Erasure's Andy Bell on kissing Boy George on stage

'I just said to him really quickly, kiss me, and he did!'
Andy Bell, best known as an iconic figure of the LGBTQ+ scene in the 80s and one-half of Erasure, has just released his latest solo album Ten Crowns and is set to perform at Brighton Pride in August.
At 61 years old, the artist has been in the music industry for decades and carved an important path as one of the few openly gay music artists in the industry in the 80s.
In a powerful moment during the Brit Awards in February 1989, Andy was presented with an award on stage by Boy George and took this opportunity to kiss him on the lips.
'It was funny because I'm not sure how much kissing I'd seen – I love doing it, I love being out, and I love kissing on people and with my partner and stuff – But yeah, because we weren't really exposed to it very much.
'I just remember, when George came on the stage, I was really pleased that it was him. Just as he passed me the award, I just said to him really quickly, 'kiss me', and he did, and it just happened like that.
'So it was, I think, probably one of the only moments ever where I've done something on purpose,' he said.
He explained that the interaction wasn't a pre-discussed or planned moment, but something he thought would be a bold move in the moment.
With thousands of members from all over the world, our vibrant LGBTQ+ WhatsApp channel is a hub for all the latest news and important issues that face the LGBTQ+ community.
Simply click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! Don't forget to turn on notifications!
'Because we never ever planned press stunts or anything like that at all.' He said, adding: 'It was a kind of blink and you miss it moment.'
The smooch took place the same year that the first on-screen kiss aired to the British public in an episode of EastEnders between characters Colin Russell and his partner Barry Clark.
As one of the few openly gay pop stars in the 80s, Andy once told The Guardian that he felt the need to be 'outrageous' at the time, which meant outrageous outfits and outrageous comments, which he said was a 'defence mechanism'.
'I just started developing this character, you know, out of necessity, really, to this larger than life person, just to deal with hecklers and stuff like that.
'I learned most of my stuff from drag queens, you know, from going and seeing drag queens in the pubs and so, yeah, this character is built over the years.'
He said that he made his character a 'screamer' and it meant he didn't have to announce his sexuality in every interview.
'In the beginning, especially playing in North America and places you kind of it gets boring saying you're gay all the time, all the time, you know, in an interview.
'So I just thought I'd, I'd make, I'd have this character on stage. It was like a screamer, just so there were no questions asked.
'I know that it's a bit of a cliche now when I look back, but I just didn't want there to be any compromises or anything.
'For me, it felt like, almost like it was a defence mechanism, but like a shield almost,' he said.
Andy's new album features a track titled Heart's A Liar with Blondie star Debbie Harry.
'I just feel like that. I feel like I've not struck gold, but kind of been blessed by music royalty,' he said of working with the iconic singer.
'To me, that's better than anybody in the whole of the music industry. You know, she's the top dog, she really is.'
He added that in the music industry, relationships are often transactional and somewhat fake, which wasn't the case with Debbie.
'I know they've had really tough times as well, Blondie. So has Erasure, people all have time in the wilderness, and I think just for someone to reach your hand and say, 'Oh, come on, you know, I'll help you.' That's basically what it is.
'You just don't get that either in the music industry. It's all these back-handed compliments and handshakes, and everything's for commercial gain. Nothing is sincere anymore.'
Andy has worked alongside his Erasure other half, Vince Clarke, for decades, taking time to do his own solo work, but always coming together to create music as Erasure.
'When we meet, it's kind of like, it is like, like an ex-lover, and you're meeting up again,' he says, revealing that he's only managed to see him twice this year.
'You're kind of defining your roles, or coming back together, and because it's very raw when you're writing together – I mean, I feel almost sorry for people that have been couples like Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart. You know how that must be really tough when you're a real couple.
'But just because we haven't slept with each other doesn't mean that you don't have intimate moments.'
He explains that when they get back together, after a little initial awkwardness, they are back into the swing.
'Once you've established that trust, it's there forever,' he says.
The singer is set to perform at Brighton Pride in August and emphasised that celebrating the LGBTQ+ community is just as important today as it has always been. More Trending
'As long as we're a target, as long as we're in a position where all of a sudden you're being scapegoated by whichever political party, then we're obviously not safe.
'Until everything is just as it should be, normalised and we're all treated the same and we're all treated fairly, we're still working towards something.'
Andy Bell's album Ten Crowns is out now, and he is set to perform at Brighton Pride supported by Hayu, on August 3 .
Got a story?
If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you.
MORE: I attended the UK's biggest true crime convention — it wasn't what I expected
MORE: 'I was the only out lesbian MP for 13 years – here's how Parliament has changed'
MORE: I told my date my sexual preferences and was immediately ghosted

