band when they were together, he wrote most of the guitar parts for Hotel California and others, therefore him receiving half what Henley and Frey received was unfair. He quit, the other four did the tour with a session player doing Felder's guitar parts.
@@jeffoliver2298 what I'm saying is based on the biography released in 1997, which I thought was quite candid. Unfortunately out of print and I loaned my copy to friend back then. And it's gone now
The nerd image of Fletch, that's what he did in 80's. People saw him and saw a keyboard genius or something like that. But the real genius leaved the band. 🤔
As far as I'm concerned, Fletch is a genius. He makes gobs of money to watch Depeche Mode concerts from the best seat in the house.
Agreed
Nice followup to the other Fletch video, I also tend to hate it when concerts are full of people holding their phones up, but there have been a couple times when I've missed concerts and have been grateful to people filming with their phone, most notably the last Nick Mason concert in New York where Roger showed up to play the gong and sing. Lol brilliant montage with Fletch and "Do You Think Im Sexy"
Squire Muldoon: Thank you for your comment mate!! Than you for the kind words and I'm glad the video made you smile !! V :-)
Fletch. Thanks for all the Claps and Dance Moves. RIP.
Glad to see you are watching and enjoying the videos Sandra! Thank you! VG :-)
@@VaughnGeorge i just wished I found you sooner! Thank goodness the COSMOS finally reached out to me and pointing me to your direction especially to get those Blasphemous Rumors sorted out, and now we can celebrate the fact
that we've seen the back of another black day. See what I did there. LOL
Fletch is a legend. Everybody wants to earn lots of money with minimum work. He has a job of the dreams. On stage he is triggering samples, sometimes, FX effects etc and in studios he is reading newspapers. He has been doing this for many many years and nobody fired him yet, perfect job 😁
Fletch has go the system working in his favour for sure!! V:-)
Top LEL :DDD But I think he does do more than just that, at least on stage.
They've been going for nearly 40 years, surely he must be able to play something by now?
Steven hi!! Yeah LOL!! I know its crazy!! Its not like he has a day job and he does not have time and most of the keyboard parts are easy to play so I really don't know what the excuse is!! V:-)
He can... The Clap 👏
He plays bass
@Scooby McDooby
Kazoo and Triangle? Don't you have to have musical training to do that? 😂😂😂
Fletch is in the Rock Hall of Fame. Forever.
by association not b y musical skills . Alan too
the luckiest man in the history of music Industry
Thank you for this history of my favorite band ❤️
there's been a lot of bashing, but most (non musicians) don't see that some band members are holdings band together and alive. The only thing I don't like about fletch was his envy on Alan Wilder ...
And he had a lot to be envious of. Alan Wilder’s contribution was so momentous yet apparently taken for granted. For me, as a massive DM fan, after he left, they were never the same. Fletcher’s contribution is only that he’s been there since the start snd being a good mate if Martin’s obviously has benefited him. The very fact that everyone questions what he does shows that.
@@KuroMicra
Preach!!!!!
I'm the one who talked about Fletch putting the band's in danger, and I have to clarify that it wasn't related to any managerial decision or anmything like that. The truth is that he'd been really nasty to Dave at least since the Music for the Masses tour (Alan admitted he and Fletch did came to blows, because the latter criticized Dave's performance at a certain gig, which Alan found "too much coming from Fletch"), and he didn't stopp in 1990. I can't give details, but Dave really wanted to leave the band in the middle of the tour, and I've been assured it was Alan and Daniel Miller who managed to persuade him not to leave. Martin was too apathetic at the time to really care.
From memory, according to Steve Malins' DM biography, the problem seems to be that Fletch developed an inferiority complex that showed itself a quite agressive way. I'm glad it seems everybody has matured enough to being able to still work together, but it really irks me when Fletch says about himself that he's the lukewarm water that keeps the band together (quoting Spinal Tap).
As for the comment that everything on 101 is pre-recorded, I don't think it goes to that extent, although, it's been tacitly admitted by Alan that there are some overdubs in the record... like almost everybody else did.
Alejandro hello mate!! Thank you for contributing to the discussion !! I personally was unaware of the tension between Fletch and Gahan and I'm sure that many other fans were unaware of this too. Thank you for this !! V :-)
@@VaughnGeorge you may want to check the aforementioned biography by Steve Malins. It's unofficial and maybe a tad sensationalist when it comes to the drug period (but who could blame the writer, and nevertheless I think it's tactful enough), but Alan himself said most of it it's true. The episode I talked about during the World Violation tour isn't there, though, not anywhere else as far as I know.
