Pet Shop Boys Community

Nightlife wrote:

Niall wrote:Oi, I am butch, I don't have to pretend.
Someone read the story at least twice

Yeah butcher than Freddie Ljungberg i reckon......

Feck. You made me spill Pepsi on my leg. As if I would know who Pat Butcher is.

Nightlife wrote:Hey Niall you have the damned cheek to go ripping off my signature and being illiterate while you're bloody at it! (cum)

No, I wouldn't suggest it. Liquid paper would cost a little more but it would hide the mistakes better

Niall wrote:No, I wouldn't suggest it. Liquid paper would cost a little more but it would hide the mistakes better

....Try using a sock...

and meanwhile, through all this flirting and talk of socks and liquid paper... We still don't know, how on that fatefull 26th (or was it 20th) of June, our Bigboy got to see Chris Lowe's abdomen....

Nightlife wrote:

Niall wrote:Oi, I am butch, I don't have to pretend.
Someone read the story at least twice

Yeah butcher than Pat Butcher i reckon......

ROTFLMAO!






(on second thoughts: only just )

Niall wrote:

Nightlife wrote:

Niall wrote:Oi, I am butch, I don't have to pretend.
Someone read the story at least twice

Yeah butcher than Freddie Ljungberg i reckon......

Feck. You made me spill Pepsi on my leg. As if I would know who Pat Butcher is.

Freddie Ljungberg? LOL, well that's not hard, is it?



(well, it wasn't when I met him, anyway )

Niall wrote:

bigboy wrote:

Niall wrote:Ok, I give in, I give in, after having my box relentlessly filled with PMS

Makes a change from manmilk, eh?

It may as well be mm if you could see who they were from

Niall, you're as butch as dear old Nelly Tennant, and I'm being polite now, OK?

Who else wouldn't deny being pumped full of the salty stuff and you can't even see who from?

bookshopboy wrote:Sometime I will try and dig up the interview. I think it was around the time of Nightlife or I don't know what you want but I can't give it any more.

Talking about this one?

Boyz 16 July 99


Tennant's extra

The Pet Shop Boys are back. Although, according to Neil Tennant, they've never been away. He talks to Howard Wilmot about drugs, dicks and... er, H from Steps.

Neil Tennant is sitting at home in Chelsea wearing a pair of combat trousers, black Camper shoes and a grey T-shirt with 'X Large' on it. He admits that the label is unfortunately becoming increasingly appropriate.
Chris Lowe, of course. If elsewhere, though for a moment in the pre-interview to-ing and fro-ing, Boyz thought we'd bagged him as well.

While chatting to Boyz, Neil gazes out across his garden. He's awaiting the arrival of a tree surgeon to arrive (sic) and cut down a problematic specimen. And then it's off 'to do the French'. Journalists, that is. Because, yep, after 15 years in the pop game ('West End Girls' first came out in April 1984) and three years since their last album, the Pet Shop Boys are back with a new single, 'I don't know what you want but I can't give it
anymore', a prelude to this autumn's new album, Nightlife, and perhaps a case of the jitters...

Boyz: Do you worry that nobody's going to give a shit this time round?

NT: You do worry about that, but I don't think of it as coming back, because we never go away. We're always doing something: last year I was on the Robbie Williams' single and we did the Noel Coward project. When you bring out a new record, you want to capture people's imaginations.

Boyz: But it's the same record all over again, right?

NT: You can say that about anyone, really. Some people think all classical music sounds the same or that all the Rolling Stones records sound the same. If you play our records back to back, they're pretty different. People think they sound the same because of my voice, so no matter what we do, people always say, 'Oh typical Pet Shop Boys...'

Boyz: Are you 'pop royalty' now?

NT: No. I've always hated the idea of pop royalty. When I was at Smash Hits, I invented the phrase 'like punk never happened', 'cause in the early 80s there was that Culture Club/Duran/Spandau thing going on, and I thouhgt punk rock had got rid of that. I still don't like the idea of a pop aristocracy, with peopole swanning around having their pictures taken outside the Met Bar.

Boyz: But you could be the 'fathers' of pop...

NT: Do you think? When I lok at pop music today, I don't think a lot of it has much to do with what we do. It's all kids from stage schools doing dance routines. Though there's nothing wrong with that, ikt not really about music, it's about showbusiness. We've always set our sights a little higher.

Boyz: So, you're 'artists'?

NT: No, I love being a pop star, but I think we try to develop and invent new ways of doing things - whether it be on the record or at concerts like we did at the Savoy a couple of years ago. It's important to try and do things differently.

Boyz: Do the Pet Shop Boys take themselves too seriously?

NT: No, 'cause we have a very good sense of humour about it, and we have a strong sense of the ridiculous. But of course we take it seriously, but not too seriously. you can't with Chris in the group.

Boyz: Has anything ever been too damn stupid in retrospect?