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Daily Mirror

10 minutes ago

• Daily Mirror

Brit 'devastated' after being kicked out of holiday hotspot for his face tattoos

Jordan Howman, 34, said his £3,000 holiday was ruined when he was pulled aside at Dubai Airport and had his passport confiscated before being sent back to the UK - for having face tattoos A Brit said he was left "devastated" after he was kicked out of Dubai and forced to ditch his dream £3,000 holiday because of his face tattoos. Jordan Howman, 34, landed at Dubai International Airport last Wednesday for a dream week-long holiday with his fiancée Theresa, 38, and daughter Kaic, 16, when immigration officers took him aside and ended up confiscating his passport. The 34-year-old plasterer, from Crewe, said he had "worked his ass off" to save up for the five day trip and had hoped to see the United Arab Emirates, which he called his "favourite country in the world". ‌ ‌ Jordan claimed that his dream holiday ended at the airport as after six hours of being held, immigration officers sent him packing "because of his face tattoos". The 34-year-old got the geometric cubes tattooed on his face around eight or nine years ago alongside words like 'blessed', 'family' and 'crazy life' and said it has never caused problems during his previous two visits to Dubai, he says. Jordan said: "My missus has been crying her eyes out. It has absolutely devastated me. I feel like I've been massively discriminated against. There's no law against face tattoos - there's nothing like that. "I'm a lovely lad, I get on with anyone. It's made me feel absolutely rubbish. I'm not allowed in a country because of the way I look. It's properly, massively affected me. It was my favourite country, but this has absolutely ruined it. Now I'll never go again. I've lost all of my money because of a pattern on my face." The UAE has become a popular spot for wealthy British expats and holidaymakers seeking sunshine but the emirates' strict social rules has proved to be a problem for many foreign visitors. ‌ Jordan's Emirates airline flight landed at Dubai International Airport on Wednesday, June 11, morning at 7.30am. He said: "It was my third trip to Dubai. I'd had no problems all the other times. But this time, as we got in, I scanned my passport and was just about to go through security when an airport worker pulled us aside. "We were about to put our hand luggage on the conveyor belt when the man said: 'Follow me'." After taking Mr Howman aside, the man allegedly asked if he'd had his passport stamped, before taking it from him. Jordan said: "Then he snatched my passport out of my hand. ‌ "There had been nowhere to stamp it - we'd used the electronic gates. It was just an excuse to get the passport out of my hand." After being held in a waiting room for over four hours, the Brit was transferred to immigration at around 12am, he said. By this time, his family had reached their five star Anantara hotel. He called his partner and she got a taxi to the airport but he said "they wouldn't let me see her" and she got a taxi back to the hotel, costing a total of £250. Jordan said he was not given his passport back for some time which was "terrifying". ‌ He said: "A woman came and took me upstairs to immigration, where they said: 'He's not coming in because of his face tattoos - you're not coming in because of the way you look.' One of the staff behind the desk said a more senior immigration officer made the decision, saying I was not to enter Dubai and that I must leave the country immediately." At 2.30pm, Mr Howman was put on another Emirates flight heading back to the UK. He said: "They sent me on a flight back to Manchester. It was only when I landed that I got my passport back. Friday morning was the first time I got to see my daughter, over Facetime." The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs Dubai have been approached for comment. Dubai Airports was also contacted for comment.

