Interview: Erasure's Andy Bell on attending the Edinburgh Festival Fringe

• Claire Sawers
• 6 August 2014

This article is from 2014

The vocalist stars in 'raving, sexy' song cycle Torsten the Bareback Saint

One half of synth-pop band, Erasure, Andy Bell is bringing his one-man show to the Fringe, a song cycle about a semi-immortal called Torsten, cursed to love many and get close to none. We talk tartan, stilletos and Madonna with Andy.

Can you sum up your show in five words?
Raving, sexy, bloody good yarn!

For anyone still on the fence, what’s a surefire selling point?
I wear black sequinned hot pants and heelless black crystal stilettos.

What part of the Edinburgh festival do you most look forward to?
Having a wander and delivering my goods.

What part of the Edinburgh festival do you dread?
Drunken crowds.

At the first sign of an August meltdown, what will you reach for?
Whisky single malt.

What other festival shows do you want to go see?
Nancy Dell'Olio and Songs by Madonna.

What will you do on your days off?
Lie in with my hubby then go for a walk after breakfast.

Best Edinburgh memory?
I have two – sitting in the park below the castle listening to the solo bagpiper, and playing two weeks at Edinburgh Playhouse with Erasure in '92 when I was given some Bell tartan, which is sky blue.

Torsten the Bareback Saint, Assembly George Square, 5–16 Aug, 6.30pm, £16–19. Andy Bell’s solo album, Torsten the Bareback Saint (Cherry Red Records), is out now.