Erasure Picnic

Erasure Picnic is an Instagram blog dedicated to the pop duo Erasure. The blog features Erasure pictures, videos, clippings, and deep dives into moments in the band's history. It aims to celebrate the music, iconography, and activism of the band - in other words, to give them a little respect.

Why did I start this blog?

The short answer

I started Erasure Picnic for three reasons:

To process, interpret, and share what I learned in my collection of Erasure interviews;
To express my enthusiasm for Erasure in an environment that would be receptive towards it (aka, to get out all my Big Erasure Feels);
To connect with other fans.

The long answer

I discovered Erasure through an online radio station around 2016, but fell deeply in love with them in late 2021 (thanks to a lovely friend who flipped me onto them). When I fall in love with a band, I want to know everything about them. I start collecting anything I can find - and I have a special love for interviews. Turns out, Erasure have done hundreds of interviews over the course of their career, so I had a lot of digging to do.

The more I dug, the more amazing the band seemed to me. I was discovering all these incredible anecdotes, quotes, and moments in their career. My brain was buzzing, and I couldn't stop thinking about them. I needed a place to process everything I was reading, organize my thoughts, and get them out to an audience who would be interested. Hence, Erasure Picnic was born.

Why do I love Erasure?

I love their music. I find it soothing, uplifting, and personally meaningful. I'm a big fan of Vince Clarke's synths, and I find they pair so beautifully with Andy Bell's words, vocals, and melodies.
I find their story fascinating, for a number of reasons.
- I'm intrigued by the element of fate that drew them together. I agree with Andy that they were destined to meet, and I think it's so interesting that they almost met in 1982 but didn't. What could have been?
- Before Erasure, Vince Clarke was known as someone who didn't like collaborating on songwriting, playing live, or sticking with a band if things didn't go his way - and after Erasure, all of that changed. How did that happen? I enjoy putting the pieces of that puzzle together, and seeing how Vince's working style morphed after meeting Andy.
- The fact that a quiet, spotlight-shunning, straight musician like Vince took a chance on a spiky young gay singer who wanted to be out in 1985 is something that continues to amaze me. Vince encouraged Andy to be himself, to be open about being gay, and I love that Andy felt free to be himself with Vince, as this is what made their art and activism so powerful.
I admire them as people. Their openness, activism, and kindness to fans makes me happy.

Resource Links for Specific Posts

June 21, 2024 - The Multisexuality of Erasure

April 28, 2024 - Permanent Record Podcast

April 28, 2023 - The Roxy (Erasure Firsts)

April 17, 2023 - Sean Hayes (Artists Influenced by Erasure)

April 2, 2023 - Erasure Interactive Press Kit

March 31, 2023 - "The Best"

March 20, 2023 - "Andy Bell is Torsten"

March 17, 2023 - "Ship of Fools" moodboard

March 10, 2023 - The "Vince is a puppet" reel

March 6, 2023 - "Fingers and Thumbs", Top of the Pops

February 23, 2023 - Erasure Música y Amigos

What is Erasure Picnic?

Why did I start this blog?

The short answer

The long answer

Why do I love Erasure?