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Andy Bell
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| Andy Bell has been one of Britain’s best loved pop icons for 25 years. His powerful voice, bittersweet lyrics and flamboyant stage manner have earned him millions of fans around the world. As a performer, re-mixer, collaborator, solo artist and DJ, Andy is a byword for great music and feel-good attitude. Even in the face of personal and political adversity, |
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he lights up the toughest of times with sunshine, passion and romantic optimism.
Born and raised in Peterborough, Andy is best known as the singer and co-songwriter of chart-topping duo Erasure, former BRIT award winners for Best British Band who have sold 25 million albums and scored dozens of Top 20 hits during their long andglorious career.One of the most enduring partnerships in British pop, Andy and Vince Clarke are loved around the world for their irresistible melodies, outlandish costumes and spectacular live shows.
Andy has sung at countless AIDS benefit shows and twice on the True Colors tour, with Erasure in 2007 and solo in 2008. Designed to raise awareness for the LGBT lobbying group Human Rights Campaign, these tours featured an all-star bill including Cyndi Lauper, Debbie Harry, Rufus Wainwright, The B52’s, Joan Jett and The Gossip.
In 2005, Andy released his debut solo album ‘Electric Blue’. Showcasing a wide variety of musical styles, the self-penned album featured 14 brand new tracks, including duets with Claudia Brucken (of Propaganda and Act) and Jake Shears (of Scissor Sisters). It also featured beats by Manhattan Clique, and generally took more muscular and club-friendly direction than Erasure’s recent work. The first single from the album, ‘Crazy’, featured a dazzling sci-fi video created and directed by the genius of Al and Al.
Andy followed ‘Electric Blue’ with a fresh round of Erasure commitments, co-writing the lush gospel-pop confessionals on the duo’s acclaimed 2007 album ‘Light At The End of the World’. Then came the mighty career-spanning retrospective ‘Total Pop! 40 hits’, released to rave reviews in February 2009.
Andy’s second solo album ‘Non-Stop'' - recorded and co-produced with Pascal Gabriel (Kylie Minogue, Ladyhawke, Miss Kittin, Little Boots, Goldfrapp among many others) - sees Bell steer his solo career in an altogether darker direction than on ''Electric Blue'' and will be released April 26th, 2010. ''Non-Stop'' combines Andy''s long-standing love of electro with contemporary club beats and the kind of irresistible pop hooks that have already seen media tastemakers - including Radio 1 and Kiss - embrace the album''s first single ''Will You Be There?'' long before its February 8th 2010 commercial release date.
As if ‘Non-Stop’ isn''t going to be enough to occupy Andy in 2010 he and Vince have already written fourteen new songs for Erasure''s fourteenth studio album which they plan to record over the first half of the year and release in Autumn 2010, followed swiftly by a world tour.
Whether on stage or screen, in the studio or behind the decks, Andy remains an icon of party-friendly positivity. Even when times are tough, he provides passion, sunshine and romance - plus lashings of operatic drama, of course. Everybody needs a bit of Andy Bell in their lives.
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