I have been a big fan of a certain pop happy duo since the mid-1980’s. Erasure consists of the straight songwriter/ keyboardist Vince Clark & openly gay singer Andy Bell. Erasure’s #1 fanatic fan base in within our own Gay community, where Bell is regarded as a Gay Icon.
Despite a continued collaboration with Clarke & Erasure, Bell has some of his own solo gigs as a much in demand DJ at parties & clubs all over our pretty spinning blue orb. If you don’t know Erasure‘s work, start with the compilation Total Pop! The First 40. Among the digitally re-mastered tracks: Oh, L’Amour, A Little Respect, Boy, Stand By Your Man, & Chain Of Love.
Erasure is known for elaborate stage shows & productions. Bell:
“It is always fun creating the various productions. I play a creative role, but we have always had quite a production team. Our swan production was quite over the top.”
I am zany for the wild video with the wild west routine of Bell singing Tammy Wynette’s Stand By Your Man with Clarke (a straight boy) in full drag. Another favorite is his contribution to the original Red+Hot+Blue album, Cole Porter‘s Too Darn Hot.
In 1985, Clarke picked Bell out of a large group to audition for his new band. Clarke had successfully created 2 other groups that I was mad for: Depeche Mode, & Yaz featuring the brilliant Alison Moyet on vocals. Bell: “I was #36 to audition. After many months in the studio, I also think they figured out I was gay with all the boys I had visiting me during that time.” After 30 years of hits, tours & travel with Clarke, the duo remain close pals.
Bell names Sylvester & Freddy Mercury as his role models. Bell:
“Freddy Mercury, if he were to still be alive today, would have been one of the top performers in the industry. He was so far ahead of his time. & when it comes to sexuality, these days that isn’t such an issue. We have evolved.”
Bell claims he would love work with Annie Lennox, who remains one of his favorite singers. I would like that to happen.
Bell was part of The True Colors Tour in 2007. The tour featured Bell with & without Erasure, Margaret Cho, Cyndi Lauper, Deborah Harry, Rosie O’Donnell & rotating roster of other guests. Raising awareness for equal rights & raising money for the HRC, PFLAG & The Matthew Shepard Foundation was a strong success.
Bell was one of the first pop stars to come out as gay & in 2004 he become one of the first pop stars to come out as HIV positive. Bell has known his status since June 1998, when he came down with a case of pneumonia, & was quite happy keeping the news to quiet. Bell thought he’d set the record straight when he struggled with health issues during a double hip replacement. Even pop stars get old. When news traveled that he was sick, Bell wanted to erase some of the stigma of HIV.
A year ago, Bell released a download only recording that is really terrific & finds him in great form. iPOP is a double album with the second half containing dance remixes of the first’s pop tunes. You will like it. Erasure’s latest album, The Violet Flame was released in March & is available as a download. Oh, these modern times. I remember listening to Erasure via cassette on my cool new Walkman.
“Sometimes I think I was a greedy pig for all the drugs I took. I don’t regret it, though, because I was just being me. I was a mess and I did try therapy, but I can’t imagine I’m ever going to live my life in a way where if I’m out and I’m having a good time, I’m going to say no.”
Bell’s partner of 20+ years, Paul Hickey, left this world 3 years ago. Hickey penned a moving memoir Sometimes – A Life Of Love, Loss & Erasure. He was just 62 years old when he passed.
Bell now single & resides in Miami when not on tour. He turns 51 years old on this day. Any musical message from Andy Bell will always bring A Little Respect in my world.
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