| LINCS FM INTERVIEW 2002 TRANSCRIPTION JOHN MARSHALL INTERVIEWS ANDREW BELL JM-Andy? AB-yeah hello. JM-How you're doing? alright. AB-I'm alright thanks. JM-Just spare with me one second, would you?So just getting a little bit of a level Andy, would you? AB-hello, hello,etc..... JM-that's pretty good AB-doI get the job then? JM-yeah I think you are,you know, pretty much,yeah...so it's Andy Bell from Erasure, and how are you sir? AB-I�m very fine, thank you, very well, very healthy,very fit. JM-Good, Andy well we're here to talk about album ten from Erasure, isnt it? AB-Number ten, yeah JM-Number ten!! And the covers album is called Other People's songs.Tell us about the album, Andy. AB-Yeah, this was an album that ah, of songs I�ve promised myself I would do as a teenager dreaming of being a singer when I was listening to my parent's records. My dad was a Buddy Holly's fan,my mum was an Elvis Presley fan and I was a Phil Spector song.Oh, a Phil Spector song, no, a Phil Spector fan. And, hm, it started as a solo project, and I was gonna do all Phil Spector songs in the same way that Dusty went to Memphis, and it was going to be an Andy goes to Dallas, something like that. And hm, I remember Vince said, Oh, can I do it with you?, so it's an Erasure project. JM-That's all it came about, so it's called Other People's songs, it's a covers album, so what made you choose a cover album? Just the fact that you always had this burning desire. AB-Yeah,I think just,hm, being a singer, you know, and kind of wanting to be out there,and there's always kind of this thousands of standards I would love to do,I would love to sing with an orchestra, I'd love to do a country and western album,theres,hm lots of things. JM-I can hear it now, and is it true about karaoke nights in Petersborough,to get you in the mood? AB-That is true, yeah, I was there about a month ago, to see my parents, and went to the pub and it was a Sunday night, and it was closed till 10.30, and it was karaoke night and they said if you sing a song you can have a drink so I sang two. JM-And what did you sing? Do you remember? AB-I sang A little Respect and Sometimes. JM-Fantastic, well you`d know those ones. AB-Yeah, I've done it before, as well, I've done it all around the world. JM-Have you? AB-Japan,Czecoslovaquia. Nowhere,anywhere. I do inpromtue PA`s. JM-Did you? AB-Yeah JM-Well you're more than welcome in any point, so the first single is gonna be Solsbury Hill, is that one you chose or Vince or? AB-That's one Mr Clarke chose. JM-Is it? AM-Yeah. JM-I mean, hm, I've got the album here.I'm a big fan myself, Andy. I don't make any secret of that, fact. I think it's a very good single.What are your chart hopes for the new material? AB-I dont, I have any hopes, honestly, you can't because you just do yourself damage if you do, you know. You put too much, kind of, you know, into it. It's your baby and everything and then,hm, and if it comes out and nothing happens, I'll be really dissapointed.I'll have to get over it, you know. JM-Yeah you gotta get over things like that..well, you know I think it's so really good, so fingers crossed for you.Was it tricky picking the songs? because you know presumably there's a thousand and one songs you could put in the album. AB-Yeah, it was pretty tricky, I mean, it's ah...Gareth Jones, Vince and myself we all made our own cd's of our favourite songs and there was loads of, kind of, stuff in there.There was Love of my life by Queen, Winner takes it all by Abba, Black dog by Led Zeppelin, Running up that hill (by) Kate Bush.It's all like, you know,loads and loads of different stuff. JM-Hm,hm, so are there any you wished you'd included now or you're pretty happy with things? AB-Not really, I'm pretty happy with how it is. JM-Sure.So am I..And Andy, so, we've got a tour going. This is the first one for five years!.Why have you been so long? Mr Bell... AB-Well it's not my fault.It's all Mr Clarke. He doesn't like touring. He's a real home boy ,he's a Cancer. The crab. So that why I've been doing Karaoke jobs and threatening to do musicals. JM-So you miss it,and he's been saying oh,no,I don't like it. AB-Yeah I really really miss it.I mean, you know, I have to, go out on the street and, you know, I mean, it's, I mean, I'm glad that he's decided that he's gonna do it this time and he's,he's,he's very much up for it. JM-Excellent. AB-We've kind of changed quite a lot, so we're not into the whole rock and roll thing