Erasure's Andy Bell has told his fans that he is HIV-positive but stresses that he is, nevertheless, in good health. Writing on Erasure's website Bell says: "Being HIV-positive does not mean that you have AIDS. My life expectancy should be the same as anyone else's, so there is no need to panic. There is still so much hysteria and ignorance surrounding HIV and Aids. Let's just get on with life."
He has known about his HIV status since Jun 1998 when doctors diagnosed him as such during a bout of pneumonia. He says he has chosen to make his condition public now because he's got an album to sell and the column inches will come in handy. No, hang on, perhaps it was because he plans to take part in a programme to educate young people about HIV and AIDS next year - yeah, that was it.
Bell adds that he is undergoing drug-combination therapy and that he is feeling better than ever. Certainly he does not intend to let the fact he is HIV positive affect his work schedule as Erasure prepare to release that new album 'Nightbird' next month and then embark on a European Tour in the Spring.