Like all gay men of ‘a certain age’ ……especially British ones …… we have always loved ERASURE and especially ANDY BELL. When the pop-duo (with ex Depeche Mode/Yazoo’s Vince Clarke) emerged in 1985 Bell was one of the very very few openly gay musicians. Their first single was “Who Needs Love Like That”, but it was their 4th one “Sometimes” which was a mega smash and the start of a journey with them becoming one of the most successful artists of the late 1980s to mid-1990s.
Whilst Clarke, married to Tracey Hurley, was always very low lowkey with a deadpan demeanor, Bell, with his soulful voice and flamboyant stage presence, made him an instant gay icon. Now 55 years old, Bell is HIV+ and married to his husband Stephen Moss. He is also an LGBTQ activist appearing in Benefit Concerts including in Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors that raised funds for Human Rights Campaign, PFLAG and the Matthew Shepard Foundation.
Bell has always been known for his eccentricities but his status as an LGBTQ icon allows him to be a little ‘off with the fairies’ from time to time. However according to a British tabloid newspaper, this time it’s not actually ‘fairies’ but aliens. Evidently some 1,000 spaceships have visited his London Apartment and asked him to hook-up with an alien with one ‘tentacle’.
Bell’s quoted reply was perfect. He said “The thing that stopped me from doing it is because I say that I’m gay and their sexual experience is neither gay nor straight, female nor male, it’s all mixed up together.”
We so so love a gay man with principles , especially when he’s such a cool one like Andy Bell.
