Erasure’s Andy Bell: ‘Kissing Boy George on stage was one of the only things I’ve done on purpose’

‘I just said to him really quickly, kiss me, and he did!’

Andy Bell, best known as an iconic figure of the LGBTQ+ scene in the 80s and one-half of Erasure, has just released his latest solo album Ten Crowns and is set to perform at Brighton Pride in August.

At 61 years old, the artist has been in the music industry for decades and carved an important path as one of the few openly gay music artists in the industry in the 80s.

In a powerful moment during the Brit Awards in February 1989, Andy was presented with an award on stage by Boy George and took this opportunity to kiss him on the lips.

‘It was funny because I’m not sure how much kissing I’d seen – I love doing it, I love being out, and I love kissing on people and with my partner and stuff – But yeah, because we weren’t really exposed to it very much.

‘I just remember, when George came on the stage, I was really pleased that it was him. Just as he passed me the award, I just said to him really quickly, “kiss me”, and he did, and it just happened like that.

‘So it was, I think, probably one of the only moments ever where I’ve done something on purpose,’ he said.

He explained that the interaction wasn’t a pre-discussed or planned moment, but something he thought would be a bold move in the moment.

‘Because we never ever planned press stunts or anything like that at all.’ He said, adding: ‘It was a kind of blink and you miss it moment.’

The smooch took place the same year that the first on-screen kiss aired to the British public in an episode of EastEnders between characters Colin Russell and his partner Barry Clark.

As one of the few openly gay pop stars in the 80s, Andy once told The Guardian that he felt the need to be ‘outrageous’ at the time, which meant outrageous outfits and outrageous comments, which he said was a ‘defence mechanism’.

‘I just started developing this character, you know, out of necessity, really, to this larger than life person, just to deal with hecklers and stuff like that.

‘I learned most of my stuff from drag queens, you know, from going and seeing drag queens in the pubs and so, yeah, this character is built over the years.’

He said that he made his character a ‘screamer’ and it meant he didn’t have to announce his sexuality in every interview.

‘In the beginning, especially playing in North America and places you kind of it gets boring saying you’re gay all the time, all the time, you know, in an interview.

‘So I just thought I’d, I’d make, I’d have this character on stage. It was like a screamer, just so there were no questions asked.

‘I know that it’s a bit of a cliche now when I look back, but I just didn’t want there to be any compromises or anything.

‘For me, it felt like, almost like it was a defence mechanism, but like a shield almost,’ he said.

Andy’s new album features a track titled Heart’s A Liar with Blondie star Debbie Harry.

‘I just feel like that. I feel like I’ve not struck gold, but kind of been blessed by music royalty,’ he said of working with the iconic singer.

‘To me, that’s better than anybody in the whole of the music industry. You know, she’s the top dog, she really is.’

He added that in the music industry, relationships are often transactional and somewhat fake, which wasn’t the case with Debbie.

‘I know they’ve had really tough times as well, Blondie. So has Erasure, people all have time in the wilderness, and I think just for someone to reach your hand and say, “Oh, come on, you know, I’ll help you.” That’s basically what it is.

‘You just don’t get that either in the music industry. It’s all these back-handed compliments and handshakes, and everything’s for commercial gain. Nothing is sincere anymore.’

Andy has worked alongside his Erasure other half, Vince Clarke, for decades, taking time to do his own solo work, but always coming together to create music as Erasure.

‘When we meet, it’s kind of like, it is like, like an ex-lover, and you’re meeting up again,’ he says, revealing that he’s only managed to see him twice this year.

‘You’re kind of defining your roles, or coming back together, and because it’s very raw when you’re writing together – I mean, I feel almost sorry for people that have been couples like Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart. You know how that must be really tough when you’re a real couple.

‘But just because we haven’t slept with each other doesn’t mean that you don’t have intimate moments.’

He explains that when they get back together, after a little initial awkwardness, they are back into the swing.

‘Once you’ve established that trust, it’s there forever,’ he says.

The singer is set to perform at Brighton Pride in August and emphasised that celebrating the LGBTQ+ community is just as important today as it has always been.

‘As long as we’re a target, as long as we’re in a position where all of a sudden you’re being scapegoated by whichever political party, then we’re obviously not safe.

‘Until everything is just as it should be, normalised and we’re all treated the same and we’re all treated fairly, we’re still working towards something.’

Andy Bell’s album Ten Crowns is out now, and he is set to perform at Brighton Pride supported by Hayu, on August 3.

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