We are very sad to hear that the legendary Frankie Knuckles has died. The word “legendary” is rather overused these days, but Frankie Knuckles was a true dance legend and a pioneer of house music. We were honoured to work with him in 1988 when he did his brilliant dark mix of “I want a dog”. It was so exciting to drive out to Jersey City to hear this mix for the first time in his studio and then drive back to New York with the mix on repeat. We were thrilled with it and included it on our album, Introspective. In 1990 Frankie came over to London to play at Chris’s birthday party at Brixton Academy and enthralled the crowd with his brilliant set. In the early days, House music was referred to as “Chicago House” after the city where it was invented — it was great to visit the city last year and see that a street had been named after the music’s inventor: Frankie Knuckles Way. Love and respect forever. xx
Pet Shop Boys are pleased to announce a series of Dreamworld shows across Europe this summer.
Recent Pet Texts
A brand new “West End girls” T‑shirt designed by Farrow is now shipping as part of Pet Shop Boys’ “Since 1984” range. Available to order exclusively through the official PSB store.
David Bowie died ten years ago today. In a special BBC 6 Music programme, Neil discusses Bowie including PSB’s collaboration with him on “Hallo Spaceboy”. The show is part of a series called “Bowie Forever”. Listen to it now on BBC Sounds.
Day off in Osaka before tomorrow’s show at the World Theatre in Kobe.
40 years ago, on Tuesday, January 7, 1986, “West End girls” hit number one in the UK singles chart and stayed there for two weeks. Neil and Chris performed the song in the number one slot on “Top of the Pops” two days later. It went on to hit the top spot in Canada, the USA, Finland, Norway and New Zealand and was the first of four PSB UK number one singles. In 2020 The Guardian newspaper elected it the greatest UK Number One single of all time.
Two new exclusive PSB “Dreamworld” Japan T‑shirts are now available online and in-store through Dover Street Market Ginza in Tokyo. All details at the link below. Pet Shop Boys perform in Tokyo tonight and in Kobe on Friday.
Neil is recovering well from the virus that led to PSB cancelling their festival show in Tokyo on Sunday. He and Chris are looking forward to tonight’s Dreamworld concert at the Tokyo Garden Theatre and to their show on Friday in Kobe.