• Newspaper library Depeche Mode: "We would like to think that we are getting better and better"

Andy Fletcher,

founding member of British techno band

Depeche Mode,

has died at the age of 60, the group announced Thursday.

"We are shocked and filled with immense sadness at the untimely death of our dear friend, family member and band member," said the band, which formed in 1980 in

Basildon,

some 25 miles east of London.

Born in July 1961 in

Nottingham,

Andy Fletcher, nicknamed "Fletch", was one of the band's keyboardists, known for countless hits like

Just Can't Get Enough, Personal Jesus

and

Enjoy the silence.

"Fletch had a genuine heart of gold and was always there when you needed support, a lively conversation, a good laugh or a cold pint," the band said.

Depeche Mode

has sold more than one hundred million records

worldwide.

The band originally consisted of keyboardist/songwriter

Vince Clarke,

keyboardist/singer/songwriter

Martin Gore,

keyboardist

Andy Fletcher

, and singer/songwriter

Dave Gahan.

Vince Clarke left the band at the end of 1981 and was replaced two years later by

Alan Wilder.

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