“A new bohemia” is currently number one in the UK’s Official Physical Singles Chart which includes sales of CDs, vinyl and other physical formats across a seven-day period. It is also number three in the Official Singles Sales Chart. Links below.
Check out the new “Since 1984” merchandise items which have just been added to the official PSB store, including T‑shirts, a hoodie and a cap.
Recent Pet Texts
The first preview of the Jonathan Harvey/Pet Shop Boys musical, “Closer to Heaven” was performed on this day in 2001 at the Arts Theatre in London, with the official press night following on May 31st. The original cast album was released several months later and is still available on streaming services.
Neil and Chris had originally started writing the musical together with Jonathan Harvey in 1996. “We wanted to write something that wasn’t Les Mis or Rent,” says Chris. “A play about contemporary life with contemporary music that was not long and boring.”
Since its first run of shows in 2001, “Closer to Heaven” has returned to London theatre stages several times, most recently at the Turbine Theatre in 2024. It also premiered in Brisbane, Australia in 2005, in Brighton, UK in 2009 and in Dallas, USA in 2010. And one of its main characters, Billie Trix, returned in 2019 with her own one-woman show, “Musik”, also written by Jonathan Harvey with some new Tennant/Lowe songs.
Next time you’re in a bookshop, look out for “Mighty Real” by Barry Walters, an excellent history of LGBTQ music, its artists and audiences, which includes a chapter on Pet Shop Boys, Dusty Springfield and Liza Minnelli. It was published this week. Neil x
Some signed copies of Pet Shop Boys’ recently published retrospective book, Volume, are available today at Dover Street Market as part of Photo London.
Photography by Jack Ashley
In the latest issue of “Annually”, there’s a history of PSB in 20 objects found in the basement of our studio. Here are three that didn’t make it! Ivor Novello Awards for International Hit of the Year in both 1986 (“West End girls”) and 1987 (“It’s a sin”) and for Outstanding Contribution to British Music (presented in 2000). The awards are presented every year to recognise excellence in songwriting.
Stormzy’s 2019 Glastonbury vest is just one item in the excellent new exhibition, “The Music is Black: A British Story”, at the V&A East museum which has just opened in Stratford, London. Definitely worth a visit! More information at the link below. Neil x
50 years ago today, I went with my friend Eric Watson to see a gig by a new rock group called the Sex Pistols at the Nashville pub in West Kensington. The Pistols were impressive — they reminded me a little of The Ramones whose first album I had heard — but then a member of the audience was beaten up by one of the group’s friends in a horrifying incident. Eric and I left the gig stunned and I wrote a letter to the NME about it. To my surprise, the NME printed my letter as a little news piece with a photo by Joe Stevens. Later in 1976, the Pistols achieved notoriety in a controversial TV interview. A series of brilliant and subversive singles and an album followed which resonate to this day. Neil x
Pet Shop Boys Volume has officially entered the Sunday Times bestseller list at number two. Earlier last week, the book went straight to number one in the UK Independent Bookshop Top 20. Thanks to everyone who has bought a copy of “Volume” so far. xx
If you weren’t able to go to any of last week’s five PSB shows in London, or you just want a memento of those special concerts, “Obscure Pet Shop Boys” merchandise, including a sweatshirt and three different T‑shirts, is now available in the official PSB store at the link below.