Depeche Mode keyboardist Andy Fletcher passed away yesterday at the age of 60.
The surviving band members said they were "shocked and filled with overwhelming sadness with the untimely passing of our dear friend, family member, and bandmate".
Fletcher was an important member of the band throughout its four-decade history, which included two number one albums, Ultra and Songs of Faith and Devotion.
His last studio album with the DM was 2017's Spirit, the 14th in their long career, which reached number five in the UK albums chart.
I was devastated from these news. Depeche Mode are one of my favourite bands, one of my greatest influences since the early 1990s.
I recorded this cover version in loving memory of this great musician, may God rest his soul.
The song I covered "Useless" was released on 20 October 1997, and was the fourth and final single for the album Ultra.
Lyrics
Well it's about time
It's beginning to hurt
Time you made up your mind
Just what is it all worth?
All my useless advice
All my hanging around
All your cutting down to size
All my bringing you down
Watch the clock on the wall
Feel the slowing of time
Hear a voice in the hall
Echoing in my mind
All your stupid ideals
You've got your head in the clouds
You should see how it feels
With your feet on the ground
Here I stand the accused
With your fist in my face
Feeling tired and bruised
With the bitterest taste
All my useless advice
All my hanging around
All your cutting down to size
All my bringing you down
All your stupid ideals
You've got your head in the clouds
You should see how it feels
With your feet on the ground