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
Recent Pet Texts
Pet Shop Boys enjoyed a hot and sunny start to their “Dreamworld” summer tour over the past week. Thanks to all who danced through the heatwave with us in Taranto, Istanbul and Athens. Next up is Paris on Wednesday, before Chris’s homecoming at Lytham Festival this Saturday. See you there!
Photo by: Release Athens Festival
Wednesday’s concert at Blind Fest in Istanbul was such fun thanks to the fabulous audience.
“Pet Shop Boys projected Pride images onto giant screens, sending a well-deserved salute from the stage to our streets where Pride is banned…. The concert, which began emotionally and romantically, suddenly transformed into the warm, party atmosphere of Ibiza towards the end with the weight of the bass and the magnificence of the lights. The stage was fantastic. Right in the middle of the past and the future, of sadness and resistance; we both danced and felt the power of love and music side by side.” (Review from Radio Cazkolik.)
Now we’re in Athens for our Release Festival performance tomorrow evening.
Photo: Blind Fest
10 years ago today, Pet Shop Boys released “Twenty-something”, the second single from their album “Super”. The video was directed by Gavin Filipiak, who had directed the video of a cover version of “West End girls” by the cholo goth group Prayers. It won the San Diego Film Award for Best Music Video. Link below.
Taranto, Italy, last night. Our first show of the summer and our first visit to beautiful Apulia. Grazie!
Photo: Medimex Music
Pet Shop Boys are looking forward to their Dreamworld summer tour, which begins this Saturday at Medimex Festival in Taranto, Italy. See you there!
Starting today, the newly restored centenary edition of Sergei Eisenstein’s masterpiece “Battleship Potemkin” with music by PSB can be seen in French cinemas for the first time. All details at the link below.
Production rehearsals today for “Dreamworld”. See you soon in Italy, Türkiye, Greece, France, the UK, Germany, Spain, Norway and Denmark. Neil and Chris xx