I think “101” is mostly if not entirely prerecorded or Massively overdubbed. There’s no way in hell that the vocals are live. Remember, this show was number 101 of their tour...Dave’s voice could not be in such perfect condition at that point. Also, note that every “Yeah!” etc is so much lower and distant compared to the main vocal. I listened to 101 once, and consider it a waste of time.
I knew but it was after the fact. Lots of tension and you could pick up on it a lot when Dave gave interviews during that time.
The fight between Fletch & Alan took place before walking out onstage for the encore (Music for the Masses Tour). Alan stated that after the fight they had to go play Just Can’t Get Enough (which he dreaded playing). He always thought the song was too poppy.
No, we don't understand his role on dm, he is new clapping machinne called Korg auto clapping hands, x6475 or something like this. Good vídeo your video show us a new perspective, thanks
Fernando: Hello mate hahhahhaha yeah I like the idea of the "Korg auto clap". Probably explains why these days he looks so grumpy on stage and hardly ever claps anymore !! V :-)
Love DM, OMD, Erasure, New Order…I grew up on these guys! 😊
Fletch is important for the group dynamics. There is a psychological role he plays. Maybe the group wouldn't exist without him. A musical talent is important for playing music, but a group of people who works together for such a long time needs as well other gifts to stay together.
I watched DM DVD in Berlin frim 2013 and in fairness to fletch the others don't seem to be doing very much live on stage apart from Dave and the drummer, most of it is pre recorded even Martin who is playing guitar for most of it is only playing a few notes over the layers of keyboards.How much fletch contributes to the sound in studio is another matter however he must have a substantial input otherwise he wouldn't be there.
You are absolutely right !! VG :-)
Exactly, let's remember than none of them have ever been Mozart or Paganini. Most of their songs can be played with 4 fingers and minimal musical knowledge. Mixing tracks and putting all elements together is an essential part, that cannot be reproduced when on stage.
I think it has to be said there’s a massive difference in what goes on in the studio and what happens on tours. I feel Fletch has little to do once the production is over and by the time we get to see them perform. Remember they spend months in the studio and I’m sure his input is complete more or less. Christian on drums and Peter on keyboard join up for the tours and Daniel Miller or Flood along with Fletch prob have their job in the can by then.
Exactly. His most imortant contribution is music engineering, during production. He transforms Martin's masters in audible hits. Of course with producers' help, but he is the one who keeps DM in the electronic side, as dave is more rock-oriented, and Martin is more on the experimental side. We just need to listen to their solo albums!
@@rubenlopezusa That's why Alan Wilder left. Martin would give him the rudimentary songs written on acoustic guitar, then leave Alan and whoever the producer was to do the rest. All the samples and keyboards were crafted by them. But all the credit and songwriting royalties went to Martin. No wonder Alan left DM.
@@greva2904 sorry, that's not true. The best evidence is that Alan has donr nothing worth mentioning since he left DM. What happened with such a genius, while DM kept doing amazing music? Alan abused the repetitive cycles in a song, which was good for the 80s and boring for the 90s. That created a lot of discussion and tension. Forget magazines, just listen to their interviews, especially older ones.
The music producted by Fletch with his own level reminds of DM, while not even the music made by Dave or Martin solos sound like DM.
Read all B-sides in SOFAD for example and you will understand, always produced by Fletch, itinerating by studios all over the world, in cooperation with someone. WALKING IN MY SHOES, best example, 8 official remixes produced by Fletch and other engineers in different countries. Amazing results. That, for me, is the best of DM, rather that studio songs, because that's what you could hear in clubs.
Such a great video, Vaughn! It was so much fun it inspired me to do my own episode about my love for Depeche Mode. Thanks for the inspiration!
the OMD guy always has the attitude of someone who is actually very envious of Depeche Mode's career
Fletch has friends that play in a band called Depeche Mode.
Think of this,Alan doing all the work from production to live shows and getting paid the same as Fletch did....Paranoid?
Knock Knock.
Who's there?
Fletch hitting the keys not plugged in.
