I've always been highly suspicious of their story.
So... two random gay guys strike up a conversation in an electronics shop and then Chris comes back to Neils flat to 'play on his synthesiser'. Convincing. When have you EVER known anything like this to happen in real life?! Londoners dont even acknowlegde each others existence in public places.
I know what you mean but remember this was back in 1981 when society was quite different. During my early years on the planet (the 80s) it wasn't uncommon for strangers to strike up conversation in random places or say "good morning" to people passing by just as a matter of politeness.
Nowadays - and particularly in London, where you can feel like the tiniest fish in the biggest ocean if you don't have many acquaintances - approaching strangers can be a bit odd.
Anyway, wasn't it the case that Neil had to wait around for a bit while his synth was being mended? If so, I don't see why he couldn't have simply struck up an innocent conversation with Chris just to pass the time.
London was a city of 10 million people back in 1981 and it is now. Society was not that different, except homosexuality was a little more underground than it is now (hence the story about meeting in an electronics shop, because for a pop duo in the 80's to have met in Battersea Park whilst cruising probably would not have gone down too well).
Economic depression doesnt make people buy expensive electronic music equipment, and then meet random gay people, and then invite them back to 'play on your synthesiser'.
We need to get real here. And even in the unlikely event that Neil did strike up a ramdom conversation with someone else who just 'happened' to be gay, he was probably thinking with his c*** at the time.
Janet Street-Porter wrote:In 1981 the UK was still in recession. Music shops were often located in public toilets to save on building rents so it is conceivable that both versions of the story are correct.
Certainly Vince Clarke met Andy Bell in similar circumstances. Andy was returning a leotard to the costume hire shop when he struck up a conversation with Vince who had nipped in for a quick pee.
Nah, Vince auditioned for an Alison Moyet clone and fell in love with Andy's falsetto.
amandote wrote:Congrats PSB!!! We love you!
I wonder where is that famous electronics shop located...
Inside some 80's sleazy gay bar's toilet cubicle.
Janet Street-Porter wrote:In 1981 the UK was still in recession. Music shops were often located in public toilets to save on building rents so it is conceivable that both versions of the story are correct.
LOL. These are the funniest posts I've read in a while.
I remember this being discussed on the net several years ago, cant remember where, and people were arguing the same points. Someone was suggesting maybe they recognized each other from gay bars and that's how they ended up chatting. This what I always assumed. I don't think anyone was buying the idea that they just went back to Neil's flat for an innocent jam session and then became best pals, I know I never did. But the idea that the electronics shop story is totally made up never crossed my mind until now.
I remember Neil saying that Chris rang him up a few days after they met in the shop and that is when he first came round to his flat. Nice to see it was Chris doing all the chasing!
"It´s fundamental that we do only exist in our own universe. When you like Pet Shop Boys, you are in our world. This is absolutely crucial to our entire outlook...what we do has an incredibly strong identity and applies only to us. It´s a case of not recognising the existence of anybody else!". Neil Tennant.
that Chelsea Audio Store frontage is just a ruse, once you go inside it's a bar/club for men who like men, and should anyone not in the know go in there everything transforms into a hi-fi shop, rather like that scene in Bugsy Malone (not that that film was set in a audi store)
Still waiting to hear the Adam Freeland, Manhattan Clique and Axwell mixes of Integral.
Dipso wrote:I remember Neil saying that Chris rang him up a few days after they met in the shop and that is when he first came round to his flat. Nice to see it was Chris doing all the chasing!
Was it Chris then who was attracted?
Interviewer:
-What would you tell someone about yourself if you wanted to impress them?
I assume Chris either recognised Neil from Smash Hits (can't remember if Neil already was on SHs) or Neil name dropped a couple of his 'acquantencies' so Chris thought 'what the hell, I may as well shag this queeny bloke and maybe he'll help me get somewhere in the music business'.
Flaffer wrote:that Chelsea Audio Store frontage is just a ruse, once you go inside it's a bar/club for men who like men, and should anyone not in the know go in there everything transforms into a hi-fi shop
