Information
- • Hometown: - London, England
- • Nationality: - English
- • Years Active: - 1985–present
- • Genre(s): - Electropop • Synth-Pop • New Wave • Dance
- • Label(s): - Mute • Sire • Reprise • Elektra • Maverick
- • Associated Acts: - N/A
- • Website: - erasureinfo.com
Biography
Erasure (/əˈreɪʒər/) is an English synth-pop duo formed in London in 1985, consisting of singer/songwriter Andy Bell with songwriter, producer and keyboardist Vince Clarke, previously known as co-founder of the band Depeche Mode and a member of electropop duo Yazoo. From their fourth single, "Sometimes" (1986), Erasure established themselves on the UK Singles Chart, becoming one of the most successful acts of the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s. From 1986 to 2007, the pair achieved 24 consecutive top-40 entries in the UK singles chart. By 2009, 34 of their 37 chart-eligible singles and EPs had made the UK top 40, including 17 climbing into the top 10. At the 1989 Brit Awards, Erasure won the Brit Award for Best British Group. Beyond this mainstream commercial success, Erasure are also popular within the LGBT community, for whom the openly gay singer Andy Bell has become an icon in the UK.
Their debut album Wonderland (1986) did not perform well, but second album The Circus (1987) reached number 6 and spawned four UK top-20 singles. Their third album, The Innocents (1988), was rendered a number one and was followed the same year by the Christmas EP Crackers International (1988) peaking at number 2. It set the scene as the first in a string of albums to place in the top spot, with their next five longform releases also reaching the pole position of the UK Albums Chart: the albums Wild! (1989) and Chorus (1991), the ABBA tribute EP Abba-esque (1992), the compilation Pop! The First 20 Hits (1992), then the album I Say I Say I Say (1994). Erasure's best-known songs are mainly from albums of this period and include "Oh L'amour", "The Circus", "Sometimes", "Victim of Love", "Ship of Fools", "Chains of Love", "A Little Respect", "Stop!", "Drama!", "Blue Savannah", "Star", "Chorus", "Love to Hate You", "Breath of Life", "Always" and "Run to the Sun".
From 1995 onwards, Erasure's commercial success began to fade with the atmospheric self-titled album Erasure (1995) which, despite being a critical success, confused its audience. The mixed reception of the following album, Cowboy (1997), confirmed a decline in Erasure's popularity until the album Loveboat (2000), which went almost unnoticed. In the mid-2000s, however, the duo managed to make a commercial comeback in some European countries and in the United States, notably thanks to their cover album Other People's Songs (2003), followed by the album Nightbird (2005) which won back the fans. This return to favour gave the band their last two commercially successful singles: "Solsbury Hill" (2003) (a Peter Gabriel song) and "Breathe" (2005). In the late 2000s, Erasure began a new commercial decline with the acoustic album Union Street (2006) followed by Light at the End of the World (2007). During the 2010s, the band's new albums briefly charted, with Tomorrow's World (2011), the Christmas album Snow Globe (2013), The Violet Flame (2014), World Be Gone (2017) and, finally, The Neon (2020). Despite the singles from this decade not managing to reach the charts, however, a solid international fanbase enables Erasure to maintain its activity through touring and online sales, not to mention the royalties attached to the catalogue of their past singles.
Achieving mainstream success at home in the UK, Erasure also has a strong following abroad, especially in some European countries—mainly in Ireland, Germany, Austria, Denmark and Sweden. Surprisingly, Erasure has a broad audience in a few South American countries, especially in Argentina, Chile and Peru. In the US, Erasure had three successful singles: "Chains of Love" (1988) at number 12, their biggest chart placing ever in that country, "A Little Respect" (1988) at number 14, and "Always" (1994) at number 20. In Russia, as well as in the former Soviet bloc countries, Erasure is mostly known for the sole song "Love to Hate You" (1991). In France, "Oh L'amour" (1986) was the band's only successful single, peaking at number 14 in the singles top 50 of that country, followed by "Sometimes" (1986) that underperformed at a low number 39 (in February 1987) and still remains to this day Erasure's last entry in the French singles chart.
Overall in their career, Erasure have penned over 200 songs and have sold over 28 million albums worldwide.
• For more information goto their Wikipedia page Click Here
Band Members
- • Andy Bell – lead vocals (1985–present)
- • Vince Clarke – Vocals, synthesizer, keyboards (1985–present)
Videos
"Who Needs Love Like That" is the debut single released by British synthpop duo Erasure. The song was released in the UK in 1985.
Who Needs Love Like That
"Oh L'amour" is a song by Erasure, released in April 1986 as their third single. Written by Erasure members Vince Clarke and Andy Bell.
Oh L'amour
"Sometimes" is a song by British synthpop duo Erasure, released in October 1986 as their fourth single overall.
Sometimes
"It Doesn't Have to Be" is a song by British synthpop duo Erasure, released in February 1987.
It Doesn't Have To Be
"Victim of Love" is a song by British synthpop duo Erasure, released in May 1987 as their sixth single overall.
Victim Of Love
"The Circus" is a song by British synthpop duo Erasure, released in September 1987 as the band's seventh single overall.
The Circus
"Ship of Fools" is a song by British duo Erasure, released in 1988 as the lead single from their third studio album The Innocents.
Ship Of Fools
"Chains of Love" is a song by British synthpop duo Erasure, released in May 1988 as their ninth single overall.
Chains Of Love
"A Little Respect" is a song written and recorded by the English synth-pop duo Erasure, released in September 1988.
A Little Respect
"Drama!" is the first single released from English synth-pop duo Erasure's fourth studio album, Wild! (1989).
Drama!
You Surround Me" is a song by Erasure that was issued in 1989 as the second single from the band's fourth studio album Wild!.
You Surround Me
"Heavenly Action" is a song by the British synthpop duo Erasure, released in November 1985 as their second single.