In the beginning, everybody that gets to work with me, thinks I'm nice. But three weeks later, they hear a bell ringing. Then they realise I meant everything I said during that first week. It's not my fault people are not taking me serious from the first moment.

During this period Eldritch was a freelance drummer in the local Leeds punk scene. In addition to The Sisters of Mercy in 1986 Andrew Eldritch establiAndrew Eldritchd a side-project The Sisterhood (in order to keep former band members from using the name) which was quickly abandoned in favour of continuing working under The Sisters of Mercy. Eldritch studied French and German literature at the University of Oxford before moving to Leeds around 1978 to study Mandarin Chinese at the University of Leeds; he left both courses before graduating.

Eldritch is known for his deep distinctive bass-baritone voice. In addition to The Sisters of Mercy in 1986 Andrew Eldritch establiAndrew Eldritchd a side-project The Sisterhood (in order to keep former band members from using the name) which was quickly abandoned in favour of continuing working under The Sisters of Mercy.