As the U.K. Independent noted in their review of Depeche Mode’s 1997 album “Ultra,” the earlier part of that decade was difficult for the band. In 1994, Depeche Mode was down to just three members — Andy Fletcher, David Gahan, and Martin Gore — and none of them were getting along. Gahan, Gore, and Fletcher mainly ignored each other outside of performances and had even begun to travel separately. Gahan was in the throes of a substance abuse disorder. As Fletcher recalled clearly in his Hot Press interview, the stress got to Gore, too — he had two seizures in 1994, both stress-related, and directly linked with the overwhelming number of shows they played while touring. As for Fletcher, he, too, became affected by the strain. Fletcher’s depression materialized and grew. Halfway through the year, he experienced what he would later describe as a full-on “nervous breakdown.”
It all culminated for Fletcher on the final leg of the “Songs of Faith and Devotion” tour, which was still ongoing in 1994. “I had a massive nervous breakdown on that tour,” Fletcher told Hot Press. “The [tour]was 187 gigs and, unfortunately, I had to pull out of the last leg.” Despite Fletcher’s exit, he recalled how others within the music community propped up Fletcher for putting his health first. “I remember [the band] Primal Scream supported us and they were shocked at [Dave Gahan’s] behavior [related to his substance abuse],” Fletcher said, “which is really saying something.” Per Newsweek, the keyboardist sought help at a U.K. hospital after departing.
