A very revealing photograph of Vince Clarke can be found in the book 'Male Nudes' by Rankin, published in October this year. An unclothed Vince is pictured standing outside his shed, arms folded.

'Male Nudes' can be found at all good bookstores, and is also available for order from amazon.com and amazon.co.uk

The Mute Records web site is now holding a competition to win copies of the new Erasure CD, 'Moon & The Sky Plus', autographed by Vince Clarke and Andy Bell.

For details on how to enter, visit the Mute competitions page.

Another of Vince Clarke's side-projects, The RadioActivators, have released their first single.

The release - available only as a 7" vinyl single - is out on Peanut Butter & Jam records through Prime Distribution, and is a limited edition of 1,500 copies.

The single features 'Knock On Your Door', written by Vince with Phil Creswick and with lyrics and vocals by Nigel Lewis [previously only available on the 'Winning London' soundtrack CD] and the previously-unreleased new song 'Bopp', written by Nigel Lewis and K van Green. Both tracks are Eddie Cochran-style classic rock'n'roll, but with Vince's distinctive synthesizer touch.

The single comes in a plain black sleeve. You should be able to find it at any UK record shop which deals in vinyl, and you will be able to order it if it's not in stock.

Alternatively, you can order the single directly from Norman Records.

RadioActivators - Knock On Your Door

Release date: 3rd December 2001
Catalogue number: PBJ001

• Knock On Your Door
• Bopp

Vince Clarke and Martyn Ware have contributed a new, previously-unreleased ambient track to the new album 'Music For The Third Millennium Vol. 3'. The track is another in the same abstract, experimental vein as their work on the 'Pretentious' and 'Spectrum Pursuit Vehicle' albums, but is also very melodic and probably the best track the collaboration has so far seen. It was originally performed at the private concert mentioned on September 10th

The album is a limited edition of 1000 copies and features many luminaries of the electronic music and progressive music scenes, including all-new contributions from former members of Can, Tangerine Dream and Ash Ra Tempel, plus Buggles and Duran Duran.

For more details on the release's tracklisting, and to pre-order the CD [at 10 pounds sterling], visit AMP Records.

Various Artists - 'Music For The 3rd Millennium Vol.3'

Release date: End of 2001
Catalogue number: AMP-CD042

• Robert Schroeder - Sax Delight
• Vincent Clarke & Martyn Ware - Massive
• Damo Suzuki Network - Manager Cinderella
• Geoff Downes - Shadows, Pts. 7 & 6
• Warren Cuccurullo - The Holy Man's Plea
• Alquimia vs Steve Baltes - Encinerada; Total Restructure
• Johannes Schmoelling - Spacenight Runner
• Vidna Obmana - Creep
• Rudiger Gleisberg - Remote Viewing
• Mario Schoenwalder, Detlef Keller & Bas Broekhuis - Wolfsburg Rehearsal
• Harald Grosskopf - Digital Nomad

Finally, the much-anticipated Erasure release, 'Moon & The Sky', is scheduled for release. All details have now been finalised. This release - a special, non-chart eligible compilation of remixes and previously-unreleased acoustic tracks - will be available from the Mute Bank and Amazon.co.uk.

The CD includes remixes by Jason Creasey [whose work with Erasure previously includes the 'Jason Creasey Freedom Of Flight' remix of 'Freedom' plus collaborations with Vince as part of Family Fantastic], the Millionaires, Randy Roger [featuring Erasure's Andy Bell] and the Sleaze Sisters.

The first two mixes include some newly-recorded vocals and a completely new chorus for the song.

'Baby Love' was previously released on the 'Motown Mania' compilation and is included here as a bonus for those fans who have not yet bought that album. The other four acoustic tracks [including fabulous versions of 'Alien' and 'Where In The World', plus the recent Wheatus chart hit 'A Little Respect'] have only previously appeared on a much-sought-after promotional CD single.

In advance of the release date, two sound clips from the CD will be posted every Tuesday at Mute's new Erasure page.

Erasure - 'Moon & The Sky Plus'

Release date: 10th December 2001
Catalogue number: CDLP Mute 248

Formats: CD

1. Moon & The Sky [JC's Heaven Scent Radio Re-Work]
2. Moon & The Sky [The Millionaires Radio Edit]
3. Moon & The Sky [Randy Roger's Ramjet Mix]
4. Moon & The Sky [Sleaze Sisters Anthem Mix]
5. Moon & The Sky [BK Mix]
6. Baby Love [Acoustic Version]
7. Freedom [Acoustic Version]
8. Alien [Acoustic Version]
9. Where In The World [Acoustic Version]
10. A Little Respect [Acoustic Version]

There will also be 12" of 'Moon & The Sky/Perchance To Dream' containing exclusive remixes. It will be available from the Mute Bank and specialist dance shops [under the name 'V & A'].

