Erasure are retired from touring, Vince Clarke confirms
Synth-pop duo Erasure have retired from touring, the band’s Vince Clarke has confirmed.
The group, which Clarke formed alongside vocalist Andy Bell in 1985, last performed live in 2025 following a four-year hiatus from the stage, but have no plans to tour again anytime soon.
To mark their 40th anniversary, in 2025, they held intimate events in Edinburgh, London, Manchester and Bristol, which were promoted as “informal evenings which combine elements of conversation and chat with some live performance, while taking some other twists and turns along the way” rather than traditional concerts.
Now, in a new interview, Clarke has confirmed that the band have retired from the road. When asked by The New Cue about his “bravest career decision,” he honestly replied, “To stop touring.”
Clarke, now aged 65, elaborated on the decision, sharing, “What happened was [Erasure singer] Andy Bell and myself, we did these fan shows before Christmas and they were great but… it’s difficult to explain… the simple answer would be is I just don’t want to be really old and going onstage!”
He added, “I just don’t want to do it anymore.”
Although Clarke has retired from touring, Bell revived his solo career in 2025 with Ten Crowns and is also still touring as a solo artist.
Meanwhile, Clarke has formed a new group, Doublespeak, with Neil Arthur and Benge, whose self-titled debut album is set to arrive in May.
Erasure were forced to cancel their 2022 tour, which was intended to take them across the UK, Europe, North America, South America and Asia due to unexpected family circumstances, writing, at the time, “We are very sorry to announce that, due to unexpected family circumstances beyond anyone’s control, we have had to make the extremely difficult decision to cancel the remaining stages of The Neon Tour.”
Clarke’s wife, Tracy Hurley Martin, later died in early 2024 following a battle with cancer. Following her sad passing, Bell led the tributes, sharing on social media, “There are no words. My heart, my soul, and all of my love goes to Vincent and Oscar, Tonya, Michael and Isabelle and all of Tracy’s family and friends. May God bless our precious Tracy.”
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