Pair have more than A Little Respect for each other’s view

Andy and Vince’s true friendship has kept them strong for past 32 years

Eighties synth pop duo Erasure are heading to these shores next week for three sold out shows.

The pair – singer Andy Bell and keyboardist Vince Clarke – kick off their world tour in Dublin’s

Olympia on Monday night and were originally scheduled to play just one date.

But due to the phenomenal level of interest they added two more dates which were also snapped up in minutes. Fresh from their tour supporting Robbie Williams last summer, where they hit Dublin’s Aviva on June 17, the awesome duo play January 29 - 31.

It’s hard to think of another songwriting partnership as golden as that of Erasure.

For 32 years, without a break or breakup, Bell and Clarke have mined a rich seam of creativity writing over 200 songs and selling 25 million albums worldwide.

Formed in London, the band released their debut single Who Needs Love Like That in 1985.

Following the release of their fourth single Sometimes, the Brit and Ivor Novello Award winners established itself on the Irish and UK Singles Chart and became one of the most successful artists of the late 1980s to mid1990s.

Their strings of hits includes A Little

Respect, Chains Of Love, Ship of Fools and Stop!

The iconic twosome are entering their fourth decade with renewed creative energy.

In an interview last year, Clarke revealed the secret to the band’s longevity: “I really like Andy; he’s a nice bloke. We have very similar views with regard to politics and everything else.

“Also, there are no egos in the band. If either of us presents an idea that the other doesn’t like then we just bin it; no one fights for their corner.”

Following the release of their 17th studio album World Be Gone last year, the duo are prepping to release an alternate, post-classical version of that LP on March 9, re-dubbed World Beyond.

World Be Gone was produced by the band themselves and was recorded shortly after their 30th anniversary celebrations, during which they scored yet another UK Top 10 success with their hits package Always.

For the updated edition, Bell and Clarke teamed up with Echo Collective, a Brusselsbased post-classical ensemble known for their work with Johann Johannsson and Stars of the Lid. World Beyond was recorded in just 10 days with Bell and seven members of Echo Collective.

“The reinterpretations have brought such enormous context to the songs, it has created a new place for them,” Bell commented on the project. Clarke added, “The collaboration has given elements of the album a whole new feel and Andy’s vocals remain as powerful and uplifting as ever.”

Approximate stage times as follows: doors open 7pm, special guests Bright

Light Bright Light around 8pm, with Erasure due to take the stage from 9am till about