Metro

37 minutes ago

• Metro

Amazon Prime quietly drops all episodes of 'brutal' drama with Game of Thrones s

Amazon Prime viewers can now watch a 'riotously fun' British dark comedy about survivalists. Released in 2020 on Sky One, Two Weeks to Live stars Maisie Williams, best known for playing Arya Stark in Game of Thrones from 2011 until 2019. In the six-part series she played 'strange young misfit' Kim, who was just a small child when her father died in mysterious circumstances. Soon after her mum Kim – played by Fleabag's Sian Clifford – whisked her away to a remote rural life of seclusion and bizarre survival techniques. After years cut off from the world, Kim decides to set back out and carry out a secret mission to honour her father's memory. But after meeting the socially awkward Nicky (Mawaan Rizwan) in a pub, the pair then face 'a chaotic series of events that puts their lives in danger' as they go on the run from murderous gangsters and the police with a massive bag of stolen cash. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video This week the series dropped on Amazon Prime, giving more people a chance to tune in. When the show was released, critics praised it as 'one of the best shows of the year' despite it largely going under the radar. 'One of 2020's best new shows, Two Weeks to Live leans into the witty humour of classic British comedies like Hot Fuzz and Brassic,' NME wrote in its review. 'With each episode gleefully upping the stakes, it's as if that doomsday clock actually is tock-ticking down to midnight. You'll be hooked into Two Weeks to Live like tinned tuna crammed into a nuclear bunker's storeroom,' SBS wrote. 'Two Weeks to Live is riotous fun, with a ton of heart and soul to boot, and after the year we've all had, it couldn't have arrived at a better time,' Digital Spy added. Fans said it was 'gripping', 'action packed with splashes of comedy', and an 'absolute gem of a show'. Speaking to Sky ahead of the show's initial release, Maisie explained the evolution of her character throughout the story. More Trending 'She's always felt really independent and very capable but emotionally, she's realising that being alone is going to be a big step for her and although she can probably handle herself physically, mentally she's facing huge battles every day,' she said. 'I knew it was always going to be very funny and the characters were very interesting, but we were very keen to make them real. I think you can write very funny people but not necessarily relate to that character in your own life so between myself, Taheen, Mawaan, and Sian we were very keen to route it back to something that is relatable,' she added. Two Weeks to Live also stars Taheen Modak, Jason Flemyng, Michael Begley, Thalissa Teixeira, Kerry Howard and Sean Knopp. View More » Two Weeks to Live is streaming on Amazon Prime Video. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: All Neighbours spoilers for next week as legend resigns MORE: Where to stream Jaws in the UK for the iconic film's 50th anniversary MORE: 'One of the best horror films' is finally coming to Amazon Prime next week

The Guardian

an hour ago

• The Guardian

‘People thought I was off my face': indie rockers Hard-Fi look back at adrenaline, addiction and a life of excess

