Heartfelt Harmony: Erasure Crew Member Jamie Larkins Goes Above and Beyond for Devoted Fan in Touching Backstage Moment…Read More…
MANCHESTER, UK — Amid the glitz, synths, and flashing lights of Erasure’s sold-out “Neon Revival” tour stop in Manchester, a quiet, heartfelt story unfolded backstage — one that didn’t involve chart-topping hits or arena-shaking vocals, but rather, a crew member named Jamie Larkins and a devoted fan named Lucy Hammond.
In a music industry often dominated by spectacle, stories of genuine connection can feel rare — even impossible. But for 22-year-old Lucy, a lifelong fan of the iconic synthpop duo, her experience at Manchester Arena on June 7 wasn’t just about seeing her idols Andy Bell and Vince Clarke perform live. It was about a deeply personal encounter that would leave an emotional mark on her forever.
And it all started with a letter.
A Fan’s Lifelong Journey
Lucy Hammond, a university student from Sheffield, has been listening to Erasure since she was six years old. Her parents, both devoted fans themselves, raised her on a diet of ‘80s and ‘90s synthpop. But Erasure’s music struck a special chord with Lucy from an early age.
“It wasn’t just the melodies — though they’re amazing,” she told SoundPulse UK in an emotional interview the day after the concert. “It was Andy’s voice. His energy. His openness. There was something about their songs that made me feel seen, especially when I was struggling.”
Lucy was diagnosed with social anxiety disorder in her early teens and later faced a series of personal hardships, including the loss of her older brother, who had taken her to her very first Erasure concert when she was just 14.
“Music was our language,” she said, holding back tears. “We didn’t always say much, but when we listened to Erasure together, I felt like we were closer than ever.”
So when Lucy saved up for a VIP ticket to the Manchester stop of Erasure’s latest tour, she decided to write a heartfelt letter — not just to Andy Bell and Vince Clarke, but to the entire Erasure family, including the crew.
“I wanted to say thank you,” she explained. “Not just for the music, but for the whole experience. The lights, the sound, the timing — all the things we fans don’t see, but feel. I wanted them to know it mattered.”
What she didn’t expect was that her letter would find its way into the hands of Jamie Larkins, Erasure’s longtime stage manager and sound tech, and that he would be the one to change her night forever.
Jamie Larkins: The Quiet Backbone of a Touring Machine
Jamie Larkins is not a household name — and he’d prefer it that way. A veteran of the touring circuit, Jamie has been working with Erasure since 2017, quietly ensuring that every microphone is calibrated, every cue hits its mark, and every fan hears the music exactly as it was meant to sound.
“He’s the reason Andy can be Andy and Vince can be Vince on stage,” said tour director Melika Greene. “Jamie’s got this calm, professional energy — the kind of guy who can troubleshoot a blown speaker five minutes before showtime without breaking a sweat.”
But beneath his technical expertise lies a deeply empathetic core. Known among crew and band members as the “crew counselor,” Jamie has a reputation for keeping morale high and tensions low.
“He listens,” Melika added. “Not just to sound levels, but to people.”
So when he saw Lucy’s envelope — handed to a security staffer with trembling hands and marked with the words “To Erasure, with love” — Jamie did something unusual. He opened it.
What he read moved him.
The Letter That Sparked a Moment
Lucy’s letter wasn’t flashy. Written in neat cursive on plain stationery, it told the story of a girl who found light in Erasure’s music during some of her darkest days. It included memories of dancing in the living room with her late brother, singing along to “A Little Respect” with her mum in the car, and feeling brave enough to go to university — in part because Andy Bell once said in an interview that “being weird is the best kind of normal.”
Jamie read it twice. Then he found a seat behind the mixing board and read it a third time.
“I couldn’t stop thinking about her,” he said. “We do these shows night after night, and sometimes the magic becomes routine. But this letter reminded me why we do it in the first place.”
He took action.
With the help of the backstage team and the VIP coordinator, Jamie tracked down Lucy, who was standing quietly near the merchandise stand, unsure if her letter would ever be read.
What happened next was something no one — least of all Lucy — could have scripted.
A Backstage Surprise
About 20 minutes before showtime, a soft-spoken staffer approached Lucy and asked if she would follow her backstage. Lucy hesitated.
“I thought maybe I’d broken a rule,” she laughed later. “Like, was I not allowed to hand out letters or something?”
Instead, she was brought to a small, dimly lit area near the dressing rooms, where Jamie was waiting, holding her letter in one hand and an Erasure tour laminate in the other.
“I just wanted to say thank you,” he told her. “Your words… they meant a lot to all of us.”
According to multiple crew members, Lucy was visibly stunned, nearly speechless. But Jamie gently led her to a folding chair near the side of the stage, where she was allowed to watch the show’s opening number — “Oh L’Amour” — from a spot typically reserved for family or VIP guests.
“I felt like I was dreaming,” she said. “The lights were right there. The sound was so full, so perfect. It was the closest I’ve ever felt to the music.”
But the gesture didn’t end there.
After the show, Jamie returned with a signed setlist, a guitar pick Vince had used during the encore, and a handwritten note from Andy Bell himself.
“Dear Lucy,” it read. “Thank you for reminding us that what we do still matters. You are loved, you are light, and you are never alone.”
The note was folded around a backstage pass stamped “FOREVER FAN.”
A Ripple Through the Tour
News of the moment quickly spread through fan forums and social media. One tweet from another fan who witnessed Lucy being escorted backstage went viral:
“Saw a girl get taken backstage. Thought it was a contest winner. Turns out it was something way more beautiful. Shoutout to Jamie Larkins. This is what music is all about. 💖🎶 #ErasureForever”
The hashtag #ThankYouJamie trended in the UK for over 12 hours.
Tour director Melika Greene said the moment has inspired the crew to initiate a new initiative: “Letters to Erasure,” a project where fans at each stop can submit messages, some of which will be read by the band or crew — and some fans may even be invited for brief meet-and-greets, depending on schedule and venue logistics.
“It’s about connection,” Melika said. “We’re not gods up on a stage. We’re people making music for other people. Jamie reminded us of that.”
A Night to Remember
For Lucy Hammond, the night was more than magical — it was transformative.
“I’ve spent a lot of my life afraid of being invisible,” she said. “That night, I felt seen. Heard. Not just by the music, but by the people behind it.”
She plans to frame the setlist and backstage pass and keep them next to a photo of her and her brother at their first Erasure show.
When asked if she had a message for Jamie, Lucy didn’t hesitate.
“You made me believe that kindness still matters — even in big, busy places. I’ll never forget what you did.”
Leave a Reply