Further info on the origins of Pet Shop Boys

[james23_uk]

A fascinating thread on the Facebook group PSB, Please... The Hangout https://www.facebook.com/groups/407773683771029

Someone who knew Chris and Neil before they became famous with some more info on the origins of the name.

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[innerxsanctum]

Not to be rude, but why should we take his word at face value? Does he have proof that he was a friend of Chris? Literally anyone can claim to be a friend or an acquaintance, especially during the pre-PSB era.

[james23_uk]

Not to be rude, but why should we take his word at face value? Does he have proof that he was a friend of Chris? Literally anyone can claim to be a friend or an acquaintance, especially during the pre-PSB era.

Yeah, he has an early 80s mix tape written out by Chris.

[leesmapman]

I would like to know the tracklist of that tape. Has he posted that?

[james23_uk]

I would like to know the tracklist of that tape. Has he posted that?

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[leesmapman]

A Bobby O mixtape, cool. Still amazing they ended up working with him.
I'm recreating the tape right now. I think he made a mistake: "All guys are the same" is actually called "All the people are the same".

[nonesuch]

The OG PSB - so cool.
Thanks for posting the story here.

[Sandy Shaw]

I did at one point within the last 5 years or so send a few messages back and forwards to either Michael or one of the other two original pet shop boys when I stumbled across him talking about it on Facebook. I've left the messages on another device, so they're lost for the time being at least.

[petshopgrrl]

I would like to know the tracklist of that tape. Has he posted that?

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Ooh look, the original Try It, that PSB would themselves cover 20 years or so later!

What a fascinating story - thanks for posting, @james23_uk!

[Nickname]

A fascinating thread on the Facebook group PSB, Please... The Hangout https://www.facebook.com/groups/407773683771029

Someone who knew Chris and Neil before they became famous with some more info on the origins of the name.


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Fun to see that.

Jimmy Somerville was over there. There was a rumour about him being taking part of PSB in the late 80's or 90's. There was a time Jimmy was moaning about why some artists didn't get out of the closet like him and people started to think he was talking about Pet Shop Boys. Now we could understand why he knew they were gay.

I love Jimmy's music and voice which is more gay than Neil's voice and it was quite difficult.

After having collaborations with Boy George and Marc Almond, it's strange PSB haven't done anything with him. You know, between the big gay pop names from the 80's.

[leesmapman]

Fun to see that.

Jimmy Somerville was over there. There was a rumour about him being taking part of PSB in the late 80's or 90's. There was a time Jimmy was moaning about why some artists didn't get out of the closet like him and people started to think he was talking about Pet Shop Boys. Now we could understand why he knew they were gay.

I love Jimmy's music and voice which is more gay than Neil's voice and it was quite difficult.

After having collaborations with Boy George and Marc Almond, it's strange PSB haven't done anything with him. You know, between the big gay pop names from the 80's.

You forgot last year's remix of Bronski Beat's Why, where Tennant provided some spoken word.

[Nickname]

A fascinating thread on the Facebook group PSB, Please... The Hangout https://www.facebook.com/groups/407773683771029

Someone who knew Chris and Neil before they became famous with some more info on the origins of the name.


z128.jpg

Fun to see that.

Jimmy Somerville was over there. There was a rumour about him being taking part of PSB in the late 80's or 90's. There was a time Jimmy was moaning about why some artists didn't get out of the closet like him and people started to think he was talking about Pet Shop Boys. Now we could understand why he knew they were gay.

I love Jimmy's music and voice which is more gay than Neil's voice and it was quite difficult.

After having collaborations with Boy George and Marc Almond, it's strange PSB haven't done anything with him. You know, between the big gay pop names from the 80's.

You forgot last year's remix of Bronski Beat's Why, where Tennant provided some spoken word.

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True, it was such a tiny thing I had forgotten.

[nonesuch]

It's interesting how they went from a friendly to a somewhat antagonistic relationship with Jimmy. It seems to be water under the bridge now.

I was looking for another article and stumbled across this tidbit from Neil in May 1984:

And the Pet Shop?
That's a club that exists purely in the mind of Chris. It comes from an imaginary place full of cages in which customers sit and watch the band. The band being The Pet Shop Boys of course.

https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Nu ... 26-OCR.pdf

[Gabby]

It's interesting how they went from a friendly to a somewhat antagonistic relationship with Jimmy. It seems to be water under the bridge now.

I was looking for another article and stumbled across this tidbit from Neil in May 1984:

And the Pet Shop?
That's a club that exists purely in the mind of Chris. It comes from an imaginary place full of cages in which customers sit and watch the band. The band being The Pet Shop Boys of course.

https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Nu ... 26-OCR.pdf

Looks like a little bit of fun journalist fabrication more than a quote from Neil (or the Boys messing with the journalist for a joke).

I read a few other tidbits - the story about New Order waiting until everyone had left the gig venue before coming on to do an encore was something I've never heard before - very New Order but I take it with a grain of salt since none of the members seem to have mentioned that amusing anecdote in their respective memoirs.

[MikeyC]

A fascinating thread on the Facebook group PSB, Please... The Hangout https://www.facebook.com/groups/407773683771029

Someone who knew Chris and Neil before they became famous with some more info on the origins of the name.


z128.jpg

Fun to see that.

Jimmy Somerville was over there. There was a rumour about him being taking part of PSB in the late 80's or 90's. There was a time Jimmy was moaning about why some artists didn't get out of the closet like him and people started to think he was talking about Pet Shop Boys. Now we could understand why he knew they were gay.

I love Jimmy's music and voice which is more gay than Neil's voice and it was quite difficult.

After having collaborations with Boy George and Marc Almond, it's strange PSB haven't done anything with him. You know, between the big gay pop names from the 80's.

He didn’t “moan” about it. He was an activist and it was a challenging time. x