Erasure’s Clarke and Bell bask in ‘Light’

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Interviews, performances

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Billboard: Since day one, and unlike other artists, you have never hidden your sexuality. You’ve lived your life as an out, loud-and-proud artist. Do you see yourself as a pioneer?

Bell: At the time, in 1985, I had just met my partner, Paul, as well as Vince. Paul was saying, “Oh, you can’t say that” or “Don’t say that.” He thought I should just keep quiet about it. And I thought, “I don’t want to keep quiet.” What for? So, I decided that when people would ask me about a girlfriend and stuff like that, I wasn’t going to say, “Oh, yes, I fancy this and that.” I was simply going to be me.

Billboard: Did you ever have discussions with your label, Mute, about your sexuality and how being an out artist could affect your career?

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Bell: Not overt discussions. Well, there were some comments, because we shot our very first video in drag. Then, with our first hit, “Sometimes,” we were wearing jeans and T-shirts, very James Dean. After that, though, when our records began selling less, the label asked, “Can’t you put on a dress again or wear a rubber leotard for shock value just to bump up sales?” I was like, “No.” Anybody that tells me to do something, I will do the opposite.

Billboard: Why did you decide to publicly announce your HIV-positive status a couple of years ago?

Bell: I was very confused, and I hate keeping secrets to myself. It’s not because I’m a big blabbermouth or anything. It’s just such a burden to carry. It took me a while to clear my head and sort it all out.

Billboard: It’s now 22 years after the two of you began your musical journey together. Where does Erasure go next?

Clarke: After this tour, we’d like to do an album of nursery rhymes. It wouldn’t be a children’s album, though. What we’re envisioning is a record of Goth-styled nursery rhymes, more macabre. I mean, lots of nursery rhymes are pretty dark anyway, so the idea would be to make a record that adults would appreciate on one level and kids would appreciate on another.

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