Quintessential synth duo Erasure ditches the electronics. Will this unplugged experiment earn Andy Bell and Vince Clarke the respect they rightfully deserve?

RING HIS BELL: If George Michael is in Dallas this weekend, Andy Bell extends a warm invitation to Erasure’s Lakewood gig on Sunday.

On tour, Andy Bell has schlepped through Dallas countless times over the last 20 years.

"Actually, 21 years," Bell says from his hotel room in New York.
But one memory about Big D stands out.

"I met a lovely guy, who used to be a Dallas cop: His name is Randy, and his twin brother, who is straight, was called Andy," Bell remembers. "We had a little party after one of the clubs closed. I was sitting on the sofa, and I remember looking deep into his eyes and saying to him, "'God you're so good looking' not realizing I was complimenting the straight one."
So did Bell score the ultimate double-pleasure?

"Oh, no. I ended up with Randy, the proper one," he says.
The last time Erasure performed in Dallas was at the Lakewood Theater in May 2005, during the "Nightbird" tour. Amid Vince Clarke's pulsing keyboards and percolating blips, Bell commanded the stage in his usual fashion covered in glitter and spectacularly flamboyant. And except for his solemn rendition of "Ave Maria," the sold-out crowd sung along to practically every lyric of every Erasure song.

They return to the Lakewood Theater on Sunday, 12 months later. But this concert promises to be a rare Erasure experience. Instead of pre-programmed disco, they'll fill the stage with eight live musicians playing banjo, dobro, pedal-steel guitar, autoharp, percussion and violins .
On their recent album "Union Street," the quintessential synth duo dusted off lesser-known works from their discography and refueled them with acoustic instruments. The results are gorgeous. And the album showcases that, at their core, Erasure has always been about soulful vocals entwined with rock-solid song craftsmanship.

While the band has a loyal following, Bell admits that Erasure hasn't quite enjoyed massive waves of critical praise.

"No, I don't think we've been paid our proper respects especially not in the U.K. We're neither here nor there. The straight-boy pop magazines never interview us, and they won't even review our albums," Bell explains. "But in America, which I love, they've been very good to us."

Proudly effeminate, Bell would have been a fool to hide his sexuality. And while Vince Clarke is straight, the duo was labeled as a gay act from the get-go.

Over the years, Bell watched other performers confirm their sexual identities K.D. Lang, Boy George, George Michael, Michael Stipe and receive heroes' welcomes.

"Obviously, it wasn't meant for us to be like that. And maybe we didn't necessarily get the kind of exposure we could have had, but Vince and I weren't about to start pandering to MTV. And when people finally did start coming out, I was like "'Thank God,'" Bell says.

Does watching the successes of closeted rockers ever make him bitter?
"There was a time, back in the U.K. when Jimmy Somerville of Bronski Beat and I would go to Pride marches. We'd see other people there, like the Pet Shop Boys people who wouldn't talk to the media about being gay. And that was frustrating," Bell says.

In December 2004, Bell did make headlines about coming out when he disclosed that he was HIV positive. Aside from Magic Johnson, Rudy Galindo, Greg Louganis, Jim J. Bullock, Holly Johnson and Larry Kramer, there are not many famous people still alive who are out about being HIV positive.
But Bell says being out about his HIV status has been anything but frustrating.

"There has been no downside whatsoever. And that blows me away about how this universe works. The feedback I've received from people has truly amazed me," he says.




A MORE PERFECT UNION:
For the "Union Street" tour, Erasure goes acoustic on Sunday at the Lakewood Theater. Aside from the band Wheatus' punky cover version of "A Little Respect," Bell says hardly any acts have covered Erasure songs. When I inform Bell that George Michael is a frequent Dallas dweller, Bell squeals. "Oh, I'd love for him to come to our show. We've never met. And I just did an interview with the U.K. magazine "Pink Paper", and mentioned how much I'd love to meet him. I think he's a terrific performer."

If George is in town, maybe Bell can lure the pop star onstage for an impromptu duet.

"Oh, I would so love that," Bell says.
Lakewood Theater, 1825 Abrams Parkway. May 7 at 8 p.m. Sold out. $55-$75. 214-373-8000.


This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition, May 5, 2006.