NT: Not really. When I think of some of the ridiculous things we've done, like making a film, it was a great experience and a film I like. The videos were really good, even if we felt a bit ridiculous doing them. Wearing those big orange wigs for the latest one... that takes a certain amount of courage, but I really like the end result.

Boyz: It's camp and clever, but it's never cheeky or playful

NT: I don't think it's particularly clever, it just gives a different feel to a record. Chris and I have always like to dress up as the Pet Sho Boys, we feel like it's a disguise.

Boyz: So, what's been the Pet Shop Boys' one triumph?

NT: I'm really proud of the collection of songs and albums, though there's the odd record I think we could have done better. But highlights: the number one in America, the shows we did at the Savoy and when we finally do our musical, I think that'll be a highlight. I know Chris would say his highlight was when he went to see the European Cup Final and the whole crowd sang 'Go West' when Arsenal won.

Boyz: Are those the moments when you thought 'this is what being a pop star's all about'?

NT: Oh god, the parties - they're highlights. We had a party in 1989 at Westway studios at the end of our Derek Jarman tour, which was absolutely fantastic. It was listed in Harpers & Queen as the last great party of the 80s. And then we had another great party a couple of years later at Pinewood Studios - unbelievably expensive! I remember being completely drunk and seeing the dawn come up over the pine wood.

Boyz: You've never done drugs?

NT: Never.

Boyz: How come?

NT: It's not the sort of thing one should talk about really. It's a kind of touchy subject really. Clubbing is too much about drugs now. When people are still dancing in clubs at 11 o'clock the following morning, there's something about that which gives me the creeps. I think it's very unhealthy. I have seen people's lives harmed by drugs.

Boyz: So what happens when you're not in the public eye?

NT: I always thought we must be the most visible pop stars in the world! Last night I was in Vauxhall Tavern watching the Divine David.

Boyz: Peole think it's all lazing around on yachts and getting Brazilian rent boys in.

NT: If only that was the case. I haven't been on a yacht in my life. I'm not a very good sailor. I live in London most of the time, but I have a country house in the North East of England where I like to spend a lot of time. I'm often to be found in the theatre, the Departure Lounge in Heaven, the Groucho Club or wandering around Soho.

Boyz: Are you dating?

NT: I'm not. I'm actually in the market for a boyfriend. I like them to be intelligent, with beautiful eyes, skinny, late twenties or early thirties...

Boyz: Are you a size queen?

NT: No, I'm not a size queen, actually. I think all penises look pretty much the same. (laughs)

Boyz: Can I ask if you're a top or a bottom?

NT: Erm, no you can't. It's too personal. But put it this way, I'm not a bottom. (laughs)

Boyz: Has being famous stopped you finding a boyfriend?

NT: I think my own lack of confidence probably hinders it sometimes. I'm not relentless enough in the pursuit either.

Boyz: Ever done Chris?

NT: What, you mean have sex with him? No, never.

Boyz: How about the groupie thing?

NT: (Silence)

Boyz: That's a very long pause for thought.

NT: Sometimes something that starts off like that might not end up like it. But no, I haven't really done the groupie thing.

Boyz: Has Chris?

NT: (laughs) You'll have to ask Chris that and he'll never speak to you, so there you go. He's far too enigmatic.

Boyz: Do you get dirty fan mail?

NT: I get more fan mail from middle-aged women, the same age as me. We do get mail from men who send pictures in, and occasionally we get really weird ones. People send in sexual suggestions, but you have a laugh then throw it away. You can use your imagination.

Boyz: Is being gay still an issue in pop?

NT: I think it must be an issue, or the Steven Gately thing wouldn't have happened. No-one would have cared. I think in Britain it isn't such an issue and the George Michael situation really proved that. He still had fantastic success all round Europe, but in America I don't expect it went down all that well. I think in Britain people expect their entertainers to be homosexual.

Boyz: Do pop stars have a responsibility to be out?

NT: No, not if they don't want to be. I think they have responsibility to themselves really. I'm quite against the idea that people expect celebrities to set an example. You should do what you want to do, what feels right for you, and if people admire you for that, then great.

Boyz: And finally, who's your favourite member of Steps?

NT: H, of course.

Boyz: Why 'of course'?

NT: 'Cause he's bonkers. I like the way he puts his tongue out whenever there's a camera. I saw him at Party in the Park on Sunday, and I love what we call the hair washing dance, I think it's absolutely brilliant.

Boyz: Thanks for your time.

NT: A pleasure. It's off to the French now.

Yes this is the one!

Tom wrote:Boyz: And finally, who's your favourite member of Steps?

NT: H, of course.

Boyz: Why 'of course'?

NT: 'Cause he's bonkers. I like the way he puts his tongue out whenever there's a camera. I saw him at Party in the Park on Sunday, and I love what we call the hair washing dance, I think it's absolutely brilliant.