V & A - 'Moon & The Sky / Perchance To Dream'

Release date: 10th December 2001
Catalogue number: 12 Mute 248

Formats: 12"

• Perchance To Dream [Jason Jinx Remix]
• Moon & The Sky [Murk Monster Mix]

The third and fourth Erasure box sets collect together the Erasure hit singles from the 'Crackers International EP' to 'Star' and from 'Chorus' to the 'ABBA-esque EP' respectively.

Each box set includes all of the tracks from the various UK formats; from the CDs, 7"s, 12"s, LCDs and L12"s, in new, fantastically-clear digitally-remastered sound quality. Some remixes which have previously only appeared on promotional 12"s or non-UK releases have also been included. Many of the tracks included are from rare, deleted releases and have not been previously released on CD.

Both box sets will be available from Mute Bank, online retailers and good music shops. There will be a special discount for people ordering both box sets and the 'Moon & The Sky Plus' EP from the Mute Bank.

Erasure Singles Box Set 3

Release date: 3rd December 2001
Catalogue number: EBX 3
Formats: CD

Crackers International EP

1. Stop!
2. The Hardest Part
3. Knocking On Your Door
4. She Won't Be Home
5. The Hardest Part
6. Knocking On Your Door
7. Stop! [Remix]
8. Knocking On Your Door [Remix]
9. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

Drama!

1. Drama!
2. Sweet, Sweet Baby
3. Drama! [Act 2]
4. Sweet, Sweet Baby [The Moo-Moo Mix]
5. Paradise
6. Drama! [Krucial Mix]
7. Sweet, Sweet Baby [Medi Mix]
8. Paradise [Lost And Found Mix]

You Surround Me

1. You Surround Me
2. 91 Steps
3. You Surround Me [Syrinx Mix]
4. Supernature
5. 91 Steps [+24 Mix]
6. You Surround Me [Remix]
7. Supernature [William Orbit Mix]
8. 91 Steps [6 Pianos Mix]
9. Supernature [Daniel Miller / Phil Legg Mix]
10. You Surround Me [Gareth Jones Mix]
11. Supernature [Mark Saunders Mix]

Blue Savannah

1. Blue Savannah
2. Runaround On The Underground
3. Blue Savannah
4. No G.D.M.
5. Blue Savannah [Der Deutsche Mix II]
6. No G.D.M. [Unfinished Mix]
7. Runaround On The Underground
8. Blue Savannah [Der Deutsche Mix I]

Star

1. Star
2. Dreamlike State
3. Star [Trafalmadore Mix]
4. Dreamlike State [The 12 Hour Technicolor Mix]
5. Star [Interstellar Mix]
6. Star [Soul Mix]
7. Dreamlike State [The 24 Hour Technicolor Mix]

Erasure Singles Box Set 4

Release date: 3rd December 2001
Catalogue number: EBX 4
Formats: CD

Chorus

1. Chorus
2. Over The Rainbow
3. Chorus [Pure Trance Mix]
4. Snappy [The Spice Has Risen Mix]
5. Chorus [Transdental Trance Mix]
6. Snappy
7. Chorus [Aggressive Trance Mix]

Love To Hate You

1. Love To Hate You
2. Vitamin C
3. Love To Hate You
4. Vitamin C
5. La La La
6. Love To Hate You [Bruce Forest Mix]

Am I Right? EP

1. Am I Right?
2. Carry On Clangers [Full Length]
3. Let It Flow
4. Waiting For Sex [Full Length]
5. Am I Right? [Dave Bascombe Remix]
6. Am I Right? [The Grid Remix]
7. Love To Hate You [LFO Modulated Filter Mix]
8. Chorus [Vegan Mix]
9. B3
10. Perfect Stranger [Acoustic]

Breath Of Life

1. Breath Of Life [7" Mix]
2. Breath Of Life
3. Breath Of Life [Accapella Dub Remix]
4. Breath Of Life [Divine Inspiration Mix]
5. Breath Of Life
6. Breath Of Life
7. Breath Of Life
8. Breath Of Life [Stripped Mix]

Abba-esque EP

1. Lay All Your Love On Me
2. S.O.S.
3. Take A Chance On Me
4. Voulez Vous
5. Voulez Vous [Brain Stem Death Test Mix]
6. Lay All Your Love On Me [No Panties Mix]
7. Take A Chance On Me [Take A Trance On Me Mix]
8. S.O.S. [Perimeter Mix]

Vince Clarke has done a couple of remixes of Simple Minds' forthcoming single, 'Homosapien' [formerly a hit for Pete Shelley of The Buzzcocks] currently scheduled for release on December 3rd.

