Now 61-years of age, Erasure star Andy Bell believes that singing was his natural calling.
With such 1980s hits as ‘A Little Respect’ and ‘Sometimes’ alongside Vince Clarke, under his belt, Bell told Classic Pop magazine:
“My voice was my friend. I always liked my voice.” “I was forever singing in bed. I’d have the blankets over me, singing away, my parents telling me: ‘Go to sleep!” “I wasn’t even singing along to the radio, I’d just lie there making up songs. I loved feeling the vibration in my skeleton that singing gave me. I didn’t really decide to be a singer, I just couldn’t not do this.”
Confirming the success of Erasure had only fueled his desire to perform, Andy added:
“I live for the stage. That’s not because of the adulation, nice as it is. That adulation, it’s silly. Performing is just in my bones, I was born with it. The flamboyance of my Erasure costumes, that was a character that developed.” “Eventually, the character becomes less and less important, because you are who you are.”
Concurrent with the May release of his new solo LP Ten Crowns, the superstar singer/songwriter revealed that he’ll be working with Clarke on a forthcoming Erasure project next, adding;
“The love and respect Vince and I have for each other always allows us our own space. That space helps each other grow.” “More than anything, Vince is my mate. We’re friends, we’re not going to abandon each other. When I saw Vince recently in Brooklyn, we went to his local pub. We promptly got spotted and I was: ‘Oh no! Not at your local! Sorry, Vince.'”
About Clarke (who also enjoyed success with the groups Depeche Mode and Yazoo,) watching him perform, Andy explained:
“Seeing me live must have been strange for Vince, but he really liked it. It’s the first time Vince has seen me as a performer – seeing me from the front, after so many years being behind me on stage. He was: ‘Wow!’, which was really nice.”
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Author: Saul Goode
Photo: Andrew Hurley