H from Steps

ever done drugs?
no

Ever done chris?
No

tsk!
Now... the abs story perhaps... Bigboy?

Tom wrote:Neil Tennant is sitting at home in Chelsea wearing a pair of combat trousers, black Camper shoes and a grey T-shirt with 'X Large' on it. He admits that the label is unfortunately becoming increasingly appropriate.

See? I told you Nelly was a fatty!

'Cos it sure aint referring to his crotch area

bigboy wrote:

Tom wrote:Neil Tennant is sitting at home in Chelsea wearing a pair of combat trousers, black Camper shoes and a grey T-shirt with 'X Large' on it. He admits that the label is unfortunately becoming increasingly appropriate.

See? I told you Nelly was a fatty!

'Cos it sure aint referring to his crotch area

And that was a good 5 years ago!

But apparently that realisation didn't really make him change his eating behaviours...

Leave my Neil alone, damn you!

Too bad I'm too young for him, according to that interview.

PigletWildebeest wrote:ever done drugs?
no

Ever done chris?
No

tsk!
Now... the abs story perhaps... Bigboy?

What abs story? I'm far, far too busy reading the interview and laughing at all the porkies from that porker!

mantooth wrote:Leave my Neil alone, damn you!

Too bad I'm too young for him, according to that interview.

And because we love him so much, here's the other Boyz interview.


BOYZ weekly, June 97

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Neil Tennant was interviewed in 'Boyz' this week (mid June). here's how it
went.

...
The Pet Shop Boys are back with a show and a new single. Neil Tennant
talked to Simon Cage.

SC> Is the story about you and Chris meeting in an electrical store in
the King's Road true?

NT> It is true, yes.

SC> So, who cruised who?

NT> I wouldn't put it like that.

SC> Why would you not put it like that? Two men meet in a shop, that's
cruising, isn't it?

NT> I didn't regard myself as gay at the time actually. In fact, I'd just
finished going out with a girl. This is a long time ago, sixteen years
ago. So I'd just finished with what I now know with hindsight to be my
last ever relationship with a girl. So I didn't consider myself to be
gay then.

SC> So did Chris help you in any way to come to... I don't want to say
come to terms, 'cause I hate that...

NT> I'm just thinking about that question.. erm, in so much as he's
always been a good friend.

SC> Have you ever fancied him?

NT> Well, I'm, not going to answer questions like that.

SC> Why? You're no fun. Everyone else fancies him, you must.

NT> Is he still the number 7 most fanciable man in the country or
whatever?

SC> He's probably gone up.

NT> Someone pointed out that list in your magazine. I think he was quite
chuffed, when he was number one anyway.

SC> When you came out, did the reaction of the public change at all?

NT> I don't think so because I think most people thought I was gay anyway
so I didn't really... It's a very difficult thing to gauge though,
isn't it, reaction of the public.

SC> It seemed like you were reluctant to come out for some reason. What
was the reason?

NT> I always thought that from just before I left Smash Hits I was pretty
out in my personal life. When we became pop stars I didn't want to be
out simply because I thought it was more interesting not to be.

SC> So do you regret having come out?

NT> No, I don't regret it at all. But as one of the Pet Shop Boys I do
feel pigeon-holed in a way. Do you think that's true? But then you
probably always thought I was gay anyway.

SC> You said that I should ask Chris about his own sexuality, but he never
does interviews does he?

NT> No, that's the problem with that one really.

SC> Won't he let you speak on his behalf?

NT> No, most definitely not.

SC> On stage you're the singer, so obviously you're going to be in the
forefront. But does he tend to hang back a little.

NT> Oh, he's deliberately gone about being the Pet Shop Boys in a way that
means he can go unrecognised in everyday life, which by and large he
can do as long as he doesn't wear a baseball cap and dark glasses. He
has to put those on to do the Pet Shop Boys thing really.

SC> Clear up the hamster stories.

NT> The hamster story is... I personally don't believe anyone's evr put a
hamster up their bum. Chris and I had some friends who worked in a pet
shop in Ealing and they used to be referred to as the pet shop boys
and we used to say that they should start a group 'cause it sounded
like a rap group. There were B Box Boys and the Peech Boys and the
Beastie Boys were just coming up then. Do you know anyone who's ever
done that? Have you ever met anyone in your own life who's done that?

SC> No, but I lead a very sheltered life.

NT> I'd be very surprised. You've got to laugh anyway, if that's what
people think we get up to. We're animal lovers, we wouldn't do
anything like that. You thought it was Chris did you?

SC> Well, you know what a dark horse he is. So your idea of a video is to
get Bruce Weber to take you somewhere exotic with lots of Brazilian
boys and they have to get undressed and get in the bath and things...