Best clapper in the industry, hands down 👏
1:46 is all you need to see to know what he does.
Why did fletch need 3 keyboards?
All for show !! VG :-)
@@VaughnGeorge two would have been more "believable", 😄
@@VaughnGeorge well, he actually plays on all three of them, dude.
@@u1yahen of coarse
Drove from Phoenix, Arizona to Los Angles Rose Bowl to see 101..!!! it was Amazing
Jason L. Scott must have been a great show! I bought the VCR! Kkkkkk
I always believed 101 was simply playback/miming,for someone to flag this up confirms my suspicions all along,whether they played 'Live' and then doctored the concert afterwards for an official release is debateable unless you were actually there but it does detract from the release because who wants to listen to the pristine studio recording as opposed to a warts and all Live performance?
I was never fond of 101, today I put it on in the car, it is an unenergetic backing track with screams from the audience layered on top. Compared to the extremely high energy live performance Hamburg 1985 that I ordered from a dodgy website on DVD and CD after the tip off by Vince. I really would have like to have seen it in the hey day. >) Never saw devotional, it on my list. I started listening to their albums around 1984..
Daryl Bamonte was the tour manager at the time, he did end up replacing Fletch for a number of shows, however this is all in the touring the angel bonus footage.
anybody else thought "oh no, poor Fletch he got the clap! and a killer strain too"?
I have seen them live in NY 2 times . You could tell both times they played a few songs a bit off . Not bad off just different. It did not sound pre recorded. I'm a musician and I'm a stickler for sound . I love the show and thank you for all the depeche mode information. Keep it up .
David Z thank you bud and I love getting comments from fellow Musicians!! V👍😎
Everyone has their strengths - and Fletch is NOT a musician, by any stretch of the imagination, but there is so much more to keeping a band going, touring, making money and being a success. Perhaps we will never know what Fletch's contributions are, but I feel sure that without his enduring presence and work behind the scenes the band would have crumbled long, long ago.
This is exactly correct. Being part of a band doesn't just mean doing things on stage. Fletch was known for bringing the band together and being their manager in a way. I'm sure he contributed to the band musically (they probably would have kicked him out if he didn't) but you don't need to be the star of the show to have a role, influence, or importance in the band
Fletch attitude does remind me of Eeyore from winnie the pooh
I absolutely love the "offness" of live music. I want it to feel rawer, flawed, and different from the studio versions.
You mean the song by Rod Steward's 'Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?'
The 101 concert a good bulk of it would have been pre recorded, but the very nature of their music means some of it HAS to be pre recorded
At the time they had no drummer so the drums had to be pre recorded, Martin's guitars and Dave's vocals were definitely live, that leaves songs with six keyboard parts playing simultaneously and only one proper keyboard player, but every synth band has always had to do that out of necessity, Chris Lowe of The Pet Shop Boys plays live but do you really think he's playing literally every note of music you're hearing?
It's logically not possible
Cheers Lewis !! You're right and you obviously understand the logistics behind performing electronic music live !! V :-)
Incidentally, this principle is called backtracks and means that there are ready-made tracks for such concerts, to which everything that can not be played live (in the case of Depeche Mode Drums, other keyboard sounds, other sound elements etc) will be recorded in the studio beforehand and then to the Live sound will be played. But is a common principle and is also used for a relatively long time, including other rock bands like the Rolling Stones or Pink Floyd then (or where do you think it was at the wall concerts of the school choir at 22 clock at Another Brick ... come here "The backtracks of Depeche Mode are also available for research on the Internet.
I think that here at Flechters Parts also with the backtracks on number sure gone.
In 101 listen carefully to Something to do, you can hear Alan playing 2 keys at the same time by mistake. In one of the bell sound 0:43
Fletcher has not contributed one bleep on any DM song throughout their whole career. He makes Ringo Starr look like a genius. Wilder deserved Co-production on the albums not Depeche Mode. If you read the album covers you'd presume that Fletcher had as much input as Wilder. The only thing he does is make coffee for the boys. Fletcher is so useless he can't even clap in time!!!!
LOL!!! that was brutal !! V:-)
Great channel!!! Good to see your subs increasing.
scottsanders1414 thank you bro !! People like you are what rock my world and I am so grateful to you for your support !! See you soon on the next vid!! V :-)
You must have an Insight that nobody else knows.explain more
@@robertgarscadden!!!! Are you joking, anyone with half a brain knows Fletcher has had no musical input into any DM song. I assume by your post that you can't accept any criticism of Depeche Mode and probably think Exciter was a great album!!!
