#1 in the German Alternative Charts, DAC
#7 in the official German Media Control Album Compilation Charts
To Andy Fletcher of Depeche Mode
1961 - 2022
6122
Picture by Norman Flanders, live DJ set 2015, Leipzig/Germany
The Chart-rocking Charity Double-CD in Memory of Andy Fletcher
In recent years, the music world has lost some of its big stars and musical pioneers. David Bowie, Prince and many others are way too early on this list and May 26th, 2022 fits in there for millions of electronic music fans. On this day Andrew Fletcher, founding member of Depeche Mode, embarked on his last journey, aged 60. In particular, fans from all over the world, who have supported the band for decades, seem to have remained in shared grief and shock for months. The legitimate question for many is “how is the band going?” and sharing their condolences with the remaining members Martin Gore and Dave Gahan, Andy's friends and especially his wife Grainne and his children Megan and Joe.
Several international artists have come together for a musical farewell and a thank you to Andrew "Fletch" Fletcher for over 40 years of music history, and recorded a compilation of various covers of Depeche Mode’s songs. The idea is not new. The difference lies in the top-class cast!
Gareth Jones, the producer of three Depeche Mode albums and hits like "People Are People” participates as well as Bernhard Lloyd with his current project Atlantic Popes, known as a member of Alphaville, who wrote in the 80s synth-pop anthems like "Big In Japan” and “Forever Young". Also present is Watershed from South Africa, who rose to global fame with their 2002 smash hit “Indigo Girl”, Bon Harris of Nitzer Ebb, Polly Scattergood, the iconic electronic music pioneers from Italy Kirlian Camera, Carlos Peron, co-founder of the Swiss band Yello, Markus Reinhardt, formerly a member of Wolfsheim, Roy Jones, Nico Wieditz of And One, Jean-Marc Lederman (ex Fad Gadget musician & Front 242 collaborator), The Brute: themselves and the award-winning UK act Northern Kind. Even Brian Griffin, the famous art work designer of Depeche Mode from 1981 - 1986 takes part in this condolence project.
Image courtesy of Brian Griffin
The entire project has a charitable purpose. 50% of the profit will be donated to a charity for children in UK, and the Children’s Cancer Trust in Germany who officially partners to the project. First donations were transfered on Dec 22nd, 2022.
Caricature by Norman Flanders
The aim was to bring together different artists from different decades, old musical companions of "Fletch" as well as known artists across different genres and promising new bands who were influenced by Depeche Mode's sound. From Rock, Electronic, Alternative, Pop, Crossover to Synthwave, everything is represented. 29 acts from the UK, the US, Germany, France, Belgium, Australia, Sweden, Italy, Hungary, South Africa, Denmark and Switzerland say “See You” in such a stylish way.
"Dancing in the timeless Ocean"
Painting by Jesper Kikkenborg
The compilation with the name "6122", the year Andrew Fletcher was born and died, will be released on November 25th, 2022 as a Christmas present for all fans worldwide.
The Brute: / B.U.T. Entertainment / Timezone Records
The Children's Cancer Trust & Jessie's Fund
From the beginning it was the idea to support a foundation for music therapy for children as well as a children's cancer fund, since Andy himself has supported such a trust for years. Thus, the entire project has a charitable purpose. 50% of profits are donated to two children's charities, Jessie's Fund in York, UK and the Children's Cancer Trust in Germany, both officially partners with the project.
Jessie’s Fund helps children with serious illness, complex needs, and communication difficulties through the therapeutic use of music. Music can provide a powerful and profound way in which children can express themselves and connect with the world around them. Click on the audio button to hear the message of Jessie's Fund.
Deutsche Kinderkrebsstiftung (German Children's Cancer Trust) Headquarters in Bonn/Germany on September 16th, 2022.
f.l.t.r. Simone Müller, Daniel Gierke, Birgit Noczinski-Kruse, Anita Mastromarino
jessiesfund.org.uk
kinderkrebsstiftung.de
Thomann and the Wood Pirates
Thomann is Europe's largest music equipment and PA retailer and has donated within the frame of this project a full drum set to the Children's Village in Heidelberg/Germany that belongs to the German Children's Cancer Trust. Children play music and theatre as part of their recovery and cancer therapy.
Special thanks to Katharina Völlmer, Thomann GmbH
waldpiraten.de
The Artists
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From the very beginning on it was the aim to bring together friends and old musical companions of "Fletch" from the 80s like Gareth Jones, Brian Griffin, Bon Harris of Nitzer Ebb, Kirlian Camera, Bernhard Lloyd of Alphaville, Carlos Peron, co-founder of Yello or Jean-Marc Lederman who played with the genius Fad Gadget and Front 242, as well as known artists who has been inspired by Depeche Mode and left a mark on the dark electro-pop sound of the 90s+ like Markus Reinhardt of Wolfsheim or Nico Wieditz of And One. The aim was also to include well-known and promising international artists of the new millennium, such as Polly Scattergood, who released her debut album on Mute Records, produced by Gareth Jones. And who doesn't have Watershed's wonderful ballad "Indigo Girl" in their ears?
