December 30, 2004
Erasure Member Confronts HIV
Source: www.virginmega.com
Erasure frontman Andy Bell confirmed that he is HIV positive. The singer made the admission to a Finnish newspaper and later released a statement via the band's official website. Bell has been with his partner Paul Hickey for 20 years and made the revelation ahead of a book Hickey is writing, which is scheduled to be published in the UK next year. In his statement the 40-year-old Bell writes:
"Thank you to all the fans for their concern expressed on the Erasure forum over my HIV status. I found out I was HIV positive in June 1998 when I had a bout of pneumonia in Mallorca. Since then, I have been taking combination therapy and I am feeling fine— in fact, I have never felt better. Being HIV does not mean that you have AIDS. My life expectancy should be the same as anyone else's so there is no need to panic, there is still so much hysteria and ignorance surrounding HIV and AIDS. … let's just get on with life i.e. making music, doing a live tour and generally having a good time.
Lots of love,
Andy."
Erasure, one of the most successful ‘80s pop duos in British history, are set to release a new album in January entitled Nightbird, the band's first release of new, original material since 2000's Loveboat. Erasure also released a critically embraced collection of covers in 2003 titled Other People's Songs.
Erasure and Bell have been active campaigners to raise HIV/AIDS awareness for years recently performing at one of the biggest German AIDS charity events, Red, Hot & Dance. Bell has also said in interviews promoting Nightbird that he's feeling better than ever. "The last couple of albums were a bit moody and down," Bell said in a statement announcing the album last month. "I'm so much happier with everything now … You can hear it in the music." Erasure is planning an extensive tour in 2005 to support their new album. Current dates are scheduled in the UK and Germany with an American tour looking to kick off in April or May. Stay tuned
Posted by MK Magazine at December 30, 2004 09:08 PM