It is very likely at least one of his mixes [produced in collaboration with Mick Martin] will be included on the CD single.

This month's edition of 'Muzik' magazine includes a free cover-mounted CD containing a 58-minute megamix of 53 tracks by various Mute Records artists.

It includes an excerpt over just over 2 minutes of the previously-unreleased 'Murk Monster Mix' of Erasure's 'Moon & The Sky'. However, this mix does not feature many elements of the Erasure track and bears little resemblance to the original song.

Erasure performed a concert at a private function last Monday. The event was strictly for employees and guests of the multimedia company that was holding the event, and so we could unfortunately not announce it in advance or arrange for any fans to attend.

The show was in two parts. The first part, of roughly an hour and a half in duration, was a live performance of ambient electronica by Vince Clarke and Martyn Ware, not dissimilar in style to their 'Pretentious' and 'Spectrum Pursuit Vehicle' albums.

The show was performed using the 3-d Lake Huron surround system utilised on those albums, with Vince and Martyn on a rotating stage at the centre of the performance arena. This set also included a brief rendition of the 'Doctor Who' theme and variations on Erasure's '91 Steps'. Vince was, typically, in drag throughout.

For the second part, of roughly half an hour in duration, Vince and Martyn were joined on stage by Andy Bell. They then ran through a selection of Erasure songs, each one performed against a backdrop of ambient electronica, omitting the drums, the bassline and much of the original arrangements in favour of something more strange and experimental. The songs performed were: 'Alien', 'Sometimes', 'Ship Of Fools', 'Oh L'Amour', 'Stop!', 'A Little Respect' and Yazoo's 'Only You'.

Given the 3-dimensional nature of much of the music, the show could not be conventionally recorded and so is very unlikely to be given a commercial CD or video release. The event was a one-off and there are sadly no plans for Erasure to give a repeat performance, either publicly or privately.

However, given the enthusiastic reception their received and the band's own enjoyment of the performance, it does make the possibility of future Erasure concerts more likely.

Work is well underway on Erasure's forthcoming 'covers' album, with five or six tracks near completion. The album is being produced with Gareth Jones.

The tracklisting has not yet been decided - Erasure will be recording more songs than they need, and only when they have finished recording will they begin choosing which tracks will be included on the album - but it is likely to consist of well-known pop classic and torch songs from the 60's and 70's.

In the past couple of weeks, Vince and Andy have returned to the studio with producer Gareth Jones to begin work on a new album. This new 'cover versions' project - which will hopefully be completed this year - replaces Andy Bell's solo album, mentioned in news items from 20th March and 26th September.

The tracklisting is still being decided, but Erasure hope to have the album completed this year, for release in 2002.

Unfortunately, the release of the 'Moon & The Sky' single has been put back to October. This is because Mute are still in the process of commissioning 'radio mixes' of the song, and are waiting for the best possible mix to give the release the greatest chance of success.

The Erasure Information Service is proud to bring you an exclusive, brand new Vince Clarke track, available only through this web site.

The song is What A Wonderful World, written by Thiele/Weiss and original recorded by Louis Armstrong. This recording, made earlier this year, was produced and arranged by Vince Clarke and Mick Martin, with vocals by Vince's Macintosh.

To listen to the track visit the releases section.

All copyrights regarding this recording are reserved. This track is for Internet streaming broadcast only. No attempt has been made to supercede the rights of others. Recording (c) Vince Clarke & Mick Martin.

A vintage Erasure performance of 'A Little Respect' will be included in the August 1st edition of 'Top Of The Pops 2'.

The new Erasure single, 'Moon & The Sky' has been provisionally scheduled for release on August 27th.

Please note, however, that the release date is very provisional and is almost certain to change over the coming weeks. All the other details about the release [whether it will be a double a-side with 'Alien', the tracklisting, the video, the mixes, possible b-sides etc.] are still very much 'To Be Confirmed'. More details to follow.

Erasure Singles Box Sets 3 and 4 are provisionally scheduled for release this October [however, this is very likely to change].

