GET ready to relive the electronic 80s as Ipswich Regent announce Erasure on their way to town.The duo are set to take to the theatre's stage on May 13 and tickets for the concert went on sale yesterday.

GET ready to relive the electronic 80s as Ipswich Regent announce Erasure on their way to town.

The duo are set to take to the theatre's stage on May 13 and tickets for the concert went on sale yesterday.

Erasure began when an advert was placed in Melody Maker in 1985. Just weeks later Andy Bell and Vince Clarke had come together to start the journey to pop stardom.

Clarke had already achieved success with Depeche Mode and Yazoo but was looking for some, "magical vocals" to form the duo.

"I left Depeche Mode because the others didn't like me. Then when I heard Andy I knew I had found the right man for the job," he said.

The duo's first album, Wonderland, flopped but as soon as the distinctive sounds of Sometimes hit the airwaves they exploded on to the charts and managed five consecutive number one albums.

During the 90s their success continued and their album, Chorus, hit number one and in 1992 they finally hit the singles chart number one with Abba-esque.

While many of the other bands spawned from the synthesized era faded away, (remember A Flock of Seagulls?), Erasure have stood the test of time.

Now with a new album, Other People's Songs, and the first single, Solsbury Hill, riding high in the charts they are back on tour.

Some may say the 80s was a musical wilderness but Erasure were at least one of the shining beacons. So if you fancy reliving some of the best bits and listening to their latest offerings get down to the Regent.

n Erasure will be at Ipswich Regent on May 13. Tickets are on sale now priced £20 and are available from the Central Box Office, in Princes Street, Ipswich, by calling 01473 433100 or online at www.ipswich-ents.co.uk

Weblink: www.erasure.com