Story behind the "Numb" cover

Message

Pet Shop Girl · #1 Post by **Pet Shop Girl** » Thu 28 Sep 2006, 12:11 am

Taken from the PSB official site:

The photograph on the cover of the next PSB single has aroused curiosity.
We have been asked by several fans about the photograph on the cover of the next PSB single, "Numb". The image was taken by Sam Taylor-Wood in November 2003 and features Chris and Neil seated in a pub (The Jerusalem Tavern in Clerkenwell, London) wearing "Doctor of the Plague" masks bought in Venice.

Originally, "Numb" was going to be on the PopArt album, released at the end of 2003, and the song was planned for a single release early in 2004. Chris and Neil decided, however, to keep "Numb" for their next studio album and stored the photograph for future use. Its time has now come.

Sam Taylor-Wood first collaborated with Pet Shop Boys in 1997 on their "Somewhere" series of shows at the Savoy Theatre in London.

NorthernLad · #2 Post by **NorthernLad** » Thu 28 Sep 2006, 12:38 am

Interesting... I wonder how much of a factor that cover played in its ultimate release as a single. I bet the fact that they were anxious to use that cover was a contributing factor in the choice of "numb" as the 3rd single.

It may have been chosen anyway, but it seems like they were really excited about using that cover, and i must admit - it is rather cool.

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Rent · #3 Post by **Rent** » Thu 28 Sep 2006, 6:28 am

Ooh, now that is interesting to know... Quite a surprise really. Hm.

dVTB · #4 Post by **dVTB** » Thu 28 Sep 2006, 9:02 am

NorthernLad wrote:Interesting... I wonder how much of a factor that cover played in its ultimate release as a single. I bet the fact that they were anxious to use that cover was a contributing factor in the choice of "numb" as the 3rd single.

It may have been chosen anyway, but it seems like they were really excited about using that cover, and i must admit - it is rather cool.

Interesting question... - Perhaps they always wanted Numb to be a single, in order to use this cover. But I also have the impression that shortly after Minimal was released, they were still discussing a third single and hadn't yet decided which song it would be.

Tom Angel · #5 Post by **Tom Angel** » Thu 28 Sep 2006, 11:00 am

It's an amazing photo and the Jeruslalem Tavern is an amazing pub.

I guess it didn't actually have to be Neil and Chris in the masks, but glad it is! This also explains why it doesn't tie in with the video.

Darkmoon · #6 Post by **Darkmoon** » Thu 28 Sep 2006, 11:10 am

No it doesn't.
How much trouble is it to put on a mask and start taping?

bookshopboy · #7 Post by **bookshopboy** » Thu 28 Sep 2006, 12:01 pm

They don't have to tie in... PSB sleeves rarely match their videos.

One of the crowd · Thu 28 Sep 2006, 12:24 pm

bookshopboy wrote:They don't have to tie in... PSB sleeves rarely match their videos.

Indeed, and when everyone reads "Catalogue" you will see how different the sleeves are to the videos.

Nickname · #9 Post by **Nickname** » Thu 28 Sep 2006, 12:34 pm

I think Sam Taylor-Wood was the orgasmic girl of the song "Je T'Aime.... Moi Non Plus". She sang part of the song.

One of the crowd · Thu 28 Sep 2006, 1:13 pm

nickname wrote:I think Sam Taylor-Wood was the orgasmic girl of the song "Je T'Aime.... Moi Non Plus". She sang part of the song.

Sam Taylor-Wood is also Kiki Kokova

! · #11 Post by ! » Thu 28 Sep 2006, 1:43 pm

Tom Angel · #12 Post by **Tom Angel** » Thu 28 Sep 2006, 2:36 pm

RE: How much trouble is it to put on a mask and start taping?

Guess ' ! ' is best qualified to answer that

! · #13 Post by ! » Thu 28 Sep 2006, 3:20 pm

Tom Angel wrote:RE: How much trouble is it to put on a mask and start taping?

Guess ' ! ' is best qualified to answer that

...wait, what the Hell are you goin' on about?

fluffmoln · #14 Post by **fluffmoln** » Thu 28 Sep 2006, 4:36 pm

! wrote:
Tom Angel wrote:RE: How much trouble is it to put on a mask and start taping?

Guess ' ! ' is best qualified to answer that
...wait, what the Hell are you goin' on about?

"Hello Dave..."

! · #15 Post by ! » Thu 28 Sep 2006, 4:51 pm

fluffmoln wrote:"Hello Dave..."

Ah

It's not a mask though.