anymore.We kind of look out, look out for each other, make sure we don't drink too much. JM-That's good. Rehearsals have started? AB-Rehearsals have started, there's twenty-five songs, we've got two singers, ah,I'm quite surprised, hm, some of the older material, how high it is, I had forgotten how high it is. JM-You have a problem, you know, because it's been so long since the live shows, remembering the lyrics? Do you have to check out on all the lyrics AB-Yeah I do,yeah I have, I've written them all out, I got a little book. JM-I see,well it'll all be ok by the time the tour kicks in.I'm gonna see it for the fan club thing on there in December. AB-Oh, fantastic. JM-I should be done too.Also when I came to the...ah,I think it was last year the "......" place in "...." did four accoustic songs. AB-Oh yeah,Vince VCA.. JM-That was great! Vince was strumming his guitar this time. AB-Yes he's playing guitar all the way through JM-Is he? AB-Yep JM-I think he'll be busy this time AB-Yep,it is he is, he has to practice till his fingers bleed JM-(of)'course he does... so you'll be "...." touring this time, I'm coming there as well, you can't get rid of me Andy.That's the first time you play Grimsby "..." AB-I think so, yeah, I know, I 've have been to Grims..by before because one of my friends was in University there, JM-Alright AB-and I've been going there years and years and years ago,cause I had a crush on this man. JM-No way AB-Yeah JM-So,look let's talk about the stage show this time.Wh-what can we expect, you know, you'e well known for some big theatrical things,is this one gonna be a big thing? AB-Yeah,it's gonna be a little theatrical JM-little theatrical? AB-We,hm , we, cause it's a little bit of a time travel album cause it goes from the fifties like up till probably... eighties, I think,and hm,so and the album, for the album has a gramophone and for some reason, i dont know, I feel attached to the gramophone like His Masters Voice, and all that stuff, and,so we're gonna have a gramophone on stage, Vince comes on puts on a 78 of a song called Mad as we are which is from Loveboat JM-Great song, great song AB-And hm,and then I come on in my Edwardian regalia JM-Oh well that reason is enough forward to. AB-Yeah JM-It's not like you're too dressed up Andy AB-No I know,I know JM-So and you chose that Mad as we are on Loveboat, were you disappointed with the sales for Loveboat, I mean, not that ... AB-Yes I was crying, I was crying my eyes out, you know, but this is, you know, it's one of those things. It's a great album JM-There were some great songs on there! AB-I'm really proud, I'm really proud of all the work that we've done, you know and that's the most important thing JM-Yeah, you never, I mean, when things like that happen you don't get to listen back to the thing, Oh,we should have done it slightly differently, I mean - AB-No JM-Cause there were some great songs on it, you're absolutely right AB-I mean you can't have everything on your own way, can you? JM-Absolutely not AB-That's not,you know,that's not life JM-Any other songs from Loveboat expected on the tour?You dont anyway give it all away AB-Alien JM-Alien? AB-Yeah JM-A great songThat was the,ah, the gig in London I saw. As well as the Old Gallery place. That was excellent. And so, Erasure, you've been together along time now AB-Seventeen years. JM-It's quite wild. AB-It doesnt seem that very long to me really. JM-Really? AB-Yeah I suppose I'm a pop uncle now. JM-Sure.What was the big secret then or the formula to stay together for so long? AB-The big secret is dont, never walk down a red carpet, don't go to RSVP kind of things, and....me and Vince like to go out and kind of merge into the background and have a good time, dont have bouncers or body guards cause you dont need them, and...look after your money, don't "...." it in limo's and all those kind of things and dont do hello! JM-Never do hello,thats a good tip.What you make of those..? AB-Do goodbye instead JM-What do you make of some of the popstars of today Andy? AB-Well I think there's a few kind of things around you know, I love the Streets new album, I'm really, I'm glad when something original like that comes out, cause it's, cause it just shows you that there are things going on. JM-And it's original stuff, yeah AB-Yeah and I, I must say I like the Sugar Babes, JM-Oh yeah AB-yeah, the ah, the Gary Numan track that they did was done by somebody else quite a few years ago JM-Right