Erasure, the iconic synthpop duo consisting of Andy Bell and Vince Clarke, have just announced that they are cancelling their upcoming 2023 tour. This news will surely come as a disappointment to their legions of dedicated fans who were looking forward to seeing them perform live. In this article, we’ll take a look at why Erasure have made the difficult decision to cancel their tour and what it means for their fans.
Background on Erasure
For those unfamiliar, Erasure first burst onto the music scene back in 1985 with their debut single “Who Needs Love Like That”. The duo of Bell and Clarke quickly became synonymous with catchy synth hooks and flamboyant live performances. Over the course of their nearly 40-year career, Erasure have released 15 studio albums and had major hits with songs like “A Little Respect”, “Chains of Love”, and “Always”. They’ve sold over 25 million albums worldwide and are widely regarded as synthpop pioneers. Their devoted fanbase, often referred to as Erasureheads, have followed the band faithfully throughout their long career.
The 2023 Tour Announcement and Ticket Sales
Erasure announced the North American leg of their 2023 tour back in April, much to the excitement of fans. The tour was scheduled to kick off on January 31st in Miami and continue through until March 15th, with stops in most major cities across the US and Canada. Tickets went on sale shortly after the announcement and were quickly snapped up by eager fans who had been waiting for years to see Erasure live again. Multiple shows sold out within minutes, underscoring how in-demand the band still is after all these years.
Why Did Erasure Cancel the Tour?
Andy Bell’s Health Issues
The primary reason given for the tour cancellation was lead singer Andy Bell’s ongoing health issues. In a statement, Bell revealed that he continues to experience throat problems and his doctors have now recommended an extended rest period from touring. Specifically, Bell stated: “I’m so sorry to have to announce the cancellation of our 2023 North American tour dates. I’m still experiencing some ongoing issues with my voice and my doctors have recommended I continue resting my voice. I’m so upset to be disappointing our fans, but I’m determined to be back on stage with Vince as soon as possible.”
Clearly, Bell’s persisting vocal troubles are severe enough that singing on a lengthy tour could risk permanent damage. While fans may be disappointed, it’s understandable that at age 58, Bell needs to be careful not to aggravate his voice issues.
Vince Clarke’s Shoulder Injury
The other factor behind the cancellation is an unexpected shoulder injury sustained by Vince Clarke. The keyboardist apparently suffered a torn rotator cuff and will require surgery and extensive physical therapy. Touring entails lots of travel and heavy equipment hauling, which Clarke would not be able to manage while recovering from surgery.
In the statement, Clarke said: “I’m absolutely gutted that we’ve had to cancel this tour. I was really looking forward to seeing our wonderful fans across North America again. I recently tore my rotator cuff and will require surgery and physical therapy. I’m determined to get back in top shape so we can get back out on the road as soon as possible.”
So while Bell’s voice issues may have been the primary catalyst, Clarke’s injury made it logistically impossible for Erasure to commit to a lengthy tour at this time. The duo simply wouldn’t be able to deliver the high-energy shows their fans expect.
How Fans Are Reacting to the Cancellation News
As expected, hardcore Erasure fans are quite disappointed that the shows have been scrapped. However, most seem to be sympathetic about the health factors and are sending well wishes to Bell and Clarke around their recoveries. Here’s a sampling of fan reactions across social media:
Understanding but Upset
Many fans expressed understanding mixed with frustration, like this Twitter user:
“I’m upset the tour was cancelled of course but Andy and Vince’s health comes first. Get well soon!”
And this Instagram commenter:
“Ugh, I’m so bummed I was waiting all year for this! But I hope Andy’s voice and Vince’s shoulder heal quickly. We’ll be anxiously awaiting the re-scheduled dates!”
Cracks About Their Age
Some fans made jokes related to Erasure’s advanced age, like this Facebook post:
“Bell & Clarke are no spring chickens anymore I guess! Get well soon guys so you can shimmy across stage again.”
And this tweet:
“Vince tore his rotator cuff?? Andy has voice issues?? I guess Erasure is officially old now, ha! But seriously get better dudes, we still need our synthpop fix!”
Anger and Demands for Refunds
However, some angry fans vented frustration and demanded ticket refunds, like this irate Instagram user:
“This sucks! I already booked flights and hotels. Erasure better refund everyone’s tickets ASAP, they should have known about these issues before announcing a tour.”
