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. One of Erasure’s fanatic fan bases comes from within the Gay community itself, where Andy Bell is regarded as a Gay Icon. Growing up with the belief that respect goes a long way, Bell learned that at an early age you should carry through in life what you want given back.
Despite a continued collaboration with Vince Clarke & Erasure, Bell has some of his own solo gigs as a much in demand DJ. If you don’t know Erasure's work, start with the compilation Total Pop! The First 40. Among the digitally remastered tracks: Oh, L’Amour, A Little Respect, Boy,Stand By Your Man, Chain Of Love, & Blue Savannah.
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 was zany for the wild, wild west routine with Bell singing Tammy Wynette’s Stand By Your Man with Erasure partner Vince 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 Andy Bell out of a large group to audition for a new group. Clarke had successfully created 2 other groups that I was mad for: Depeche Mode & Yazoo- featuring singer Alison Moyet. 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 are still very close & continue to coordinate on new projects.
Bell is open about 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 anissue. We have evolved.” Bell claims he would love work with Annie Lennox, who remains one of his favorite singer.
Bell was part of The True Colors tour in 2007 & went to cities around the US and Canada. Presented by the Logo Channel, the tour featured Andy Bell with & without Erasure, Margaret Cho, Cyndi Lauper, Deborah Harry, Rosie O’Donnell & others. The benefit for the HRC, PFLAG & The Matthew Shepard Foundation was a stunning success.
Bell was one of the first pop stars to come out as being 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 himself. But when speculation started last winter about his health during a recent double hip replacement, Bell thought he'd set the record straight & try to erase some of the stigma at the same time.
Bell lives the life in London with longtime partner- Paul Hickey. He turns 47 years old on this day- April 25th. Any musical message from Andy Bell will always bring a little RESPECT from Post Apocalyptic Bohemia.
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. One of Erasure’s fanatic fan bases comes from within the Gay community itself, where Andy Bell is regarded as a Gay icon to. Growing up with the belief that respect goes a long way, Bell learned that at an early age you should carry through in life what you want given back.
Despite a continued collaboration with Vince Clarke & Erasure, Bell has some of his own solo gigs as a much in demand DJ. If you don’t know Erasure's work, start with the compilation Total Pop! The First 40. Among the digitally remastered tracks: Oh, L’Amour, A Little Respect, Boy,Stand By Your Man, Chain Of Love, & Blue Savannah.
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 was zany for the wild, wild west routine with Bell singing Tammy Wynette’s Stand By Your Man with Erasure partner Vince 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 Andy Bell out of a large group to audition for a new group. Clarke had successfully created 2 other groups that I was mad for: Depeche Mode & Yazoo- featuring singer Alison Moyet. 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 are still very close & continue to coordinate on new projects.
Bell is open about 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 anissue. We have evolved.” Bell claims he would love work with Annie Lennox, who remains one of his favorite singer.
Bell was part of The True Colors tour in 2007 & went to cities around the US and Canada. Presented by the Logo Channel, the tour featured Andy Bell with & without Erasure, Margaret Cho, Cyndi Lauper, Deborah Harry, Rosie O’Donnell & others. The benefit for the HRC, PFLAG & The Matthew Shepard Foundation was a stunning success.
Bell was one of the first pop stars to come out as being 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 himself. But when speculation started last winter about his health during a recent double hip replacement, Bell thought he'd set the record straight & try to erase some of the stigma at the same time.
Bell lives the life in London with longtime partner- Paul Hickey. He turns 47 years old on this day- April 25th. Any musical message from Andy Bell will always bring a little RESPECT from Post Apocalyptic Bohemia.
June means many things at Post Apocalyptic Bohemia. This month in Portland can bring the start of summer (last year we had several days in the 90s), but more often, we are forced to endure "Junuary", with tempertures in the 40s & 50s. We have had a fire in the fireplace during the last week of June.
One thing that is certain. June is a month that I become unabashedly & unapologetically GAY. Gay Pride is the 3rd weekend of this month in Portland. The stereo will be blaring disco & showtunes at our little hovel. How nice then to start off June with the new single- Call On Me from Andy Bell. The Erasure alumni has a new album- Non-Stop will be released next Tuesday. I consider this to be a sign of good things to come. Great video!
Seattle,1986-2001, we lived in a former houseboat that had been brought up the 5 blocks from the Lake Union waterfront & plunked down on cinderblocks to be a “mother-in-law” unit for the big manor house behind us. Our little Wallingford neighborhood cottage was just 750 square feet. We climbed a ladder into the bedroom crafted in the rafters of the garage (the ultime Boys' Fort), which became the Husband’s studio.The cottage had 2 rooms: The Room & The Other Room. It was our home for 15 years, even though shockingly, we were renters. We planted a huge garden, built decks & outdoor rooms & added new doors & windows to this highly funky abode, all with the blessings & help from our landlord neighbors & dear friends- Robert & Margo.
On a warm summer day, I would open every door & every window & the cottage would become an outdoor pavilion. I can tell you for certain, on those afternoons, I would be blasting Erasure on the stereo system. I love a day off in the summer with some great gay music playing really loud, allowing me to sing along & dance for the enjoyment of neighbors & passerbys. (The photos are of the Seattle cottage circa late 1990s. You can click on an image to enlarge)
In 1984, Andy Bell responded to a newspaper ad searching for a singer for a new band. That band would become Erasure, with just 2 core members Vince Clarke (of Depeche Mode & Yaz), & our birthday boy- Andy Bell. Erasure would sell more than 20 million records of their synth-pop dance music.
Beside Andy’s work with Erasure, he has taken part in numerous charity recordings including a cover of Cole Porter's Too Darn Hot, that was included in 1990s Red Hot + Blue album to raise funds for HIV research. Bell also performed on the True Colors Tour 2008. He released a solo album- Electric Blue in 2005 & has a new album out next month- Non Stop. It features a duet with Jane's Addiction's Perry Farrell, a long time fan of Bell's. Produced by Pascal Gabriel (who has worked with Debbie Harry & Little Boots), Non Stop finds Bell in a glam side of his persona, purposefully changing his vocal register to produce a more soulful tone. The first single- Will You Be There? is now available on iTunes.
He has a long time partner - Paul J. Hickey. Bell is a practitioner of reiki. Bell has been HIV-positive since 1998. I have all his music & I think he is pretty swell. he turns 46 today.
