Back after a lengthy time away from the gigging scene, Erasure are set for a big night at Bedgebury Pinetum. Neill Barston casts an eye on the multi-million selling pop duo’s career.

With their combination of mesmerising synthesisers and unashamed love of melody, there’s little doubting Erasure’s way with a pop song.

These past four years have seemed a little duller for their absence as both Andy Bell and keyboard ace Vince Clarke found time to breathe with their own solo projects.

But their welcome return with a string of summer dates includes only their second visit to Kent to play Bedgebury Pinetum. Their last outing in the county was at Folkestone’s Leas Cliff Hall way back in 2003.

The duo’s Total Pop tour sees them supported by Sophie Ellis-Bextor.

They will be doing exactly what it says on the tin, unleashing more than two decades’ worth of memorable hits. From the pure 80s pop of Respect, Victim of Love and Sometimes, to their near chart-topping high camp take on Abba’s Take A Chance On Me, they’ve enjoyed an impressive tally of more than 20 million album sales.

Of course it wasn’t always so, as both Vince and Andy did their fair share of time in their early bands. That is until the ambitious young keyboard ace Vince came to the nation’s attention as the brains behind Depeche Mode and later forming Yazoo with Alison Moyet.

“I’d followed Vince’s career avidly and was a great fan of Alison Moyet and Jimmy Somerville,” recalled Andy.

“I carried on making music with my friend Pierre from my previous band and had a bar job and a part-time job at Debenhams and a sandwich shop. One day, when we were listening to Alison Moyet’s first album, my flat-mate said 'next year this is going to be you’. He was always a bit psychic.

“I was getting a bit bored with the music because we weren’t doing any gigs so I decided to look in the music press and look to join another band. Then lo and behold it was my hero Vince Clarke looking for a singer. It was fate ... I got the job and was put on a £150 per week retainer.”

Clearly, the financial rewards are a little weightier in the 21st century, yet it seems he’s lost none of that early enthusiasm.

While there may be some distance between the Peterborough-born singer’s recently adopted home of Hastings and US-based Vince, their friendship remains strong.

Quite what the man behind the keys makes of his bandmate’s latest project is anyone’s guess. But it’s sure to be intriguing viewing this month seeing Andy featuring alongside Kent’s Bucks Fizz star Cheryl Baker and X Factor winner Joe McElderry in ITV’s new Popstar to Opera star series.

Having one of the most respected voices in pop, he’s sure to be in with a chance of winning but, in the meantime, there’s the small matter of the Forestry Commission tour to contend with, which includes Bedgebury.

“This wonderful opportunity to perform for the fans in such a unique backdrop feels like just the right way to jump back in to Erasure after a four- year break,” said Andy.

Erasure perform at Bedgebury Pinetum on Saturday, June 11.