So pleased I found your channel Vaughan , superb videos
Thank you Mike!! VG:-)
Makes me wonder, how they ended Alan going out & letting this guy stay... that Andy's comments certainly speaks volumes of amount the very discrepancies within the band & internal strife.
Cos Alan was never part of the Basildon Music Mafia
Really looking forward to the in-depth reviews of the albums!
Cheers Simon!! V:-)
Really great videos ,great channel....Love your enthusiasm...top stuff!!
Mark thank you so much mate!! V:-)
Once again a great video. Now there is one thing you said, that also got me thinking for decades now: why is a guitar more "live", more "exciting" to see on stage than a keyboard being played?
And there is one artist who was working on this very aspect since the start of his career in the 70s and has many answers and solutions for this problem, Jean-Michel Jarre: basically what he is saying that those classic instruments were made for performing, and they were made before we were able to record things. So it is all about the performance, and later there were solutions to be found how to record their sound. Synths however are the exact opposite way: they were made in the laboratory with only one thing in mind: to record very special sounds. They were not made for performance. You can easily record from a synthesizer, much easier than a violin or guitar or drums.
The other thing that results from that is that we know what kind of sounds we can expect when someone holds a violin or goes to his drums with a drum stick in his hand, before one single note or hit is played. We have absolutely no idea whatsoever what will happen when someone is behind a keyboard, or a modular synth or a computer, because ANY kind of sound can come from those machines. So when we see someone behind a modular synth or so in a band we don't know: which part of the sound is he actually generating?
You can see a discussion about these exact things with Jean-Michel Jarre in these two videos (don't be put of the German title, the talks in both videos are completely english, and only the intro speech is in German, but you can enable english subtitles):
1. ua-cam.com/video/Cai4NlZDuPU/v-deo.html
this is by the way the best interview or TALK I *EVER* saw with a musical artist. It is EXTREMELY inspiring for ANYone doing ANY kind of artistic stuff, incl. musicians (electronic or not), painters, photographers, game designers, film makers, … I HIGHLY recommend watching this as a whole!
2. ua-cam.com/video/i1GnXuZvxD4/v-deo.html
this one is the continuation of that day, where Jarre was put to a "blind date" with DJ Richie Hawtin and they talk similar things in a much extended form, you need much more time for that talk, and it has less than the talk above, but still is a great talk to watch.
There are two more videos from that day, which are also worth seeing by the way :)… One of them shows how a German artist called Martin Fischer tries to mimick and explain the music of Jarre and how he did it, and the second is Jarre reacting to that result and where these two guys discuss how good Martin Fischer was :).
WOW What an awesome post with great resources!! I thank you very much !! V:-)
Oh so that´s where the song "Is there something to do" comes from
RIP Fletch. You left the party far too early.
It sounds like someone is a little envious. Fletch is one of the original DM members. He has to do something...Alan left first.. .
Brad Bunnell yes you’re right !! I am very envious of Fletch indeed !! I’ve always wanted to be him !! He is my inspiration!! VG 😎👍🎹
If you want to know what Fletchers role is all about read the biography by Steve Malins called Black Celebration. I guess you sure have read it, if not - its great. I did not know f. E. that OMD was supporting act for the legendary 101 concert. Amazing. And concerning Fletch. He is the best friend of Martin. And for long years he had a kind of diplomatic role to play between Martin and Dave. Read and enjoy.
Sven Jachmann hello and yes I have read that biography. V😎👍
Vaughn George maybe Steve Malins could be one of your next guests?
As soon as he started talking I knew he was going to quote from something 'Rolling Stone magazine' said about Andy, which appears on Andy's Wikipedia page. Here is the text from Wikipedia, word for word ... "Rolling Stone writer Gavin Edwards: "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 Andy Fletcher shows up for photo shoots and cashes the checks." ... I don't agree. Andy has a bigger role in Depeche Mode than some people think.
the montage literally cracked me XD
Mary hi! I am glad it made you laugh!! V:-)
@@VaughnGeorge I am a recent fan of DM but even I have already been wondering what Fletch does actually do. Thanks for your explanations!
