A Little Respect: Andy Bell speaks to JustCircuit.mag
Since the mid 1980’s arrival of Erasure, the synth-pop duo group made up of songwriter and keyboardist Vince Clark and openly Gay singer Andy Bell, success just keeps coming. Generations of Erasure fans continue to flock to the record stores to keep the Erasure flame alive. One of Erasure’s largest fan bases comes from within the Gay community itself, where Andy Bell is regarded as a Gay icon to most. The worldwide level of respect they due garner is remarkable. 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. These values had been instilled from his Nan and Granddad as well his own parents from his childhood days in The Gables in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, England.
Despite a continued collaboration with Vince Clarke and Erasure, Bell has now set out with some of his own solo gigs and was most recently seen aboard an all Gay cruise as a surprise performer. This is where we had the chance to meet. Bell was eager to meet and get to know his fans during the weeklong cruise and felt totally at ease all week. In speaking with him a few weeks later from his home in London, I asked Andy how he feels when he sees some young twink singing along to one of his anthems. “I get a kick out of seeing it, you know. They weren’t even born when some of the music came out.” In fact, many on the recent January Cruise were not far out of diapers when the hits began coming for Erasure. The group’s latest compilation “Total Pop! The First 40” arrives in music stores in the US on April 7 and will help a whole new generation relive the hits from the past twenty years. Already released in the UK and receiving rave reviews, “Total Pop” is already positioned to be a best seller in the US. It is not often that one sees a collection of so many top hits. Among the hits featured on “Total Pop” include digitally remastered tracks of “Oh, L’Amour”, “A Little Respect”, “Boy” and “Blue Savannah” as well as others that saw a rise in the UK charts but were not highly charted in the US.
Erasure is known for elaborate stage shows and productions, yet Bell takes only partial credit for the production design. “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.” Whether it be a 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 or simply some other full stage production, it is certain to hold one’s attention and be talked about for some time afterwards.
It was indeed Vince Clarke who in 1985 picked Andy Bell out of a large group to audition for the new group. Clarke had successfully created two other groups: Depeche Mode and Yazoo, eventually featuring singer Alison Moyet. “I was number thirty-six to audition” states Bell. “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.” Following nearly twenty-five years of hits, tours and travel with Vince Clarke, the two are still very close and continue to work on new projects. “I visit Vince in the US in his New England home to record in his studio. I love visiting the US and especially the gigs like the gay cruise, where you get to work in such luxurious settings. I spend most of my time in the UK, however, despite traveling so much.”
A recent event at a club called “Billionaire” in Russia had Bell coming to the rescue of fans that had shown for the event dressed in typical “over the edge” Erasure fan wear. “Their dress was not as ‘trendy’ as the club would have hoped for, and they in turn were refused admittance. Literally turned away from the door. I decided that I would not go on until they allowed everyone into the concert. It was great to have those fans there!” They just needed “a little respect” and they indeed got it from Andy Bell and his team.
When asked to choose one or two individuals who had been role models to him during his successful career, Bell immediately chose Sylvester and Freddy Mercury (Queen) as those role models. “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. And when it comes to sexuality, these days that isn’t such an issue. We have evolved.” Andy would still love to work with singer Annie Lennox, who remains one of his all-time favorite singers. “I’ve followed her entire career and she’s fantastic.” When it comes to following the Circuit and attending Circuit parties, Andy is still pretty new at it all. “Apart from the occasional appearance at a Pride weekend, gay cruise or the recent HRC True Colors tour, I am a Circuit newbie,” claims Bell. “I get to experience ‘bits and bobs’ of them.” There will be more than bits and bobs to experience this Easter in Palm Springs as “DJ Andy Bell” takes over an hour of the pool party during White Party Palm Springs. Just when you though you’ve seen Andy Bell in every outfit, along come the headphones!
The True Colors tour was born in 2007 and went to cities around the US and Canada. Presented by the Logo Channel, the tour featured Andy Bell and Erasure, Margaret Cho, Cyndi Lauper, Deborah Harry, Rosie O’Donnell and others. The benefit for the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) and The Matthew Shepard Foundation was a multi-city success. “It was a true thrill to be part of such an event,” states Bell.
As Andy Bell and Vince Clarke return this spring to Clarke’s Maine studio to record yet more sure-to-be top hits, the world of Erasure continues into its second quarter-century of music. Generations will certainly continue to make Erasure a staple in their I-Tunes libraries around the world. The message from Andy Bell will always be RESPECT.
Editor’s Note: JustCircuit wishes Andy a Happy 45th Birthday on April 25th and many, many more!