As with the first two box sets, each box set will contain 5 CD singles, containing all of the tracks from the various UK single formats [7", 12", Limited 12", CD, Limited CD and so on!] in lovely lovely Digitally Remastered sound quality. The booklets will also contain the artwork from the various formats.

Those of you with Erasure discographies to hand or memorized can probably guess much of the tracklisting. Box Set 3 will contain the singles from the 'Crackers International EP' to 'Star' and Box Set 4 will contain the singles from 'Chorus' to the 'ABBA-esque EP'. The latter Box Set may also include some mixes which were previously only released in the UK on promotional 12"s.

There are also *very* tentative plans to re-issue some of Erasure's concert/compilation videos [previously released in the UK by BMG but now deleted]. This may possibly be on another format.

Wheatus' Erasure cover entered the UK chart at number 3. This is, of course, one place higher than Erasure's [far superior] original version.

Vince Clarke and Martyn Ware have collaborated on another musical project, providing some incidental music for a fringe play, 'The Club' at the Old Red Lion [Vince has previously provided music for a theatrical production of 'Rita, Sue & Bob Too'].

'The Club' is a comedy about Australian rules football, written by David Williamson and directed by Jonathan Guy Lewis.

The play opens on Tuesday 10 July and the run continues to July 28th. Tickets are 10 pounds each [8 pounds concessions].

The Old Red Lion is 418 St John St, Islington, EC1. The nearest tube is Angel, and the phone number for bookings is 0207 837 7816.

'Family Fantastic' have recorded a follow-up to the 'Nice!' album. The album, co-produced and co-written by Vince Clarke, is entitled 'Wonderful'.

The album [also mentioned briefly in the Vince Clarke & Phil Creswick interview] contains 11 tracks.

Where as the first 'Family Fantastic' album was recreating new disco hits from the late 1970's, the new album is inspired by the songs of the pre-Rock'N'Roll era; the era of Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters, Peggy Lee, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Perry Como and Doris Day. However, the music itself is modern and has the distinctive and inimitable Vince Clarke synthesizer sound. With the exception of a cover of 'Something Stupid', all of the songs themselves are original.

The album is produced by Vince Clarke and features Daphne Diamond (lead vocalist with Canadian rock band 'Blanche'), James Gray (lead vocalist of UK band 'Miramar'), Phil Creswick (Vince's collaborator on 'Nice!', 'RadioActivators' and former member of 'Big Fun') and Nick Carter (a member of 'Canny' who have remixed Electribe 101).

If you enjoyed Erasure's cover of 'Magic Moments', then this is the album for you.

At the moment [and rather unhelpfully, I know] we don't have any details about where and when the album will be released, or on which labels. As soon as any more information is available on how to obtain this album, we'll update the news section.

The new 'Mary-Kate and Ashley' movie, 'Winning London', includes three Vince Clarke songs on the soundtrack album.

Track 4 on the album is a cover of Depeche Mode's 'Just Can't Get Enough', performed by Sam Walker and previously released in the UK as a single.

Track 13 is 'Treat Yourself' by 'Family Fantastic', taken from the previously-released album 'Nice!'.

However, and most excitingly:

Track 15 is 'Knockin' On Ya Door' by the 'RadioActivators'.

The RadioActivators are another Vince Clarke side-project; the song, co-produced by Vince Clarke, was written by Vince and Phil Creswick with lyrics by Nigel Lewis. It is described as a 'synth rockabilly' track; a combination of late 1950's Eddie Cochran-style guitar Rock'N'Roll and early 1980's synth-pop.

As mentioned in passing in the Vince Clarke & Phil Creswick interview, this RadioActivators track is taken from an as-yet-unreleased 4-track Rock'N'Roll EP.

The film 'Winning London', directed by Craig Shapiro, is also available on video. The soundtrack album [catalogue no. Trauma: B00005ABNO] is currently available from amazon.com.

For more information about the film, and its accompanying soundtrack, visit Winning London.

US band Wheatus' cover of 'A Little Respect' will be released in the UK on July 2nd.

"hi people, just a quick note to say that we're alive & kicking, putting the final touches to a version of Moon & Sky for a possible single release fingers crossed & have done a new track for Maverick to persuade them to give us a release in US fingers crossed.

Vince & I are very well getting our priorities sorted out etc etc & I shall start preliminary work on a solo project, Erasure will continue as normal. lots of love Andy x "

The brand new Mute Bank 'Statement 2' mail order catalogue is now available. For more information see Mute Bank Statement 2.

