For my birthday I treated myself to a CD and DVD, both by the british pop duo Erasure. The CD is an expanded version of their greatest hits and even though I have the first version, I bought the expanded version. The DVD is of their most recent tour supporting their CD, “Light at the End of the World”. The show was filmed live at Royal Albert Hall in England.

Now, Erasure has been around since the early ’80’s. Their formula has not changed much. Big club-style dance songs interspersed with midtempo pop tunes and a ballad or two. It’s been that way through all their 13 studio albums spanning over 20 years. Vince Clark founded the band after having left both Depeche Mode and Yaz (both of which he also founded). Clearly his musical partnership with Andy Bell was what he had been searching for.

In over two decades, they’ve sold over 20 million albums with nary a single personnel change, band break-up, or label change. They’re never in the news for personal dramas such as rehab or other “rockstar” BS. They just write, record, and tour. Vince has married and had a son. Andy has ended a long relationship, been diagnosed HIV positive, and had both of his hips replaced.

I heard them first in early 1986 when I was music director for my college radio station, KACC. I was fairly underwhelmed at the time and didn’t respond to them. A year or so later, I went to see Duran Duran, and Erasure opened for them. Andy Bell walked out onstage at Irvine Meadows Amphitheater in conservative Orange County, California wearing lycra shorts, a pink tutu, and Doc Martins. They KILLED Duran Duran (who were at one time a surprisingly good live act) and I was hooked. I’ve seen them a number of times since (10, I think…).

I was just starting to come to grips with the whole gay thing and Erasure was unafraid. While I loved that Andy was unapologetically gay, I also loved that Vince was unapologetically straight. They obviously enjoyed working together and I thought it was cool that a straight guy and gay guy could be friends and work so closely together and not give a crap about what people might say. I thought it’d be cool to be open and be good friends with straight guys and have them NOT be wierd about me being gay. Twenty years ago, that was unusal. I didn’t think it was even possible. Today, the vast majority of my friends are straight guys. Cool how that turned out, huh?

I didn’t go to the show on the most recent tour so I was curious to see the DVD. It, much like the most recent album, hearkened back to their dance-club past. The set list is full of high energy songs, with only a smattering of slower tunes. Due to the hip surgery, Andy doesn’t move quite as much as he used to. He’s also dropped a bit of the theatrics and is in fine voice. The three female backup singers are a hoot and Vince is his usual, reserved self. The show is big and fun and joyous; which is a treat to watch.

And while the lyrics will never be construed as deep, many of the songs have become more meaningful as they (and I) have gotten older. Some of the slower songs have taken on an aching quality in light of Andy’s HIV diagnosis.

All that is to say that, if you’re lucky, there are bands and songs that follow you throughout your lifetime. Erasure and I have grown up together. Other bands, friends, and lovers have come and gone; but Erasure are still there and still consistently making the music they want to make. I’ve retreated to them often when I need to blast my head open with a kickin’ song with a sing-along chorus. Sunroof and windows open – “Sucker for Love”, “Drama!”, or “Stop” cranked up all the way – sometimes, things like that (and a cold Shiner Bock, of course) are what make the day worthwhile.