Whether it's Yasmin Haddad from NightNight, Daniel Hall, Northern Kind, Shelter, Apsürde and Cold Connection, to name just a few, they all represent the new generation of electronic pop music and prove that this genre is alive and comes up constantly with new fantastic sounds, tunes and moods.
The Singles
Videos
Music Single Video "Never Let Me Down Again" by Watershed
Trailer of Big Satsuma Radio for the 6122 Launch Show with snippets of songs and interviews with participating artists
Bon Harris "In Sympathy" live at HMV Chelmsford 28th May 2022 „Special dedicated to Andy Fletcher”
Sarah of Northern Kind announces their 6122 track "The Sun And The Rainfall"
LeBen "Enjoy The Silence" Depeche Mode Cover, out now
Apsürde feat Manoya "The Sun And The Rainfall" - Depeche Mode cover live
Promotional video "I Feel Loved" - Daniel Hall feat. Stephen Newton - Depeche Mode Cove
6122 - The Journey
Meeting point Copenhagen with Stig Robert Wintendorff of Town And Towers Group, talking about Cold Connection and music
BBQ with Stefano Saint Paolucci (Redeem) and Thomas Borchert (Neocoma)
Arrival of the first CDs at Timezone Records; Daniel Oldemeier, Holger Gechter, Gerald Oppermann
Article about 6122 incl. an interview with Tom Meeloo, Märkische Oderzeitung (GER), Nov 25th, 2022
6122 as new entry from 0 to #7 into the official German Media Control Album Compilation Charts week 49 2022
Berlin, lunch and music talk "Die Ständige Vertretung", Bernhard Lloyd (Atlantic Popes /Alphaville) and Daniel Gierke (The Brute:)
Zurich, gathering background stories from Reto Bühler, former Intercord / Mute Germany label manager
Meeting with Sabine, Birgit and Anita of the German Children's Cancer Trust in Bonn,
The postman didn't have to ring twice, first CDs arrived in Switzerland for approval and signature
Orkus Magazin interview with Bon Harris, Kirlian Camera, Polly Scattergood, Carlos Peron, Markus Reinhardt, Daniel Gierke, Nov 27th, 2022
6122 is on #1 in the DAC, the German Alternative Charts week 3 2023, after holding #2 for several weeks
In Carlos Peron's studio, meet a legend
Eastside Festival Halle/S. with Michi, Enrico Janke and Daniel Lemke (Page of Quire)
Recording session with Thomas/Neocoma and Daniel/The Brute:
Signing CD #1 and #2 for a fan in Scotland and for a raffle with depechemode.com.es
#21 in the Official German Charts / MTV Midweek Charts Germany on November 30th, 2022
Atlantic Popes (and others) sign ReBach Synthesizer Modules for the charity raffle as part of the 6122 Project
Roberto depechemode.com.es with #2 of album at the Plaza de Castilla, Madrid, the square featured on the album's cover.
6122 as new entry from 0 to #28 into the official German billboard charts week 48, Dec 02nd, 2022
First donations transferred to our two charity partners at Christmas 2022, 1'000.00 EUR each
Robert Reid from Glasgow, UK, the random winner of the official CD #1
fltr Norman Flanders (Zentrum Ost 71), Benni Hildebrand (Leben), Janni Nightangel (Radio Hall Of Music), Bernhard Lloyd
The Spirit of Charity : our Sponsors
depechemode.de
From the beginning, the project had a charitable character, since Andy himself was committed to childhood cancer research for many years. It is therefore a great pleasure for us to have so many sponsors on board who share this spirit.
Special thanks goes to Lucy Launder, Simon Gibson & Cameron Colbeck (Abbey Road Studios), Tom Saunders & Paul Browne (Blitzed Magazine), Bridget Kyle Gray & Kurt-Sinclair Hall (Big Satsuma Radio), Claus Müller (Orkus!), Boris Brock (Northern Art Music), Katharina Völlmer (Thomann), Rene Ubachs (ReBach), Anatoly Grinberg and Janos Janurik & Sven Plaggemeier (depechemode.de).
Explaining the Cover
A short story behind the cover. What the glasses stand for probably doesn't need to be explained.
Why was the compilation called 6122? Well, it references Andy's year of birth and year of death. And why Madrid? Madrid has a special meaning in the foundation of The Brute :. There the project came to life in January 2018. Without Madrid there would have been neither The Brute : nor the compilation. It is my personal thank you to a wonderful city that means a lot to me.
The Art of Mastering
Tracks mastered by the Abbey Road Studios:
Personal Jesus - Polly Scattergood
Wrong - Kirlian Camera
Oberkorn (It's A Small Town) - Electrogenetic by Gareth Jones
In Sympathy - Bon Harris (Nitzer Ebb)
Breathe - The Brute : feat. Rachel Delgado
A Question Of Time - The Brute :
Many artists have had their songs finalized by their own mastering engineers. For some we were able to organize the mastering through Abbey Road Studios, who offered it as sponsorship free of charge in the charitable spirit of the project.
