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
Recent Pet Texts
We are delighted to learn that the distinguished theatre director and playwright, Terry Johnson, will be directing the revival of “Musik”, starring Frances Barber, which opens at Wilton’s Music Hall in London on October on October 14th. More information at the links below.
Photo: The Guardian
Thanks to the BFI for hosting a double-PSB screening of “It Couldn’t Happen Here” and “Battleship Potemkin” yesterday, including a conversation between me and film writer/director Paul Tickell. The restored print of “Battleship Potemkin” is a revelation and it was nice that “It Couldn’t Happen Here” got a much warmer reception than it did from critics on its original release in 1988! BFI blu-rays of both films are available now. Neil x
Photo: JW
A year ago, Pet Shop Boys released a souvenir clip from their intimate show at Funny Girls club in Blackpool, in which the audience provided the vocals for “It’s a sin”. Some fans have made a video adding phone footage to PSB’s video of that performance and it’s now available to watch on YouTube.
Sandringham, Durham and Warwick: a wonderful finish to the festival season! Thanks to all Dreamworld audiences in Europe and the UK for joining us on tour this summer. Pet Shop Boys are continuing their Greatest Hits Tour in Japan in January 2026.
Photo: Adam Kennedy
We had a fantastic show at Warwick Castle last night, the last of the summer tour. We’re so lucky to tour with these wonderful people! And we’ll be getting back together in Japan in January. Thanks to everyone who came to one (or more) of our concerts this year. And of course thanks to our crew. Neil & Chris xx
Photo: Chris Heath
“Battleship Potemkin” with music by Pet Shop Boys opens in selected cinemas in the UK and Ireland for the first time today. To mark its centenary, Sergei Eisenstein’s legendary silent film was restored by Deutsche Kinemathek. A full list of UK cinema dates is available on the BFI website at the link below.
Nice review in The Times newspaper for “Battleship Potemkin” and the PSB score. The film is showing in selected UK cinemas from today.