And I've checked your stats today, and it seems like your channel is just flying! So glad such original creators get the audience they deserve! Keep it up!
For a DM junkie like myself, this channel is perfection.
Thank you and welcome to the channel Jose!! VG:-)
I sometimes wonder what would Depeche Mode be like if Martin Gore had left the band instead of Alan Wilder? I feel both Gore and Wilder's contributions are equally worthwhile.
I think as musicians we sometimes forget what the perspective is from the audience. There was a period in the 90’s that Fletch looked like the sophisticated one at the back wearing specs, Dave was jumping around in his vest and the rest of it, but when you saw the Fletch clap it was like “yeah! These guys mean it”!
We can never underestimate what someone brings to a performance, composition or group. Look at Bez in the Happy Mondays! That’s not a comparison, just an example.
Great videos by the way, thanks for doing these.
Just bought the Steve Malins biography. Thanks for the tip Alejandro.
Hi Vaughn, thank you very much for the videos about this great band!!!!
a brilliant review😉
As Fletch was an insurance clerk he was trusted with dealing with DM's bank account & talking with their bank manager, at least in the 80s. Maybe after Teutonic success , or that in the rebellious american colonies, this task must have been grappled away from him?
DM music is too complex to be played by 4 people, so you have to have some things played by a machine of some kind. They did they best to play things they could live, so having something prerecorded playing in this case is not bad. On a lighter note.... now you have almost 8K subscribers. Good work. I won't be surprised if it reaches 10s of Ks. Keep going.
Excellent!! Thanks mate- love the depeche stuff I’m a massive fan.
Agree with over playing from Gordeno/ Eigner ( as great as they are as musicians)
Thank you Terry and welcome to the community!! V:-)
yes it's true that Fletcher acts as manager but if i'm not mistaken he was responsible for the base tracks
Fletch keeps Dave and Martin from killing each other. He's the mediator. End of story.
Alan Wilder should still be in the band. It's a crime the way that man was treated. It's disgusting. Fletcher is no mediator. He's Martin's bestie. He's along for the ride and he's laughing all the way to the f'n bank. I'd love that job. Being a "mediator" with no musical skills pays real well doesn't it?
Angie - so true.
He's useless.
@@rubaidaallen2764 ikr?
I think Fletch is (and was) the glue that kept/keeps the band togheter. The others all got into trouble with themselves or drugs or alcohol. He may not be the ultimate musiscian, but who cares, you need someone to keep a band togetherer or they would all have been split up and and gone their own way to achive nothing. Alan leaving cripled them; but didn't kill them. If martin would write about love in stead of politics again, I think they'll top the charts in every country again...
I would posture an alternative argument - I think Fletch caused a lot of the issues, and would MUCH rather have seen him leaving than Alan. Fletch leaving would have had pretty much zero impact, from what I can see.
Still - it is what it is - DM post 95 is not for me. A few good song, sure - nothing more. Sad but true.
9:59 Fletch will never leave the band because he's Martin's best friend. That's why...!
what if Alan stayed and it was Fletch who left?
I would not like it for sure. Although I have all respect for Alan, but I prefer Fletch since he’s my favorite.
At the beginning I thought you are going to show us some "Fletch rifts"....but no....kind of disapointed....
Fletch is the luckiest guy on the planet! And I have to say that Depeche Mode 101 is vastly superior to the ego fest known as Rattle And Hum.
I would love some analysis of Giorgio Moroder’s vast catalogue. His work with Donna Summer is what got me into electronic music. He’s certainly a pioneer.
Cool hive thank you a great suggestion !! V😎👍
LMAO Andy McCluskey, telling the bare truth here though.
He is awesome!!! V:-)
@@VaughnGeorge Will you record a video about OMD one day?
@@ctspf Yes my friend , I have one coming soon!! V:-)
@@VaughnGeorge I'll stay tuned then. Your first Fletch video was amazing, so hats off to you! It was great to see how such great compositions were played live.
@@ctspf Thank you my friend !! I look forward to chatting to you on another post soon !! V:-)
"In these days"
Dude, people have been doing overdubs and "doctoring" in the studio for live albums since at least the 1970's.
kassemir yes I am aware of that 😎👍
Which is why I love The Monkees Live '67. Raw: warts, moles and brilliance.