AB-I just read in the vocals and hm..what else? Miss Kitten and the Hacker? JM-Oh! you're into all that! AB-Yeah, some of the electroclash stuff JM-What do you think of the search for a star top shows all over theTV at the moment? AB-Hm, I think they're alright.I love Opportunity Knocks with the clap-o-meter thing.I think Imight have one of those on our live show. JM-Good, I look forward to that.Hm, you've been with Mute Records since day one, Andy, AB-Yeah JM-and recently bought out by the EMI. AB-I know JM-Does that change anything for you? AB-Well, so far it doesnt seem to change anything but it's kind of hard to know what's going on behind the scenes, cause we, Vince directed the video for us and they don't like it for some reason. JM-Oh,really? AB-Yeah. JM-Cause I was to ask you about that.This was the video for Solsbury hill? AB-Yeah. JM-And they don't like that, so what's happening? AB-No hm, I look like a hugged old drag queen in this and maybe that's, that's the reason they don't like it. JM-Well,the, a video be being remade is it? Can't it be the video for the single? AB-They're gonna film the Birmingham show, the fan club gig. JM-Oh, are they? AB-Yeah JM-So I might be on the video? AB-You might be on the video JM-I love the sound of that Andy.That's good.Any personal favourites in the Erasure back catalogue? Personally AB-Hm, I love,ah, what singles-wise or just any? JM-Yeah, well, anything really, you know AB-I loved hm, my favourite album is chorus. JM-Is it?..I think a lot of fans think the same thing, aren't they? AB-Yeah, hm, the tracks from that...Siren song, I love Joan and hm, Home. JM-Excellent.Yeah they, it's like I'm having a concert round of my house.You're picking up all the songs on. AB-No. JM-What were you "..." on the Wheatus doing A little respect, Andy? AB-Wheatus I thought it was good.I think they're cute,hm, the voice is a little twee on it, but I like the way they did it, and hm, we're going to do a remix for them and we didnt get, the record company didn't send us the part. JM-Well that's the... AB-naughty naughty record company they are. JM-Absolutely, so Erasure i hear are already working already in a new album, is that correct? AB-Yeah,we've started writing already, 'cause we want to get in practice,'cause we've got a bit lazy with the writing and we just gonna keep doing and doing and doing it.But there's one really good song so far. JM-Excellent so we've not,ah, can we have the title? AB-Oh, I dont know,maybe Saints and Sinners. I'm not sure though JM-Oh, excellent.That's interesting. Alright Andy I think if we're,eh, if we've done I'll thank you very very much indeed, give our love to Vince 'cause I know he's not there with you today, where is he gone? AB-Thank you, thank you, so. He's in Manhattan. JM-Oh,is he? AB-Yeah JM-Moving out there isnt he? AB-Yeah, he's there for a year he's got a green card and he's doing some film courses JM-Fantastic. AB-He's a workaholic JM-Andy I look forward to seeing you in December and then there ".." February next year, thank you very ..Good luck with the new material AB-Thank you JM-Andy, before you go, that's "..." can you just do some voiceovers "..." AB-Yeah,I've got them all here JM-Oh,you've got them all! AB-Yeah JM-Blimey! It's organisation AB-Hello JM-ok, well, whenever you're ready then AB-yeah JM-Thanks a lot AB-Hello this is A... AB-Hello this is Andy Bell from Erasure and you're listening to Lincs FM AB-Hello this is Andy Bell from Erasure and you're listening toTracks FM AB-Hello this is Andy Bell from Erasure and you're listening to Ridings FM AB-Hello this is Andy Bell from Erasure, you're listening to "..." Radio AB-Hello this is Andy Bell from Erasure and you're listening to Fosse Way Radio JM-That's,hang on AB-Yeah JM-That's Foss(e) way Radio, you do that one again? AB-It's "..." It's all no, there's no escape right JM- I can see the phone AB-Hello this is Andy Bell from Erasure and you're listening to Fosse Way Radio AB-Hello this is Andy Bell from Erasure and you're listening to Compass FM JM-Excellent.Would you mind doing just this one more for me AB-Yeap. AB-this is Andy Bell from Erasure wishing Lincs FM a very merry Christmas JM-Yeah, would you mind? AB-Hello this is Andy Bell from Erasure wishing Links FM a very merry Christmas. JM-Fantastic...You get a "..." all day long today now? AB-Yeah JM-Have you? I'm going down to the next one... THE END |
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