Hard-Fi formed in 2003 in Staines, Surrey. Frontman Richard Archer, guitarist Ross Phillips, bassist Kai Stephens and drummer Steve Kemp released their debut album, Stars of CCTV, in 2005. Featuring Cash Machine, Hard to Beat and Living for the Weekend, it reached No 1 in the UK, sold 1.2m copies worldwide and earned Brit awards and a Mercury prize nomination. The band released two further albums before going on hiatus in 2014. They reunited in 2022 and released a new EP in 2024. This shoot was for an interview in the Big Issue. I still wear those clothes now, but back then a good jacket or pair of sunglasses was a suit of armour. With the right pair of shades, I could face the Terminator. The more extrovert elements of being a frontman didn't always come naturally, so at times I was playing a larger-than-life character. I wasn't that confident performing – not to the extent I'd puke up backstage, but I'd get nervous and try too hard. I was also a bit gobbier and swearier back then. A lot of people thought I was off my face on coke, which I wasn't. Adrenaline is powerful stuff. I often had this outsider feeling – as if there was a party going on we weren't invited to. We'd go out in Staines rather than Camden, but, even though we weren't part of the 'scene', our shows kept selling out. By 2006, it felt like we were on a train that was getting faster and faster. For years, we'd tour and do promo, with no days off – all of which was exciting but exhausting. The whole time I thought: 'We can't stop, we can't screw it up.' There was so much pressure that I didn't get a chance to stop and soak it in. After our third record, the label said: 'We're not going to make another album with you.' I wanted to keep the band going, but the energy wasn't there any more. Ross had his first child, money was getting tight and I realised we should move on. In the years since, I've been writing and producing for other artists. In 2020, I got in touch with the guys and suggested we do something. I was thinking, 'Will people actually turn up?', but we sold out the Kentish Town Forum in 10 minutes. And here we are! I had never worn a flat cap in my life. It was not my thing, so I felt self-conscious. But this was 2005 – I felt self-conscious permanently. I was almost certainly thinking: 'Right, a flat cap, is it? I'll just stand here and try to look tough.' Before Hard-Fi, I was on the dole. I'd go in and say: 'We've got meetings at a record label, the band might actually happen.' They'd reply: 'Sure. Have you thought about getting a job at HMV?' When we signed to Atlantic in December 2004, the dole office thought I was making it up. I was shocked, too – so much so that I wanted to hide my portion of the advance in a pillow case. That approach continued whenever the band had success. As soon as anything good happened, I couldn't celebrate. I just felt fear. Our debut album was recorded in a taxi office covered in cheap asbestos tiles that looked as if they'd been painted yellow, but it was nicotine. They'd turn to dust if you touched them, and there were rats living in the roof. It was grim, a really nasty place. All of which made the more glamorous parts of the band more surreal. James Blunt invited us to a party at his place once. I was introduced to Paris Hilton. She looked me up and down, twice, then turned and walked away. Being in Hard-Fi is half family, half military operation. Rich is the colonel. I am the sergeant – I crack the whip. Ross is a private – 'Yes, sir!' – and Kai is more likely to be awol. We are solid, but we can bicker about all sorts. I get wound up the easiest. I get the hump about anything. After the group went on hiatus, I wanted to use my brain, so I ended up retraining as a nutritionist. Do I help the band eat healthily now? Not remotely. Twenty years later, I am still the same guy. Although, these days I would have the confidence to say no to the flat cap. Those Versace shades definitely helped me get into character. When I joined the group, I realised I was probably not in the best place for what could be a really exciting opportunity. I wasn't getting enough sleep or living my best life, so I had to sharpen up and straighten out. I had a lot of respect for Richard, I had come across Steve at university, and I got on with Ross straight away – we were both just lads from Staines. Before Hard-Fi, I was doing pest control. We used my van for some of those early gigs, and, as I had tough guts, I wasn't bothered by much. Once someone dropped something down a toilet and I grabbed it out with my hand. When the taxi office had an ant infestation, I said: 'Why do you think they're here? It's not for the tunes. There's sugar everywhere.' When our first single made the Top 20, I couldn't believe it was happening. Looking back, I don't think I responded well. Artistically I stepped up to the plate, but personally I lost the plot. My impostor syndrome was huge, and I was dealing with it by becoming dependent on alcohol. There wasn't much talk about addiction back then. To some extent, it was encouraged by the industry. After we were dropped, we had a good break from each other for a fair few years. During that time, I went on a real journey – bad habits returning, and losing a loved one. But I also got the chance to become a good father. I feel positive about life now, but mixed about what's happening with the band. As much as it's exciting to live a bit of 2005 again, because of the crazy curve I've been on, there's apprehension there, too. We were considered 'urban' by the press, so most of our early shoots were done in car parks or bus shelters – anywhere that looked grimy. This one would have been a pleasant change. My outfit is standard Hard-Fi clobber – a black polo and army surplus. I felt comfortable in that – ready to go. I was only 21 when Hard-Fi took off, and the last one to join. I was nervous, but they were an easy bunch of fellas. I'm the youngest of three siblings, I go with the flow, and I applied that same mentality to being in Hard-Fi. It's almost impossible to wind me up. Only my kids can – they've got special skills. In 2005, we were out every night and away from home for months on end. It was great, but I found doing red carpets stressful. Even after four pints, I look like I'm thinking: 'Ahh. What the fuck.' When the third album came around, I started having kids and I thought it was time to get a job. Music stopped for me for a few years – my guitars were put in a cupboard to keep them away from the kids. As we started up the group again, I realised I had forgotten how much I loved playing. But it is a different dynamic this time around. Back then I was just making music. I had zero responsibilities. I knew absolutely nothing at all.