A few hours before Erasure's show in Manchester, we sat down with front-man Andy Bell to have an interesting, in-depth converation about the band's brilliant career.
Read the interview below, where Andy discusses the new record, how the industry has changed over the years, the commercialisation of music and being diagnosed with HIV.
Also be sure to check out more Erasure coverage, including a live review, exclusive rehearsal video footage and a review of new album Tomorrow's World.
-You've announced 'Be With You' as the next single. What was it about that track that lent itself to being a single?
I don't really know. It's just about being away so much, being in a new relationship. I've probably seen the guy maybe eight weeks, in one and a half years...so, it's about that really. Just about wherever we are, I'm always thinking of them.
-Is it still hard being on the road that much, despite your long career?
It's what you have to do now, really. I mean, we've always toured the whole time. Because that's how people, managers, make their money, they always keep tagging on shows. We're going back to North America after we've played here.
We already did 65 shows this year, this bit is 25 shows, and now they've pencilled in 50 more shows. Once the ball gets rolling...well, you can say no. It's more money for you though, you know what I mean?
-Has it always been that way, with touring being the way to make money? A lot of relatively newer artists are just realising this now.
For us, we did make a lot of money with records, but that all dropped off in the mid-90s for us. So, we edged to it really before the bubble burst for everyone else.
-Do you think the effect the internet has had on music has been a factor in that?
I wouldn't know, really. It's really weird. I remember reading an interview with Debbie Harry, and she says that you're either a superstar, or there's all the rest of you.
Superstars are, like, 5% maybe of the whole industry. I wouldn't call them The X Factor superstars, but the kinda people that are on the TV all the time. I think everybody else...you sell...maybe 50,000 if you're really, really lucky.
-Did coming through the way you did, maybe not as strict journeymen but that kinda idea, benefited you?
Definitely. Taking North America for example, we've only had maybe four Top 40 radio hits there. We can still go there and tour, and sell out all over the place. It's like a word of mouth thing, just having the reputation for doing a good show. Basically, I think that's it really. Putting on a good show, and doing good songs, I suppose.
-You mentioned how long you've been on the road already with this tour. How's it been going?
It's going really good! With the Forest Shows, they were all outdoors, and it p***** it down with rain for every show, apart from one. It seemed hellish, but we were so grateful for the audiences being there and standing in the pouring rain watching us.
It was a bit of a baptism of fire doing that. We all got colds. I only got it right at the end, so I've been really lucky this time. Really healthy, drinking juice. It really makes a difference, you know?
-Has life on the road changed a lot over the years? Has it got easier?
We've never toured on a bus before, that's what we've done this time. That was really to save on hotel costs. We all seem to go through cycles, it's really weird. I know this is for a women's magazine, but it's like a menstrual cycle when you're on tour.
Everyone goes through these sleep patterns as well. Just as the moon's getting full, you can't sleep, then once it's full, you can sleep properly. It's a bit weird.
-Have you learnt to cope on the road over the years, picking up tips along the way?
It goes in waves. You go through periods when you get depressed, you get on each other's nerves, then you'll blow up cos you've only slept for three hours. It'll all settle back down again and you'll be happy for a little while.
-Moving away from touring to talk about Tomorrow's World - how's the reaction been so far?
I think it's been really amazing. In the first place, the reason I wanted to take a break from Erasure was precisely for that. It was to get a bit of anticipation going rather than force-feeding people music the whole time.
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Celebrity Interview
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