From the British music industry journal, “Music Week”: Pet Shop Boys are facing a close battle with Ronan Keating as they look to score their first number one album in the UK in more than 15 years. The duo’s new Parlophone-issued album “Yes” is presently around 1,200 units ahead of Keating’s Polydor release “Songs For My Mother”, according to early retail reports, but the story is made more complicated by the PSB album having accidentally ended up on iTunes three days early last week. It is understood around 2,500 sales of the album achieved on the Apple site following its premature release there last Friday will not count towards this coming week’s chart as they will be recognised as sales from last week instead. Pet Shop Boys, who won the outstanding contribution award at this year’s Brits, have only topped the albums chart once before. “Very” reached number one in October 1993.
Recent Pet Texts
This Saturday 2 August, the independent cinema The Ultimate Picture Palace in Oxford will be screening two Jack Bond films, “It Couldn’t Happen Here” featuring Pet Shop Boys and “Separation”. All details on the double feature at the link below.
Last week, the Durham Miners Brass band and fellow street bands delivered two excellent performances of the PSB songs “Suburbia” and “It’s a sin” at the Durham Brass Festival. 🏳️🌈 Pride joined the Durham Miner’s Gala for the very first time this year, alongside Lesbians and Gays Support The Miners (LGSM) and the DMA brass band. Both performances are now available to watch on YouTube at the links below.
Later tonight… Our fourth show this summer in Spain! Back in the UK next week.
Earlier this year, I joined Johnny Marr and his wonderful band on stage at the Hammersmith Apollo to sing “Rebel Rebel” and “Getting away with it”. Both songs are available to stream now and will also feature on Johnny Marr’s new live album, “Look Out Live!”, which is out on 19th September. Neil x
“Self Titled”, the acclaimed new album by poet/rapper/novelist/playwright Kae Tempest, features a collaboration with Neil Tennant. His vocals can be heard on the track “Sunshine on Catford”. Listen now at the YouTube link below.
Last night in Viareggio.
Nice to be back in Italy! Concert in lovely Lucca tomorrow. Neil x
