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WATCH: Erasure taps Amanda LePore, Manila Luzon, Raja and other legends to star in latest video

Amanda LePore, Manila Luzon and Raja in the new video from Erasure
L-R: Amanda LePore, Manila Luzon and Raja (Images: YouTube)

British electronic duo Erasure is gearing up to drop their 18th (yes, 18th!) studio album, The Neon, next week. As a taster, they’ve just released a new track and a video featuring some well-known trans and drag superstars.

“Nerves of Steel” is a classic Erasure song, with a thumping 80s-sounding synth background and Bell’s soaring vocals.

Watch.

The band isn’t featured in the video at all. Instead, it showcases a smorgasbord of drag and trans performers, including Amanda LePore, Raja (RPDR S3), Manila Luzon (RPDR S3), and Morgan McMichaels (RPDR S2).

“This is my favorite track from the album,” Erasure singer Andy Bell said in a statement. “I am truly honored that all our LGBTQIA+ friends were so creative during lockdown and helped us with this joyful video. Thanks for creating such a lovely piece of art!”

One of those included is Nina West (Drag Race S11), who posted her clip to Instagram, saying:

I never thought in a million years that I would ever be in a Erasure video. This is unreal. For all those times i belted out “A Little Respect” on stage or in my shower, or imagined I was a fairy, floating and singing “Oh L’amour”, and even driving to high school in the mornings and jamming out with @meg._it_is_my_name to “Always” – this is a pretty incredible moment. Thank you Andy and Vince.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Erasure has a new video for their new song NERVES OF STEEL and i am in it with a bunch of people i love. Yea. I never thought in a million years that I would ever be in a Erasure video. This is unreal. For all those times i belted out “A Little Respect” on stage or in my shower, or imagined I was a fairy, floating and singing “OH L’amour” , and even driving to high school in the mornings and jamming out with @meg._it_is_my_name to “Always” – this is a pretty incredible moment. Thank you Andy and Vince. Thank you to the director @hammerbrad and @neilblanket and @tylerstonedidthat for including me. Starring these amazing talents! @callher6 @amandalepore @aurorasexton @candiscayne @tastemycaramelle @cheddar_gorgeous @thectct @deltawork @theonlydetox @honeydavenportofficial @lashesandcarcrashes @xtravagram @manilaluzon @theonlymayhem @mercedescp08 @morganmcmichaels @therealpandemonia @pearliaison @sutanamrull @misssherryvine @thewidowvondu #erasure – watch the full video on YouTube!

A post shared by Nina West (@ninawest) on

Related: Travis Scott omits trans icon Amanda Lepore from his album cover

Raja was similarly blown away to be asked, saying on Instagram: “Fourteen-year-old me would never believe I’d be asked to be part of an amazing ensemble of people, in a music video, for #ERASURE !!”

Another, Detox, said, “Erasure has been an integral part of my queer soundtrack from early on and it was a tremendous honor to be included in their new work!”

The full line-up of star-studded cameo appearances runs as follows: 6; Amanda Lepore; Aurora Sexton; Candis Cayne; Cara Melle; Cheddar Gorgeous; CT Hedden; Delta Work; Detox; Honey Davenport; Joey Jay; Kiki Xtravaganza; Manila Luzon; Mayhem Miller; Mercedes Tyler; Morgan McMichaels; Nina West; Pandemonia; Pearl; Raja; Sherry Vine; and Widow Von ‘Du.

The Neon is out August 21.

Related: Manila Luzon schools fragile straight bro at very gay party in ‘Gay Man’

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