Andy Bell born 25 April 1964Andy Bell was born in Peterborough, England and moved to London at the age of nineteen. He was working in a meat factory and playing in a band 'going nowhere' when he responded to an ad placed by Vince Clarke, a former member of Depeche Mode and Yazoo, seeking a musician to form a new band. Bell, the forty-first singer auditioned, was Clarke's choice, and Erasure were formed in 1985.
Erasure initially struggled to achieve the same level of sucess as Clarke's earlier bands but soon went on to achieve a string of hit singles, albums and highly theatrical sell-out tours. Staying true to their original formula, Erasure have been in and out of fashion at various times but their appeal has endured, although they are no longer in the mainstream, having more of a cult following.
Andy Bell has been significant in pop music for being one of the first artists to be openly gay throughout his career, allowing his sexuality to colour his writing and performance. He proved his courage a second time in 2004, when he announced that he has been battling HIV since 1998.In 2005 he released his debut solo album Electric Blue. A second solo album Non-Stop was released in 2010.
Andy Bell - Official Website