Andy Bell (singer)

:"This article is about the lead singer of Erasure; there is also Andy Bell (musician), a member of the band Oasis."Infobox musical artist
Name = Andy Bell


Img_capt = Andy Bell of Erasure in 1986
Img_size = 200
Landscape =
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Andrew Ivan Bell
Alias =
Born = birth date and age|1964|04|25
Origin = Peterborough, England
Instrument = Vocals
Genre = Synthpop, Dance music
Occupation = Singer, Songwriter, Remixer, DJ
Years_active = 1985 - present
Label = Mute Records
Sanctuary Records
Associated_acts = Erasure
URL = [http://www.andybell.com Official website]
Current_members =
Notable_instruments =

Andy Bell (born Andrew Ivan Bell, 25 April 1964 in Peterborough, England) is the lead singer of the English Synthpop duo Erasure.

Career

Originally working in a meat packing plant in the UK, Bell responded to a newspaper advert that was looking for a singer. The 43rd auditionee responding to the ad, he was picked by Vince Clarke and together they formed the group Erasure. The pair have sold over twenty million albums worldwide.

Apart from his work with Erasure, he has taken part in numerous charities including the Ferry Aid version of "Let It Be" in 1987, a cover of Cole Porter's "Too Darn Hot" that was included in 1990s "Red Hot + Blue" album to raise funds for AIDS and HIV research, re-making Lene Lovich's "Rage" alongside her to be included in PETA's album in 1991 in favour of a wildlife campaign and performing twice on Big Spender's Red Hot and Dance events to support various AIDS projects (in December 1994 and November 2004). Bell also performed on the True Colors Tour 2008.

Bell sang the role of Montresor in Peter Hammill's opera "The Fall of the House of Usher", released in 1991 and reissued with a new recording in 1999.

On December 14, 2004, Bell announced he was HIV-positive and has known since 1998. [http://www.mtv.com/thinkmtv/sexual_health/andy_bell_hiv_052305/] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/4098677.stm]

July 2005 brought the announcement of Bell's first solo album. He signed a worldwide solo recording deal with Sanctuary Records and announced details of his debut album, which was released on October 3, 2005, and entitled "Electric Blue". The album features fourteen tracks, including three duets, with Claudia Brücken of Propaganda and Jake Shears of Scissor Sisters, and encompasses a variety of musical genres.

The first single, "Crazy", released on September 26, 2005, includes club remixes from Erasure-partner Vince Clarke, plus Cicada, MHC and King Roc.

"Electric Blue" was co-written and recorded throughout 2004 and 2005 with Manhattan Clique (Philip Larsen and Chris Smith) who have worked with Erasure, Moby, The B-52's, Stereophonics and Goldfrapp.

Discography

Albums

* 2005 "Electric Blue" (SANCD382) #119 UK, #12 U.S. Top Electronic Albums

ingles

* 2005 "Crazy" #35 UK, #3 U.S. Hot Dance Club Play
* 2006 "I'll Never Fall in Love Again"2

External links

* [http://www.andybell.com Official Andy Bell site]
* [http://www.myspace.com/andy_bell Official Andy Bell MySpace]
* [http://www.erasureinfo.com/ Official Erasure site]