Erasure’s Andy Bell Celebrates 30 Years of Music

The vivacious and animated lead singer from the iconic electro-pop duo Erasure, Andy Bell, probably has the most enchanting, harmonious voice ever to glorify the music industry. Bell has just released—along with Vince Clarke on Mute/BMG—”Always – The Very Best of Erasure,” in honor of the faction’s 30 years of music together. This dramatic release will become a trilogy of all of the duo’s most fabulous hits, remixed and remastered for those of you who missed it the first time around, or for those who can never get enough!

Besides this amazing collection, Bell himself has been quite busy as well with his solo career. The fabulously flashy, flamboyant superstar took some time out of his extremely busy timetable to answer some of Get Out!’s questions about just what he has been up to.

My most heartfelt congratulations on your 30-year celebration of Erasure. What do you believe caused the two of you to remain relevant for the past 30 years and still possibly be even more relevant than ever now?
I believe our meeting was kismet and one of those very rare occasions that doesn’t happen very often. I have complete faith in my talent and abilities and was very fortunate to meet someone who is also very unique and that I was a complete fan of. I don’t think you realize how strong your intuitiveness is until you put it into action.

In the next year and beyond do you plan a tour in support the new album?
Hopefully we’ll be doing some dates toward the end of next year. In the meantime we have a new album to record, and I have a show called “Torsten the Beautiful Libertine” to perform in March in London—part two of Torsten the Bareback Saint, which was performed as a one-man show at the Edinburgh Festival last year.

I had a conversation with Dave Aude in August, when he warned me that I would love a project you and he were working on. Please tell me there is more to come from the two of you.
We have an album’s worth of material, and I am so excited about what we’ve done together. It’s very clubby and shows my diva side.

You were way ahead of your time—“RuPaul’s Drag Race” contestants have nothing on you two tragic, Abba lookalike drag queens singing “Take a Chance on Me.” How much fun was it to shoot that video?
It was amazing. It just fit so perfectly for us two. I would go and see quite a lot of drag acts in the mid to late ‘80s to pick up stage tips in dealing with hecklers. My favorites were Maisie Trollette, Regina Fong, Lily Savage and Rose Garden.

How did you survive life in the ‘80s?
I lived in a gay cooperative, and it was a very good invitation into the scene. I think I must’ve had angels looking out for me, because I apparently got into a few scrapes, which of course I have no memory of now!

If you could do anything in your life over again, what might you do differently?
Nothing, really. You cannot protect yourself too much; otherwise you’d never learn. I think I would have been a bit kinder to Paul, my partner of 25 years, who passed in 2012.

Do you have a favorite project that you have done, either solo or with Erasure?
I think Erasure, the album in ’95, and the musicals: “The Night We Buried Judy Garland,” “The Fall of the House of Usher” and the Torsten trilogy.

Do you recall the funniest, most embarrassing or scariest thing that has ever happened to you live on stage?
I think being so hung over in the ‘90s I had a bucket on the side of the stage and had to run off and be sick and then come straight back on again singing.

I’ve noticed in several of your interviews you’ve mentioned Jimmy Somerville. When I spoke with him, he proudly boasted about being the first to come out when being gay wasn’t chic. Are you buddies?
I would say we are very close acquaintances who get together from time to time for charity events. I have the utmost respect for him.

A few non-industry questions. If we were to look into your heart right now, what would we find?
Three stents and always a glimmer of hope.

You are a new addition to a crayon box. What color are you?
Purple melted into yellow.

If you could pick two celebrities to be your parents, who would you choose?
Bette Midler and Lucille Ball.
You are a superhero. What are your powers?
To eradicate poverty.

When you were growing up, did you have a favorite artist?
Of course. Blondie.

If you could do anything for 24 hours, as much of it as you wanted, what would you choose to do?
I would love to be on a tropical beach in and out of the sea all day without having to use tanning lotion. I hate it!