Simon Gibson has already mastered some of the last Depeche Mode albums is also involved in this project. A special thanks to Lucy and Cameron at Abbey Road Studios for making this possible.
In addition, the amazing Anatoly "Tokee" Grinberg is supporting the project as studio engineer and mastering engineer who mastered some tracks for the compilation and assisted some artists during their mixing process.
Tracks mastered by Anatoly "Tokee" Grinberg:
Photographic - Shelter
Enjoy The Silence - LeBen
I Feel You - Tin Gun
Angel - Tom Meeloo
The Sun And The Rainfall - Northern Kind
To Have And To Hold - Page Of Quire
Heaven - Zentrum Ost 71 (vocal mixing by DG)
Clean - Neocoma (produced by DG)
Somebody - Toal / The Brute : / Pople Theatre
Breathe - The Brute : feat. Rachel Delgado (final sound engineering)
A Question Of Time - The Brute : (final sound engineering)
R.I.P. Leo
On January 29th, 2023, the first of the 6122 family left us after months of illness. Leo J. Leonhardt from Leben, who sung Enjoy The Silence on the 6122 album was a great singer and performer with passion and drive. He now plays with Fletch.
We can't put our sadness and thoughts into words, but first of all they go to his wife Ramona, his children Annie and Ayden as well as to Benni, his long friend and brother in mind and band member from Leben and the guys from Orpheé! Our sincere condolences in the name of all 6122 Artists.
Enjoy The Silence dear friend, we'll miss you.
#6122 Lineup
CD1
1 A QUESTION OF TIME - THE BRUTE: - 3:56
2 NEVER LET ME DOWN AGAIN - WATERSHED - 3:49
3 IN YOUR ROOM - NIGHTNIGHT - 5:02
4 ICE MACHINE - RENARD (Markus Reinhardt ex WOLFSHEIM) feat. MARY ANN - 4:05
5 BROKEN - REDEEM - 3:29
6 STRIPPED - STARLIGHTS LIVE (Nico Wieditz of AND ONE) - 4:29
7 LITTLE 15 - ATLANTIC POPES (incl. Bernhard Lloyd ex ALPHAVILLE) - 4:13
8 THE SUN AND THE RAINFALL - APSÜRDE feat. MANOYA - 3:50
9 MY SECRET GARDEN - COLD CONNECTION - 4:51
10 IT'S NO GOOD - OXIC INC. feat. DE LA MORTE - 4:24
11 DREAM ON - ROY JONES & RED BEAT - 3:53
12 SHOULD BE HIGHER - THE RUDE AWAKENING - 3:51
13 SOMEBODY - TOAL / THE BRUTE : / PEOPLE THEATRE - 5:06
14 IN SYMPATHY - BON HARRIS (NITZER EBB) - 5:18
15 HEAVEN - ZENTRUM OST 71 - 4:01
CD2
16 ENJOY THE SILENCE - LEBEN - 3:17
17 PERSONAL JESUS - POLLY SCATTERGOOD - 4:34
18 WRONG - KIRLIAN CAMERA - 4:41
19 POLICY OF TRUTH - ROHN-LEDERMAN - 3:31
20 TO HAVE AND TO HOLD - PAGE OF QUIRE - 3:31
21 ANGEL - TOM MEELOO - 3:51
22 THE SUN AND THE RAINFALL - NORTHERN KIND - 6:18
23 PHOTOGRAPHIC - SHELTER - 4:20
24 A BARREL OF A GUN (EL PRESIDENTE PERON YEAH JOHN) - CARLOS PERON (ex YELLO) - 4:10
25 I FEEL YOU - TIN GUN - 5:14
26 I FEEL LOVED - DANIEL HALL feat. STEPHEN NEWTON - 4:03
27 OBERKORN (IT'S A SMALL TOWN) - ELECTROGENETIC by GARETH JONES - 3:45
28 CLEAN - NEOCOMA - 6:19
29 BREATHE - THE BRUTE: feat. RACHEL DELGADO - 4:55
All songs and lyrics by Martin L. Gore / except songs 5 +12, written by Dave Gahan & Kurt Uenala / except songs 4 + 23, written by Vince Clarke / except song 24, written by Carlos Peron
Original songs published by Mute Records, Sonet Records & Publishing Ltd., Grabbing Hands/Sonet, EMI Music Publishing Ltd., Grabbing Hands Music Ltd., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC / songs 5 + 12 published by Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, EMI Blackwood Inc. & JJSR Productions Inc. / song 23 published by Musical Moments Ltd. / song 24 published by Eisenberg Édition Musicale, Warner Chappell Music
Original songs released by Mute Records & Columbia Records, a Division of Sony Music Entertainment / except song 24, released by Timezone Records 2022