• Fully updated
• Featuring all available releases on Mute, The Grey Area, The Fine Line, Blast First, NovaMute, Thirteenth Hour Recordings, Future Groove and Mute Film
• Full track listings of albums and singles
• Colour sleeve images
• Artist histories

The catalogue contains full details (including sleeve scans and tracklistings) of all the Erasure (and Erasure-related) releases currently available from the Mute Bank.

The catalogue is 3.00 pounds per copy plus P&P (or 2.55 pounds if ordering from a non-EC country)

Postage & Packing (please add per copy): UK: 1.00 pound; Europe: 1.50 pounds; USA & Canada: 2.00 pounds; ROW: 3.00 pounds.

How to order your copy:
Online
Or send order to: Mute Bank Mail Order, 429 Harrow Road, London, W10 4RE, UK
Or telephone the Mute Bank hotline: ++44 (0)20 8964 0029

Payment Methods (we accept the following):

Credit/debit cards: VISA/Mastercard/Eurocard/AMEX/JCB/Switch/Solo or Cheque/Postal order/International Money Order.

All cheques must be in UK Pounds Sterling, drawn on a UK bank and made payable to 'MUTE BANK'

Channel 4's 'Top Ten Of Electropop' programme (featuring Erasure) has been rescheduled and will not be broadcast on 3rd March, as previously announced. It will now be broadcast on Saturday 7th April.

Vince and Andy are currently back in the studio working on new material. They are recording one (or possibly two) songs for potential inclusion as bonus tracks on a US edition of 'Loveboat'. They have also substantially reworked 'Moon & The Sky' and 'Alien' as possible single releases.

At the moment 'Moon & The Sky' is the favourite to be the next single, though this has not yet been finalised and it has not yet been added to Mute's release schedule.

Similarly, Maverick have not yet scheduled a US release of 'Loveboat' (their decision whether to release it depends, in part, on the new material Erasure are currently working on). If Maverick do decide to release it, there is a strong possibility it may sound significantly different to the current version.

It looks likely that Wheatus will be releasing their cover version of Erasure's 'A Little Respect' as a single later this year. Andy Bell has been approached with regard to doing a remix of the track for the b-side.

Robert Marlow - whose album, 'The Peter Pan Effect', was produced by Vince Clarke - will be making a couple of low key UK concert dates:

20th February The Army & Navy, Chelsmford
1st March The Square, Harlow

He will be performing as part of the synth duo Marlow, who have achieved cult status in Scandinavia.

Marlow have also recently been working with Vince Clarke on a remix of the track 'No Heart' for a potential future single release and have been recording new material with Vince at his dome studio, 37B.

A new album by Vince Clarke and Martyn Ware [Heaven 17/Human League/producer 'I Say I Say I Say'] is due for release on Mute on 4th June. The album, entitled 'Spectrum Pursuit Vehicle', is another abstract, experimental piece of ambient music in a similar vein to their previous collaboration, 'Pretentious'.

The album draws its inspiration from colours and their associated sensations, moods and images, each track evoking a different location and creating the related feelings of beauty, harmony and tranquility in the listener. The album was composed and recorded by Vince and Martyn, with Vince also responsible for programming and Martyn producing.

Vincent Clarke & Martyn Ware - 'Spectrum Pursuit Vehicle' - CD STUMM 194

1. White [You are in heaven]
2. Yellow [You are on a beach]
3. Red [You are in the womb]
4. Blue [You are underwater]
5. Green [You are in a forest]
6. White [You are in heaven again]

Each track is approximately 12 minutes long.

Like 'Pretentious', 'Spectrum Pursuit Vehicle' was recorded using 3-D sound techniques. It was recorded using logic audio platinum, and then spatialized using Animix 3D visualisation software and the Lake Huron 3D audio processor.

The album will be available from good UK record shops and via the Mute Bank. 'Pretentious' [CD STUMM 181] is still availble from the Mute Bank.

New York-based rock band Wheatus' debut album, 'Wheatus', includes a cover of Erasure's 'A Little Respect'.

In a recent on-line interview they were asked about the track by John Marshall; "It's something we all loved in high school but were afraid to admit to liking because it was a dance song. So this is kind of an apology. We're coming clean."

As previously announced, Erasure will be featured in the 'Top Ten Of Electro Pop' which goes out on Channel 4 (UK) at 9 pm on 3rd March.

There is a 3-page interview with Vince Clarke in the new issue of 'Future Music' magazine (cover date February 2001). Vince discusses his affection for analogue synthesizers and the recording of 'Loveboat'. At 4.99, it's quite an expensive magazine; for more details on the magazine, visit the Future Music website.