Hello, you are right on the point again I believe. As for 101 and their concerts in general, I believe Wilder must have been too proud not to play live. Evenmore to play fake, over the prerecorded. Of course there were prerecorded parts, you can not play everything... Hey could you find a video recording of Fletcher actually playing something, I mean showing his fingers playing an audible.. something? Cheers
On the Devotional DVD there's a part in Everything Counts where you can clearly see he's actually playing a part live.
I think he has done a lot of non playing over the years but I think it was only as recently as 2013 when he truly stopped playing altogether
Not likely. If his keyboard had actually been 'plugged in', the result would've been a sonic atrocity. He couldn't even FAKE playing a synthesizer. I saw them quite a number of times and have watched a lot of video. I know what I saw (and heard).
the greatest one-hand-keyboarder in the world...but he used two hands when Vince was still in the band!
Just waiting for you to do a piece on John Foxx
I like your rings, I think all of your videos are about your rings really :))))
On Speak and Spell, Fletch is playing bass, and playing bass is hardest thing when you playing live gig. So give him credid for thet. Also on 101 Dave voice is play back. You can hear it when he scream in middle of singing how distant is his voice from singing line.
He sang live on the night of the show, he wasn't miming, but his vocals were re-recorded in the studio after the fact for the 101 release. They left his interaction with the crowd and it sounds very different.
my first DM experience was a set of cassettes, quite poorly recorded (illegally re-recorded to be precise). it was a set of compilations which are long forgotten called X2: Cinco, Sex, CeMb etc. it was a live part of it that blew me away. I didn't care for the quality cos I was amazed by the music, the groove etc - it was something very new to me.
it was much later when I realized, that no matter how perfect studio recordings sound, the live version of them may be shite or simple bleak. since then, I've been a great fan of DM, however never heard a live version of any of their songs which could surprise me in good way. absolutely the same goes with my other obsession - Pet Shop Boys (BTW - here's the idea for some of your future videos :-) )
Thank you for sharing your story with the channel and I promise there is much more to come!! Thanks again!! V :-)
I`m your 200th subscriber ;). Nice contend.
Thank you and welcome to the channel!! V:-)
Only Joe Jackson's big world is a live (original & with instruction to audience to be quiet!) album with no post production, for a ' pop)rock' album that I know of.
Kessler came on as more manager around SOFAD I think.
Yes you're right!! I got it wrong !! Cheers matey !!
Andys clapping makes me smile every time, I feel his sweet soul!
Just a precision about my last question. Everybody claim that Alan Wilder is a genius. Why not... So give me your favourite playlist of the production of this genius musician/producer since he left DM. In more than 20 years he must have produced fantastic songs ? So help me...
portfoliomanager73 I don’t think I understand the question ? Are you asking me for my favourite Alan song for the last 20 years ? We all know of course that Alan did his Recoil project but has recently stopped producing . V👍
@@VaughnGeorgeYes you got the point. This the question. In the recoil project what are the best titles ?
@@portfoliomanager73 AHA!! Yep I get your point and its a good point you've made!! Yes Recoil's sound is very much concept music and yes its hard to mention my favourite ones because they are all concept type compositions and not the kind of music I would often listen to as my "go to favourites". As I've said, Wilder strength is sound and production and being able to improve the source material. Give him song and he will take it to the next level. V:-)
I've been a fan of DM since the Speak and Spell Days. I get the negative views on Fletch and his dynamics within the band. In your video about what Fletch played was an eye opener, whoever on current tours is he really playing live?
Moving off the subject, I would like you to do a video of the Early Human League. It is a subject I feel a lot of your viewership would be interested in and something that hasn't really been covered. Regards Darren
Darren thank you for your kind words and feedback!! I really think that Fletch is playing less live these days than ever. He does look increasingly uninterested on stage these days. I will certainly do a video on early Human League !! Thanks again for your support and keep following the channel!! V :-)
It must be the relationship between Martin and Fletch that keeps the latter guy still left in the band. If Dave or Alan had as much to say as Martin in this case Fletch would have been kick out from Depeche already back in the 90:s I think. Of everyone in the band I think Alan did cope best with Dave back then.
grimlund Alan and Dave were close while Martin and Fletch were close.
With WVT problem is that this tour didn't use the Violator momentum. One of the shortest tours ever. Arrangements are questionable. Some are fantastic like Everything Counts others like Enjoy The Silence are crap. Compare with arrangement opus magnum from Devotional Tour.
