Andy Bell is a singer-songwriter from Peterborough, United Kingdom, best known as the lead singer of Erasure, the synth-pop duo he forms with Vince Clarke. He is also associated with the acts The Void, Winjama, Dinger and Das Bäume, and his work is described as dance-pop and synth-pop.

Erasure and early career

Born in 1964, Andy Bell is the vocalist for Erasure and a central figure in the duo’s sound. The project brings together his vocals and Vince Clarke’s songwriting and production, and Bell is noted as the singer and songwriter for the group.

Solo work

Bell also maintains a solo career. His first solo album, Electric Blue, appears in 2005 and features collaborations with Claudia Brücken of Propaganda and Jake Shears of Scissor Sisters. The album is co-written and produced by Philip Larsen and Chris Smith of Manhattan Clique. Its single “Crazy” becomes a club anthem. He follows the album with Non-Stop in 2010.

Other work and significance

In addition to recording as a singer, Bell also works as a DJ and remixer. He sells over twenty million albums worldwide and is recognised as one of the first openly gay singers in pop music. He also reveals that he is HIV-positive in 2004, having lived with the disease since 1998, and continues his career while managing his health.