![\"Andy](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/AndyBell_2025_L1700919_SeanBlack_72dpi-b89a.jpg\")
\n\t\tAndy Bell has reflected on one of his iconic moments as he releases his new album (Picture: Sean Black)<\/p>\n
\t\t
\n\t\tAndy Bell has reflected on one of his iconic moments as he releases his new album (Picture: Sean Black)<\/p>\n
\u2018I just said to him really quickly, kiss me, and he did!\u2019<\/p>\n
Andy Bell, best known as an iconic figure of the LGBTQ+ <\/a>scene in the 80s and one-half of Erasure<\/a>, has just released his latest solo album Ten Crowns and is set to perform at Brighton Pride<\/a> in August.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n In a powerful moment during the Brit Awards<\/a> in February 1989, Andy was presented with an award on stage by Boy George<\/a> and took this opportunity to kiss him on the lips.<\/p>\n \u2018It was funny because I\u2019m not sure how much kissing I\u2019d seen \u2013 I love doing it, I love being out, and I love kissing on people and with my partner and stuff \u2013 But yeah, because we weren\u2019t really exposed to it very much.<\/p>\n \u2018I 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, \u201ckiss me\u201d, and he did, and it just happened like that. <\/p>\n \u2018So it was, I think, probably one of the only moments ever where I\u2019ve done something on purpose,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n \t\t He explained that the interaction wasn\u2019t a pre-discussed or planned moment, but something he thought would be a bold move in the moment.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tJoin Metro’s LGBTQ+ community on WhatsApp\t\t\t<\/p>\n With thousands of members from all over the world, our vibrant LGBTQ+ WhatsApp channel<\/a> is a hub for all the latest news and important issues that face the LGBTQ+ community.<\/p>\n Simply\u00a0click on this link<\/a><\/strong>, select \u2018Join Chat\u2019 and you\u2019re in! Don’t forget to turn on notifications!<\/p>\n \u2018Because we never ever planned press stunts or anything like that at all.\u2019 He said, adding: \u2018It was a kind of blink and you miss it moment.\u2019<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \t\t As one of the few openly gay pop stars in the 80s, Andy once told The Guardian<\/a> that he felt the need to be \u2018outrageous\u2019 at the time, which meant outrageous outfits and outrageous comments, which he said was a \u2018defence mechanism\u2019.<\/p>\n \u2018I 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. <\/p>\n \u2018I 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.\u2019 <\/p>\n He said that he made his character a \u2018screamer\u2019 and it meant he didn\u2019t have to announce his sexuality in every interview. <\/p>\n \u2018In the beginning, especially playing in North America<\/a> and places you kind of it gets boring saying you\u2019re gay all the time, all the time, you know, in an interview. <\/p>\n \u2018So I just thought I\u2019d, I\u2019d make, I\u2019d have this character on stage. It was like a screamer, just so there were no questions asked.<\/p>\n \u2018I know that it\u2019s a bit of a cliche now when I look back, but I just didn\u2019t want there to be any compromises or anything.<\/p>\n \u2018For me, it felt like, almost like it was a defence mechanism, but like a shield almost,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n \t\t Andy\u2019s new album features a track titled Heart\u2019s A Liar with Blondie star Debbie Harry.<\/a><\/p>\n \u2018I just feel like that. I feel like I\u2019ve not struck gold, but kind of been blessed by music royalty,\u2019 he said of working with the iconic singer.<\/p>\n \u2018To me, that\u2019s better than anybody in the whole of the music industry. You know, she\u2019s the top dog, she really is.\u2019<\/p>\n He added that in the music industry, relationships are often transactional and somewhat fake, which wasn\u2019t the case with Debbie.<\/p>\n \u2018I know they\u2019ve 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, \u201cOh, come on, you know, I\u2019ll help you.\u201d That\u2019s basically what it is. <\/p>\n \u2018You just don\u2019t get that either in the music industry. It\u2019s all these back-handed compliments and handshakes, and everything\u2019s for commercial gain. Nothing is sincere anymore.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t Andy has worked alongside his Erasure other half, Vince Clarke<\/a>, for decades, taking time to do his own solo work, but always coming together to create music as Erasure.<\/p>\n \u2018When we meet, it\u2019s kind of like, it is like, like an ex-lover, and you\u2019re meeting up again,\u2019 he says, revealing that he\u2019s only managed to see him twice this year.<\/p>\n \u2018You\u2019re kind of defining your roles, or coming back together, and because it\u2019s very raw when you\u2019re writing together \u2013 I mean, I feel almost sorry for people that have been couples like Annie Lennox<\/a> and Dave Stewart. You know how that must be really tough when you\u2019re a real couple. <\/p>\n \u2018But just because we haven\u2019t slept with each other doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t have intimate moments.\u2019<\/p>\n He explains that when they get back together, after a little initial awkwardness, they are back into the swing.<\/p>\n \u2018Once you\u2019ve established that trust, it\u2019s there forever,\u2019 he says.<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t 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.<\/p>\n \u2018As long as we\u2019re a target, as long as we\u2019re in a position where all of a sudden you\u2019re being scapegoated by whichever political party, then we\u2019re obviously not safe. <\/p>\n \u2018Until everything is just as it should be, normalised and we\u2019re all treated the same and we\u2019re all treated fairly, we\u2019re still working towards something.\u2019<\/p>\n Andy Bell\u2019s album Ten Crowns is out now, and he is set to perform at Brighton Pride supported by Hayu, on August 3.<\/p>\n Got a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n If you\u2019ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk<\/a> entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff<\/a> page \u2013 we\u2019d love to hear from you.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/GettyImages-544729351-e3ca.jpg\")
\n\t\tSinger Boy George, of the band Culture Club, kissing Andy Bell, of the band \u2018Erasure\u2019, on stage at the Brit Awards (Picture: Dave Hogan\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Andy-Bell_L1720752_Sean-Black_72dpi-0eeb.jpg\")
\n\t\tAndy has released several solo albums (Picture: Sean Black)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/GettyImages-2107927847-d8ed.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe pop duo Erasure first formed in 1985(Picture: BSR Agency\/Gentle Look via Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/GettyImages-537144995-581d.jpg\")
\n\t\tAndy and Vince Clarke formed Erasure decades ago (Picture: Galuschka\/ullstein bild via Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/GettyImages-460946232-d9d3.jpg\")
\n\t\tAndy was frank about his enduring relationship with Vince (Picture: Noam Galai\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/GettyImages-1347300762-d2fe.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe singer is set to sing at Brighton Pride (Picture: Simone Joyner\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
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