You can read on the internet or magazines that Devotional tour was that tour with drugs and alcohol. This is not true. WVT fast the first one. Dave took tones of extasy and alcohol. Same Martin. That was one of the reasons why Dave left Jo and his son and moved to California. There is no concert in 1990 that Dave is loaded and drunk. Every night. All of them did a lot of things which they don't want to talk these days.
From the management point of view. The band could juicy more from Violator album and the tour. Another leg in the States, South America & Europe in 1991 with the different setlist. Halo/Clean - double AA single as it was planned after World In My Eyes. live album, live video, etc. If the would record Violator in late '90s or '00-10s we could have reeditions, limited editions, collectors editions, live versions, a remix album, Christmas edition, Hanuka limited edition and many, many more. This is what I mean saying that they didn't fully use Violator momentum.
Appreciate this well written post!! Thank you V:-)
I give Fletch credit for negotiating the number of songs Dave could write on a album. Dave really wanted some of his own songs to be on a DM album or he would leave the band ( I believe it was right before recording Playing the Angel). Fletch helped make a deal with Dave. I think the deal was that Dave could write 3 songs for every album and that one of those songs had to be a single.
I did not realise that !! Thank you for sharing with us Ray!! Cheers mate!! V:-)
But then Fletch has become superfluous, because James Ford the producer had to quash that latest songwriting squabble.
Lots of bands edit and fix their live footage before release
Hi mate, great video series. Our music tastes are bang on. Thoughts on doing a video on Heaven 17?
Hylton McCabe hello my friend and I’m glad to hear our tastes are similar !! I know Heaven 17 but I’m not very familiar with their music . I guess I should give it a listen 😎👍V
I've often felt that it's a slap in the face to the rest of the band and the audience to be up there bouncing around, waving, clapping, eating... When he should at least be looking like he's trying to play the keyboard. I mean... It's no secret that Lol Tolhurst could hardly play anything on the keyboards when he was in the Cure and piss drunk at times... but at the very least he looked like he was playing along.
Aaron Benson well said matey !! VG😎👍🎹
@@VaughnGeorge and then you say that you don’t hate Fletch? What a fucking disappointment you are.
Is it cheating? Yes/No/I don't know... ))) Man, you're brilliant)))
If I remember correct Daryl learned to play Fletch’s part(s) within a few days while Mart and Dave were off for holiday. Daryl btw. is the brother of Cure‘s Perry Damonte.
I once read they also had two tapes running in sync: one for the audience and one for the front monitors with extra parts (shorts and fading out) so they knew when to play important parts at the right time (guitar intros, extra FX, some synth lines etc. (Alan said that in an article/faq years ago after he’d left DM. I’m sure Fletch really needed this for his few parts. Just saying ’cos you mentioned his ‚tightness‘ in an earlier vid.
Colin Cosmo thank you so much for this!! I had no idea Daryl was related to a member of the Cure !! Really appreciate your input and the story of the 2 synced tape machines is very interesting too!! Welcome to the channel bud and thank you !!👍😎V
Piano & Keyboard Artist Every Band from 77-83 is related to other bands. OMD played as support for Gary Numan and we’re inspired by Human League. Cure played very early gigs with Depeche (Bamonte, he?). Robert Smith, Siouxie, Billy Idol and Boy George used to visits Visages Steve Strange Club in London, as well as some members of Spandau Ballet (they all were the ‚IN crowd‘ mentioned in a Song by Roxy Music). Billy Currie of Numan played in Ultravox, John McGeoch started with the Band Magazine - with Howard Devoto from the Buzzcocks (R Smiths favorite band in the 70ies)- and joined the Banshees. Smith played with the Banshees 82-84. Barry Adamson from Magazine played Bass on Visages first Albums and later @ Nick Caves Birthday Party and the Bad Seeds (and he mixed some DM songs).
Colin Cosmo hello again matey !! Wow that was a magical time ! All the legends all knowing each other with several cross overs and stories !! V👍😎
Piano & Keyboard Artist Yes. DM started with Synthesizers ‘cos they liked the songs of OMD, Human League and Numan. Especially Vince. Martin was more in Folk/ Blues and Country, Dave in Punk (Buzzcocks and Generation X). So it’s a Circle. All connected.