More than a Little Respect — A Conversation with Erasure’s Andy Bell
By Steven Henke
I caught up with Andy Bell via email to talk about his career, his new album “The View from Halfway Down,” and his September 18 keynote address at the Aging Positively – Reunition Project HIV and aging conference. Bell shed some positive vibes on his life and the creative renaissance he is experiencing.
Bell is a founding member of Erasure. Formed in 1985, when former Depeche Mode and Yazoo member Vince Clarke advertised for a new singer, the duo became successful in the U.K., U.S., and other countries with hits like “Chains of Love,” “A Little Respect,” and “Oh L’Amour.”
Now, three decades into their career, they are considered one of the most adored and influential synth-pop bands, selling more than 25 million records. In 2019, Erasure released their 18th studio album, “The Neon.”
Steven Henke: Thank you for talking with us. It has been a crazy year. You split your time between London and Miami. Where are you today?
Andy Bell: Finally, after a year and seven months, I’m back in Miami with my hubby after quarantining for two weeks in Cancun. I feel a huge sense of relief. Everyone was beginning to question my sanity and whether our relationship was real or not, or if I had just woken up from a strange dream!
SH: I read there was a time during the pandemic when you were in lockdown in London and your husband, Stephen, and dog were in Florida. How did the lockdown change you? Did you learn anything new about yourself?
AB: I learned for the first time in my life that I could actually live with myself and do things for myself. I may have been a bit smelly, and I may not have washed as frequently as I should have, but hey, what the hell. I never lived on my own since leaving home at 18 from a large family, and I was dependent on other people. It was great to do my laundry, wash up and go grocery shopping. I love TV, so I can be a real couch potato. There were quite a few Erasure-related things to do, having just finished our photo session and mixing right before the pandemic broke, so I had many Zoom meetings.
SH: Many members of the LGBTQ+ community struggled with isolation and mental health during the pandemic. How did you take care of yourself?
AB: I must admit, I did go back into my shell somewhat and did not speak to people or my family up to the point that they would worry and text to see if I was OK! The worst thing was not knowing when it would end. Canceling four flights made me feel like the red tape was somehow gagging me. Eventually, I had friends over, got stoned and drunk, and had a complete bitch and conspiracy theory fest. It helped tremendously! I’m glad I’m slightly mad, and so are my friends, but I think the LGBTQ crew has to be somewhat to survive. In the U.K., we are fortunate to have the National Health Service, which the U.S. seems to be so frightened of. The word “socialism” is just a word. How can you be scared of a word? It’s just about non-profit organizations helping other people. Humans need one another, not this constant bickering, blaming, and point scoring! I did revert to my childhood in many ways, ordering lots of licorice and ice pops. And I did some online counseling, but that lasted three sessions (too boring), plus I got a bit sick of celebs doing their survival blogs, etc. Not that I am bitter (he he he)!
SH: Despite the pandemic, you have been experiencing a creative renaissance, releasing a new album, “The Neon!” The album has been described as one of 2020s most elevating moments in an otherwise difficult year. Did you have a team with you, or was making this album a more solitary experience?
AB: As I said, it had already been recorded just in time the previous October. (And I have to admit, I was very sober making it.) It was so refreshing that Vince had already recorded the backing tracks and musical scores in Brooklyn, and I vocalized the top lines in his home studio. There was an excitement in the air. I felt a new appreciation for the new wave music I had listened to as a teenager, and it bled into our new songs.
SH: Before the pandemic, you released Erasure’s 18th album, “The Neon.” The album had a feel-good dance vibe that was great for keeping our spirits up during the lockdown. How did you choose the name for that album?
AB: “The Neon” conveys to me the red-light district nightlife and memories of the fairground. I love soft mezcal neon against ancient stone!
SH: Erasure’s 1988 single “A Little Respect” was voted the “Ultimate Pride Anthem” in a new poll from radio station Virgin Radio Pride UK, beating out anthems by Xtina, Gaga, Cher, and Madonna. What did that feel like?
AB: We were completely taken by surprise by it. I admire the Virgin brand, and two of our favorite DJs now work there, Chris Evans and Graham Norton. It is great to be in such esteemed company on the list, so to speak. I suppose these things are cyclical.
SH: Take us back 36 years; what were you doing when you answered Vince Clarke’s ad looking for a new singer? Is it true you were selling ladies’ shoes while starting your singing career?
AB: Yes and laughing hysterically when I got static electric shocks from the metal stands because of the nylon carpets.
SH: Did you have any idea when you met Clarke that you would be making music together 36 years later? Is it still exciting to imagine new music together?
AB: Vince Clarke was THE person I dreamed of working with, so, it goes without saying, I think he was a straight man looking for a gay husband! Time has flown by and honestly has no meaning for me!
SH: You were one of the first openly gay pop stars, and you famously used fashion to make bold statements. Was there a message you hoped to send to other members of the LGBTQ+ community when you wore your iconic outfits? To me, I saw a brave Gay man. Was everyone supportive, or did you face pushback?
AB: It was fine. I didn’t want there to be any doubt in anyone’s mind as to who I was, and the campiness was somewhat of an armor. When “Sometimes” took off in the mid-1980s, I wore a white T-shirt and jeans. The first few videos from “Wonderland” were so camp, MTV was not going to touch them. It wasn’t a sophisticated look like it is today because of RuPaul (God bless him). However, when the airplay started to drop off somewhat, I remember someone saying, “oh, can’t you just put a dress back on!”
SH: In 2004, you announced that you had been HIV positive for six years. Tell me about the process of making that decision. Did you know it would inspire others to know their status?
AB: I was scared at the time, and it took a few years for me to process it. At that time, a witch hunt was in full flow in the U.K. press. This is something I will discuss further at the conference.
SH: You’ve been open about being gay since the 1980s and about having HIV. That openness helped many of us in the LGBTQ+ community, and it helped allies understand what they could not experience. Are you able to appreciate the impact you made? Who encouraged or inspired you to be authentic?
AB: To be honest, I think you are born with it. My mother was also very instrumental because she’s basically a punk at heart who doesn’t give a shit! I don’t think about it too much. I love to be free and enjoy myself. Also, I rejected religion at about age 11.
SH: You are the keynote speaker at the September 18 HIV and aging conference. How does living with HIV impact your life today?
AB: I am so grateful to be alive and be a beneficiary of the cutting-edge science used to create our medications. I salute all of those who passed before us and the brave activists who still fight for us every day. Never take your “freedom” for granted, although to me, it is a God-given right. It can be taken away at the stroke of a pen, usually by the people who believe they love Jesus. (So do I!) Love CANNOT be offensive. It is a misguided conception.
SH: Every life and career has its ups and downs. How do you find inspiration today to keep the process fresh and exciting for yourself? How do you walk through the downtimes?
AB: Stop listening to music for a while, do a play, forget who you are, and just mingle. Sometimes a good dance helps.
SH: Lastly, you have uniquely dedicated fans that look forward to hearing their favorite songs when you perform. Do you have a favorite song that you look forward to playing at every concert?
AB: “Blue Savannah.”
