Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all Erasure fans! Here is a little x-mas card for you! Stay warm and sweet as you are. And big thanks to all the people who supported this site through the year! See you all in January! To view the card click here.

Original Artwork For "Crackers International" EP - More Stamps

1975	1976	1977

Here is the original USSR series of stamps issued in 1975-1978. One of them (from 1976) was used by Me Company for Erasure's "Crackers International" EP in 1988. The stamps catalog says about this stamp:

"Drawing by G.Komlev. Offset printing on chalk paper. Comb-shaped. Chiming clock of Spasskaya tower at Moscow Kremlin with arrows pointing midnight - a time of New Year's coming. A visit card with the greeting text upon the Kremlin towers and buildings of Moscow background. Pine-tree branch covered lightly with snow. Multi-colour. Circulation 3,4 million issues".

(thanks to Kira Laskari for translation and Truckdriver for help)

Erasure To Headline Hogmanay "Concert In The Garden" Event!

Don't forget that Erasure are to headline this years "Concert In The Garden" event - part of Edinburgh's Hogmanay celebrations!

This spectacular live outdoor event takes place on New Years Eve at Princes Street Gardens (below Edinburgh Castle). "The Coral" and "Franz Ferdinand" will support Erasure at this event.

EIS:
A Year In Review...

January:
- "Solsbury Hill" single released and reaches no. 10 in the UK charts
- "Other People's Songs" album released

February:
- "The Other Tour" starts in the UK

March:
- "The Other Tour" reaches North America
- There is a change of management at the EIS

April:
- "Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me)" released and reaches no. 14 in the UK charts
- TOTP2 Erasure special is broadcast
- Erasure performing "Make Me Smile" is shown on Top Of The Pops
- "Solsbury Hill" is featured on Now 54

May:
- "The Other Tour" continues in the UK
- Erasure perform at G-A-Y
- "Sanctuary The EIS Christmas Concert" released on DVD

June:
- "Loveboat" released domestically in North America by Mute NA
- "The Other Tour" reaches Europe

July:
- "Sanctuary - The EIS Christmas Concert" released on DVD in NTSC format following a successful EIS campaign

August:
- "Hits! - The Very Best Of Erasure" announced

October:
- "Oh L'Amour" released and reaches no. 13 in the UK charts
- "Hits! - The Very Best Of Erasure" album and DVD released in the UK
- Erasure "Hits!.." themed parties held throughout the UK
- EIS site is re-launched
- Mute's first digital single "Oh L'Amour" is released

November:
- Erasure Hogmanay performance announced
- "Hits!.." and "Oh L'Amour" released in the US

December:
- "Hits! - The Very Best Of Erasure" goes gold in the UK!
- Erasure perform at the "Concert in the Gardens" Hogmanay Event

The "Ask Erasure" feature of the EIS website has been updated with Vince's answers to your questions. It can be found on the EIS site here. Remember that if you have any questions you would like to ask Andy or Vince then please send them (with your full name) to this email.

EIS Website Update - Interview Section

Further past interviews have been put up within the interview section of EIS website. The additional interviews can be accessed by using the drop down menu on the right.

TOTP2 - Broadcast Time Confirmed

The repeat of the Erasure TOTP2 special (originally shown at the beginning of this year) is to be shown in the very early hours of Sunday: Sunday 28th December on BBC TWO at 01:50 (UK time).

A Message From Vince Clarke

There is a message from Vince published at EIS forum. Here it is:

"Hello all. Whatever you read or heard I said is all true...and I'm sorry. Thanks for you're continued support!

Vince"

(photo: Emma Joice)

Original Artwork For "Crackers International" EP

EIS forum:
Here is the original USSR stamp issued in 1976 which was used by Me Company for Erasure's "Crackers International" EP in 1988 (thanks to Mikael for this info and scan).

On Friday, December 19th 2003, German music channel Onyx TV is screening the Erasure "Sanctuary - The EIS Christmas Concert 2002" perofrmance from 5 - 7 p.m.

The concert is being repeated in Thursday, December 25th from 7 - 9 p.m. and on Friday, December 26th from 5 - 7 p.m.

Onyx TV is available on German cable networks and digital satellite television (further reception details available here).

Satellite transmission details are below. (Note for readers in the UK - this channel is not broadcast on the Sky Digital service).

Satellite: EUTELSAT Hot Bird 4
Position: 13° East
Transponder: 99
Frequency: 12,692 GHz
Polarisation: Horizontal
Standard: MPEG-2/DVB
Symbol Rate: 27.500
FEC: 3/4

EIS Website Update - Past Interviews

A selection of old Erasure and Erasure related interviews can be accessed here.

Erasure To Record New Album!

EIS:
Erasure plan to go into the studio early next year to start work on a brand new album.

BPI (British Phonographic Industry) confirmed that Erasure's latest album "Hits! - The Very Best Of Erasure" has been certified "gold" in the UK. Congratulations Erasure!

Erasure On Onyx TV

Erasure's "Sanctuary - The EIS Christmas Concert 2002" will be broadcasted by german TV channel "Onyx TV". The first showing will start on Friday 19th December at 17:00 (CET) with repeating on Thursday 25th December at 19:00 (CET) and on Friday 26th December at 17:00 (CET). Actual Onyx TV program can be found here.

Auction for the "American Way" has ended

Charity auction for "American Way" that has featured Erasure lots has ended on Sunday, the 7th. Vince's lot (handwritten lyrics of "Just Can't Get Enough") has been sold for $360 while Andy's (handwritten lyrics of "Piano Song") for $128. Lot of Mute's boss Daniel Miller (also handwritten lyrics) has been sold for $112,5.

New "Oh L'Amour" Promo

Another promo CDR for Erasure's latest single "Oh L'Amour" issued by Mute comes to light. It includes only one track: "Oh L'Amour (Shanghai Surprize Radio Edit)" 3'37''.

Personal details of the new member of "Erasure Rus" (russian Erasure yahoo group) has been added to its microsite. It can be found in the "Russian" half of the site in the "Links" section.

Greg (EIS): "I am delighted to tell you that "Hits! - The Very Best Of Erasure" has just been awarded Gold sales status for the UK! This is excellent news and I'd like to take this opportunity to congratulate both Andy and Vince, and everyone at Mute who helped make this possible. Great going guys!"
This info unconfirmed! According to BPI (British Phonographic Industry) it's still "silver"!

Third "Concert in the Gardens" Band Confirmed

The four-piece Glaswegian band Franz Ferdinand have been announced as the final group to perform at the Concert in the Gardens event, joining The Coral and of course the headline act Erasure.

TOTP2 Erasure Special - To Be Repeated

The TOTP2 Erasure special that was broadcast earlier this year is to be repeated in the UK on Saturday 27th December. Time to be confirmed.

"Ask Erasure" feature

The "Ask Erasure" feature of the EIS website has been update with the latest responses by Mr Bell. It can be found here.

Mute Bank - "Oh L'Amour" Singles Now Available

From today Mute Bank will be selling the "Oh L'Amour" CD singles / DVD single online. More details here. Greg (EIS): "I've been asked to point out that regrettably Mute Bank do not have any of the "Oh L'Amour" slipcases available".

At the moment both Erasure's handwritten lyrics listed at Ebay auction.