And this fuming tweeter:
“No way, they can’t just cancel the whole damn tour! After making us wait years?? I want my money back!”
So reaction is mixed, but leans towards understanding for the unavoidable health setbacks. Still, some fans will surely be requesting refunds in light of the cancellations.
Will the Tour Eventually Be Rescheduled?
According to Erasure’s statement, they do hope to reschedule the North American tour dates once Bell and Clarke are back in touring shape again. However, no specific timeline was given.
It may take quite awhile for Bell’s vocal cords to sufficiently heal to endure a lengthy tour. As for Clarke’s shoulder, the typical recovery time for a rotator cuff repair is between 4-6 months. And that’s not factoring in the demanding physicality of touring. So it could be 2024 or later before Erasure are realistically able to tour North America again.
In the meantime, we likely can expect new music from the duo, and possibly some one-off shows in between rest periods for Bell. But their dedicated fans will have to wait patiently for a proper Erasure tour to return.
Past Erasure Tour Cancellations
This unfortunately isn’t the first time health issues have forced Erasure to cancel tours over the years. Let’s look back at some previous scrapped tours:
The 2018 Tour
Erasure were supposed to tour in celebration of their album World Be Gone in 2018, but were forced to cancel on doctor’s orders after Bell contracted a severe chest infection.
The 2011 North American Tour
Dates in 2011 supporting their album Tomorrow’s World were cancelled due to Bell straining his voice on the prior European leg.
The 1997 European Tour
Bell’s ongoing struggle with chronic fatigue syndrome caused a full European tour in 1997 to be scrapped.
So while disappointing, Erasure fans are somewhat used to tours being cancelled due to unpredictable health factors. Most continue to stand by their favorite synthpop duo.
Comparison of Erasure’s 2023 Tour Dates vs. Past Tours
To provide perspective on how long Erasure’s now-cancelled 2023 North American tour was scheduled to be, here is a comparison of the number of dates versus some of their past tours:
Tour | Number of Dates |
---|---|
2023 North American Tour (cancelled) | 32 |
2022 UK/European Tour | 39 |
2019 The Neon Tour | 40 |
2014 The Violet Flame Tour | 42 |
As we can see, the planned 2023 North American tour spanned a fairly typical number of dates for an Erasure tour. At 32 shows over 2 months, it would have been an ambitious undertaking. While not as lengthy as some previous outings, it still required stamina that Bell and Clarke currently lack due to health woes.
Should Erasure Retire from Touring?
Given the recurring need to cancel tours for medical reasons, some Erasure fans are suggesting it may be time for the duo to retire from touring entirely. However, others argue that as long as the demand remains strong, Erasure should continue playing live as long as they physically can.
Reasons Some Fans Want Them to Retire
– Avoid further tour cancellations that disappoint fans
– Bell’s voice continues to be unreliable
– Avoid risking permanent damage to Bell’s vocal cords
– Clarke’s shoulder injury indicates age is catching up
– Their health and well-being should take priority
Reasons Some Fans Want Them to Keep Touring
– Erasure still delivers amazing shows when healthy
– Fans don’t want to miss chance to see them live
– Future tour could be promoted as a “Farewell Tour”
– Musicians like touring and interacting with fans
– Retiring feels final and melancholy
There are persuasive points on both sides of the debate. Ultimately Erasure themselves will decide when it’s time to stop touring based on their personal health factors. They still have a core base of ultra loyal fans who will support them either way.
Conclusion
While the cancellation of the 2023 North American tour is disappointing for Erasure fans, it’s an understandable consequence of the health struggles faced by Andy Bell and Vince Clarke. Their devotion to delivering a high-quality live show for fans means they won’t tour again until fully recovered. Bell needs extended vocal rest based on doctor’s orders, and Clarke is awaiting shoulder surgery.
Fans are largely sympathetic about the cancellation news, though some frustration remains. It may be quite some time before a make-up tour can be scheduled, but Erasure has committed to hitting the road again once able. In the meantime, they will hopefully continue making new music. Despite being synthpop legends, Bell and Clarke are still human and are dealing with the impacts of aging and injuries. Their fans continue to wish them well and will eagerly await their next chance to see them back on stage once the duo have fully recuperated.