Erasure's Andy Bell: "My Voice Is Stronger Than Ever"

"I believe I would make a very convincing Russian gangster."

Rocks Off went around asking every person in the entire world and found that there are in fact no people anywhere who do not like synth-pop superstars Erasure.

There was one guy in Sweden who said he was kind of on the fence about liking them, but in the end he admitted he dug "Chains of Love," so there you go.

It's been a while since the band has been on the road, but singer Andy Bell is making a special trip down to H-town this weekend for a little DJing and solo performance at Numbers.

Erasure has a big year coming up, with a brand new studio album in the works, a world tour after that, and a March appearance at the Ultra Music Festival. Even with all that going on, Bell was kind enough to sit down with us for a brief interview.

Rocks Off: We're told you're playing The Ultra Music Festival this March. Big deal, that. Every electro-band who's anybody will be there. Are you looking forward to it?

Andy Bell: I'm so looking forward to getting back on the road again properly. It'll be nearly four years and I'm starting to get serious withdrawals. I think it is in the blood of a performer. No matter how hardened and seasoned to the touring you are after a while it just calls you back and it is impossible to retire!

RO: Are you looking forward to seeing any other acts?

AB: I'm really looking forward to seeing Royskopp. Especially Simian Mobile Disco and Deadmau5. Also Klaxons, Cut/Copy and Crystal Castles.

RO: Will you be showing off any of the new album at the festival?

AB: We may have just one track, but we are slightly up against it at the moment. I know Vince [Clarke] is doing brand new updated versions of everything, which I can't wait to hear because I've been enjoying his recent remix work very much.

RO: Your next upcoming series of tours is a concert series in various forests in the U.K. What are you putting together for that?

AB: We decided to get together one of the very first Erasure teams, which is Andy Whittle, his wife and backing singer Emma, her sister Valerie Chalmers, and of course Mr. Clarke. So it's gonna be a bit of a lovefest. My voice is stronger than ever, and I am very fit so far.

Costume-wise, we've been thinking Knights & Jean D'Arc. Even though we are in the woods with all our electronic equipment our philosophies are very pagan, so expect Pogles Wood meets Midsummer Night's Dream.

RO: Any chance you'll bring the show over here?

AB: We hope to take it as far and wide as possible, so if we get a good offer from Houston we'll be ther