It is 14 years today (February 19th) since the death of Derek Jarman, the director of such celebrated films as “Sebastiane”, “Jubilee” and “Edward II”, and tonight at 10 pm the British TV channel More 4 will be showing a new film, “Derek”, celebrating his life and work (including the PSB collaborations) made by the artist, Isaac Julien. Jarman directed the videos for Pet Shop Boys’ singles, “It’s a sin” and “Rent” and in 1989 staged and created film backdrops for Pet Shop Boys first tour. Isaac Julien’s film will also be the centrepiece of an exhibition opening this week at the Serpentine Gallery in London. Click on the links below for more information.
UPDATE: Just added below is a link to one of Derek’s last public appearances at the Clapham Grand in 1993 introducing a benefit concert by Suede. Neil Tennant and the writer Jon Savage are sat just behind him.
Remembering Derek
Pet Shop Boys’ “Se a vida é (That’s the way life is)” was released as a single on this day 30 years ago. A video for the song was filmed at the Wet ‘n’ Wild theme park in Orlando, Florida, directed by photographer and filmmaker Bruce Weber who also made the videos for “Being boring” and “I get along”.
Recent News
A special double feature of the PSB film “It Couldn’t Happen Here” and the centenary version of Sergei Eisenstein’s “Battleship Potemkin” with the Pet Shop Boys score will be shown on October 11 at the Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle.
Neil Tennant is coming to Durham Book Festival on Saturday 10 October to talk to Fiona Hill about how growing up in Newcastle shaped his life as a musician
Pet Shop Boys are about to play four dates in four days in Germany, starting in Mönchengladbach this Friday and continuing at Berlin’s Waldbühne on Saturday.
Pet Shop Boys are pleased to announce DJ support acts for their “Dreamworld” shows in Germany this summer.
Pet Shop Boys’ “Since 1984” range has just been updated with new items, including three “Suburbia” and “Leaving” T‑Shirts and a “Since 1984” sweatshirt.