Pet Shop Boys Community

From Billboard

http://www.billboard.com:80/bbcom/news/ ... 1003314421

October 25, 2006, 11:10 AM ET

Gary Graff, Detroit
It may not be their very next project, but Pet Shop Boys have a different kind of dance music in mind for a future endeavor. "I think we'd quite like to write a ballet," says keyboardist Chris Lowe, who formed the group in 1991 with frontman Neil Tennant. "We've got an idea for one, and we know a ballet dancer in London who wants us to do something, so that might happen."

"They always seem to take quite awhile to come together, though. We're very good at spending a lot of time working on something that's not going to bring us financial reward," he adds with a laugh.

The ballet idea comes amidst a busy year for the Pet Shop Boys. The duo -- who are currently touring North America -- released their ninth studio album, "Fundamentalism," in June along with this month's U.S. release of the two-CD compilation "PopArt: The Hits" and the live DVD, "Concrete: In Concert at the Mermaid Theatre."

A book, "Catalogue," was recently published, chronicling the visual component of Pet Shop Boys' career (including CD packaging, Christmas cards and fan club materials), while England's National Portrait Gallery has commissioned an exhibit dedicated to the group.

Pet Shop Boys also remixed Madonna's hit, "Sorry," for club play and produced two songs for British superstar Robbie Williams new album -- including, ironically, his remake of the My Robot Friends' song "We are Pet Shop Boys."


"We still love creating and making music, and we're not struggling to do it," Lowe explains. "It's not difficult for us. We haven't reached a cul de sac or anything like that. And we still have a lot of music in us, I think."

Pet Shop Boys have also done film scores (for the 1925 silent film "Battleship Potemkin") and collaborated on the limited run British stage play "Closer to Heaven." But don't ever expect a "jukebox" musical crafted from the group's songs, ala ABBA's "Mama Mia" or Queen's "We Will Rock You."

"No, we don't want to do the greatest hits show," he says. "That doesn't appeal to us in any way at all -- which is a shame, 'cause that might make money."

"I think we'd quite like to write a ballet," says keyboardist Chris Lowe, who formed the group in 1991 with frontman Neil Tennant.

An electronic ballet would be quite cool I think - would certainly attract a whole new audience to the genre!!

Oh well, at least they're trying to diversify.

I'd still prefer a brand new album though. But what the hey, 'tis their career so why not.

gareth wrote:An electronic ballet would be quite cool I think - would certainly attract a whole new audience to the genre!!

just like an electronic musical did?

ahh..so psb were formed in 1991. we better hunt down the clone shop boys where are they hiding?

boyjohn wrote: The duo -- who are currently touring North America -- released their ninth studio album, "Fundamentalism"

That's not quite right either. He didn't do his research. I'd take this with a pinch of salt.

stoo wrote:"I think we'd quite like to write a ballet," says keyboardist Chris Lowe, who formed the group in 1991 with frontman Neil Tennant.

I know....geez, Billboard! They are usually so anal about figures and stuff...PSB's in Detoit right now...

transforce wrote:

boyjohn wrote: The duo -- who are currently touring North America -- released their ninth studio album, "Fundamentalism"

That's not quite right either. He didn't do his research. I'd take this with a pinch of salt.

I just read that, too. Again, every experience I've had reading Billboard, they've been correct on everything and tend to include a lot of their own stats!

Actually, if you read the article as it appears on the Billboard site, they corrected those mistakes.

Never mind, read this....

and the live DVD, "Concrete: In Concert at the Mermaid Theatre."

MotherF! "Concrete" is a CD set, not a DVD! In fact, they didn't record it with video cameras, correct?

I like ballet's more than I like Musicals.

Maybe they could perform it themselves.

I think its cool and I have no problem with it at all! It would not be a traditional type of ballet I am sure. There are all sorts of different, modern type of ballets.

Rent wrote: I'd still prefer a brand new album though.

Isn't 'Fundamental' still a brand new album?

Hmm, cool. I think they could make a really good job of that. Electronics + orchestra again probably.

Neil knows his Stravinsky pretty well I think - "I feel like taking all my clothes off, and dancing to the Rite of Spring..."

boyjohn wrote:It may not be their very next project

Phew! Hopefully their next project is a new album or EP...

This could be interesting, as long as the music is more Battleship Potemkin and less Closer to Heaven then I'm sure it'll be great.