“…government exists to serve and respect the people and can only do so by trusting the people; that every individual has the right to privacy and that personal information is exactly that — personal; that every individual has a right to justice — access to proper representation, to know the evidence against them, and be punished only if a normal court of law has decided the law has been broken; that every individual has the right to communicate, move about, assemble and express him or herself without the state obstructing, interfering with or monitoring those activities; that government and the state are not the same thing; that good government is only possible when these liberties are respected and government is fully accountable to the people.”
Excellent article by Henry Porter in today’s Observer newspaper about civil liberties under attack in the UK. Link below to the full text.
Pet Shop Boys are happy to announce their first “Dreamworld” UK headline show for the coming year at Lytham Festival on Saturday, July 4 2026.
Recent Pet Texts
He’s 66 today. Happy Birthday, Chris!
Photo: Tate Modern
“Musik” by Jonathan Harvey with songs by Pet Shop Boys, starring Frances Barber as Billie Trix and directed by Terry Johnson, is opening soon at Wilton’s Music Hall in London! The first night is on Tuesday, October 14th and it runs until October 25th. Tickets are selling fast — check out the link below.
Neil was recently interviewed for “Music, Money & Mayhem”, a new BBC podcast series that chronicles the collapse of EMI Records and the struggle to save it. The first episode is now available on podcast platforms, with new episodes releasing every Monday.
Composer Sven Helbig (who PSB worked with on “The Most Incredible Thing”, “A Man from the Future” and several other projects) will present the UK premiere of his new “Requiem A” on Saturday, October 4th, in London. Sven will be joined at Westminster Central Hall by famed opera singer René Pape, the London Contemporary Orchestra and no less than four choirs! Full details and ticket information at the link below.
A few weeks ago, during the double PSB-screening event at BFI Southbank, I joined film writer/director Paul Tickell on stage to discuss making “It Couldn’t Happen Here” and writing the score for “Battleship Potemkin”. The conversation and the Q&A that followed it are now available to watch on YouTube at the link below. Neil x
The legendary Russian superstar, Alla Pugacheva, now living in exile, has spoken out against Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. If only more prominent Russians showed the same courage! Full details at the Substack link below.