NT> It's always his idea. He did 'Being Boring' and 'Se A Vida E'. 'Being
Boring' was done in a freezing cold house in Long Island in the
winter. We just had this party going on for about 8 hours and we had
these two camera crews, which is why it looks so pretty, it was really
quite natural. It was just all these models...

SC> ...Jumping on trampolines naked...

NT> ...Getting changed into clothes and having a bit of a party. And the
'Se A Vida E' shoot was great too, in the swimming pool. But I didn't
really fancy anyone there, if that's what you're thinking.

SC> You're a bit hard to please.

NT> I think they probably look better on film.

SC> You know what they say: 'Picky, picky, don't get no dicky'.

NT> Well. You get what you want though, don't you. It's better to get what
you want than something you don't want.

SC> I can't imagine not wanting someone in one of those videos.

NT> Oh, I didn't say 'Being Boring', just 'Se A Vida E'.

SC> Do you do that then? Do you get the boys after filming's finished?

NT> No I don't. Well, I mean...

SC> You wouldn't want to rule it out?

NT> No. I certainly wouldn't rule it out.

SC> Are you courting at the moment?

NT> No, I'm not actually. Not that I would use the word 'courting' anyway.
I just recently finished a relationship with someone.

SC> Was that your idea, or his?

NT> Erm, that's a good question. It was mutual.

SC> So you don't feel dumped or anything?

NT> Oh no, quite the opposite.

SC> So, you did dump him?

NT> No, I didn't really. No, I don't want to say that because he'll
probably read this. We're still very good friends.

SC> That's what they all say.

NT> I think it's quite interesting 'cause I think when you have been out
with someone - I know it's not the case with everyone - but I always
tend to stay friendly with people when I've been out with them. It
becomes like an extended family.

SC> It's easy if you dump them, but if they dump you, sometimes it's too
humiliating to be friends.

NT> I think with relationships, you both tend to know really, don't you?
It's different if you shag someone twice and think oh God, I'm bored
to death with you now, but that's not really a relationship anyway,
is it?

SC> You didn't have a relationship till really late on did you? Why were
you such a late starter?

NT> In the 70's I was officially straight and had two long affairs with
two girls who were really nice. I'm still friends with one of them.
That went on till just after I met Chris actually. Then I, as you put
it, came to terms with it all. Then we became famous. And I had sex
with people sometimes but I didn't meet anyone, to be honest.

SC> Were you looking for someone?

NT> Yeah, I was. There was someone I went out with for a while, but it all
went a bit weird.

SC> Is it difficult to have a relationship with you now 'cause everyone's
going to feel a bit like Mrs Neil Tennant?

NT> I do think there is that actually. Sometimes I realise why pop stars
go out with models.

SC> 'Cause they're gorgeous?

NT> One, 'cause they're gorgeous. If they are gorgeous in real life and
not just in photographs. But also because when you go out with a pop
star you become their boyfriend, and you lose your identity. Most
people in my experience find that frustrating after a while. And most
people just assume that you are a kept man.

SC> And it must be such a risk when you start a reltionship with a pop
star that your whole life changes for the better and you're going to
all these glamorous things...

NT> If that's important to you. I think that's a novelty that wears off
very quickly.

SC> But you stand to lose a lot if you start a relationship with someone
and your lifestyle changes in whatever way and then you've got to go
back if it finishes.

NT> I don't think you should look at it like that. I think you have to
look at someone as a person and not as a glamorous way of life. If I
go out with someone, I join their way of life too. It's a two-way
thing, isn't it?

SC> So you end up down the chip shop?

NT> Quite likely. Actually, it would never be a chip shop 'cause I don't
like fish and chips. You know, you're in Amalfi on Old Compton Street.
I don't always like pissy expensive places anyway. I'm quite happy to
be in the kitchen cooking, or at someone else's house with a bottle of
wine.

SC> So what are you looking for in a young man?

NT> You assume that they're young. I'm looking for someone who is
intelligent, doesn't just relate to me as a pop star, is a fun-loving
person but not a clubaholic - someone who is just occasionally in bed
before five o'clock in the morning. Someone who has got nice eyes,
smiles a lot, is affectionate...

SC> Aaah. And what age range are we looking at?

NT> I think we're looking over a wide age range. From 24 to...

SC> Very precise, 24.

NT> Not a student.

SC> Students need not aplly.

NT> Up to my age. Not older than me.

SC> You don't want a daddy.

NT> No I don't, actually. Also I don't want to be a daddy to them, to be
honest.

SC> That sounds easy. You could get that.

NT> I'm not really looking, to be honest. The other one only finished
recently.

SC> You don't want to let the grass grow under your feet.

NT> I'm not a serial monogamist.

SC> Are you going out sowing wild oats until the next one comes along?

NT> Who knows?

The show Somewhere is playing at the Savoy Theatre until 21 June. The
Single 'Somewhere' is released on 23 June.