Exciting to meet everyone involved in the new Rambert dance production of Russell T. Davies’ TV drama, “It’s a Sin”, before rehearsals started yesterday. The production opens at Manchester’s Factory International in February before beginning an extensive tour. Tickets are on sale now — link below.
Pet Texts
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Pet Shop Boys feature in the October issue of ZEITmagazin MANN.
In the accompanying interview, they reflect on their career, their approach to songwriting and their thoughts on contemporary pop music.
Interview: Johannes Dudziak, Christoph Dallach
Photography: Nadav Kander
Styling: Julian Ganio
Pet Shop Boys’ new album, “A man from the future”, honouring the work and life of Alan Turing is number 19 in this week’s official UK album chart and number 6 in the physical albums chart. The album has also so far charted at number 8 in Germany, 7 in Belgium and 12 in Switzerland. Thanks to everyone who’s supported the album and given it such a warm reception.
Parlophone are investigating production issues which have unfortunately created problems with certain tracks on the “A man from the future” Blu-ray. PSB have just been made aware of these and apologise for the disappointment caused. Once these issues are resolved, Parlophone will manufacture and distribute replacement discs to those who have purchased the Blu-ray. Details on how to apply for a replacement disc will be shared as soon as we have them.
Pet Shop Boys’ single “DJ Culture”, co-produced by British dance music duo Brothers In Rhythm and mixed by Stephen Hague, was released 35 years ago today. Explaining the lyrics, Neil said that “just as in DJ records everything is sampled to sound authentic, so in a lot of aspects of modern life – for instance in politics – it is almost as though attitudes are sampled.” These photos were taken by PSB photographer and friend, Eric Watson, during the “DJ Culture” sleeve session in 1991.
Very happy to read the first “A man from the future” album reviews and all your kind messages this week. x
Neil will be visiting Durham Book Festival this Saturday, where he will talk to Durham University chancellor Fiona Hill about how growing up in Newcastle shaped his life as a musician. The conversation is part of Fiona Hill’s “Forged in the North” podcast series and will also be live-streamed at the link below.
Thanks to the Imperial War Museum, Manchester, for hosting last night’s “A man from the future” playback and then a discussion with us and Andrew Hodges, excellently chaired by Jonathan Swinton (author of “Alan Turing’s Manchester”). We’re excited that the album is released today and you can all hear it!
Photo: Vita Spalding
Thanks to Ian McKellen for introducing us at the Attitude Awards in London last night with a wonderful speech! We’ve known him since we made the “Heart” video in 1988 and it was lovely to see him again. x
Photo: Vita Spalding
In a new BBC Bitesize interview, PSB and Andrew Hodges discuss their new collaborative album, “A man from the future”, which is out this Friday, and share the advice they would give their younger selves. Neil and Chris also remember their first days at school and explain how the technology that Alan Turing pioneered is at the heart of the Pet Shop Boys sound. Available to watch in the UK and to read at the link below.
The original cast recording for “Closer to Heaven” by Jonathan Harvey and Pet Shop Boys was released 25 years ago this week, following several months of shows at the Arts Theatre in London throughout 2001. The musical features Frances Barber as Billie Trix and has since returned to London theatre stages several times, most recently at the Turbine Theatre in 2024.
Pet Shop Boys would like to thank Stuart Maconie for giving “A man from the future” its world premiere on BBC 6 Music tonight. The album was played back in full, while Neil, Chris and Andrew Hodges enjoyed chatting to Stuart about Alan Turing, Kraftwerk and the Beatles, among other things. Available to listen via BBC Sounds.
Happy Birthday, Chris!
Photo by Eva Pentel
In advance of Sunday evening’s broadcasts of “A man from the future” on Radio 6 Music and Radio 3, BBC 4 TV in the UK tonight will be showing three PSB shows: “Pet Shop Boys at the BBC”, “Reel Stories” and “Radio 2 in the Park” (2024 PSB concert). And streaming on the BBC iPlayer is the 1997 film, “Breaking the Code”, a factual drama about Alan Turing. Links below.
Last night I went to a preview of Es Devlin’s spectacular exhibition at the Design Museum in London. Her career as a magical artist and designer of theatre, music shows and events is brilliantly laid out (and includes some of her designs for us). The show opens on Friday — link below. Neil x
(Photo with Nick Rhodes, Sadiq Khan and Es by Angela Becker.)