EXCLUSIVE: Andy Bell has been a queer trailblazer for 40 years & deserves more than a little respect

credit: Seth Caplan

Andy Bell is celebrating 40 years in the music industry and is ready for his overdue flowers.

The gay 61-year-old rose to fame as the charismatic frontman of synth-pop duo Erasure, alongside keyboardist and ally Vince Clarke, and was responsible for a slew of ’80s new wave hits like “Oh l’amour,” “Sometimes,” “Chains of Love,” and “A Little Respect.”

Over four decades, Erasure never broke up, released 20 studio albums and sold more than 28 million albums worldwide. An impressive accomplishment made even more extraordinary by Bell’s personal fortitude from the very start.

With his soaring vocals and flamboyant stage presence, Bell always navigated the industry as his true self without ever being in the closet.

From the outset

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