Pet Shop Boys Community

Call me a fool for not knowing the answer to this pretty tedious techie query but...

When PSB are playing 'live', does anyone know EXACTLY what Neil is hearing in his earpiece? Is it just backing? Backing + his vocal as he's singing it? Or is there a pre-recorded guide vocal in there as well which we (the audience) don't hear?

I know it's a bizarre question - especially the last suggestion - but any thoughts would be welcome.

I was wondering about this too, actually. Certainly after hearing Neil perform "Left To My Own Devices" on Live8... - This must have been his worst vocal performance ever. In general, Neil was singing better and better live, but Live8 was an exception. I wonder if 'monitor' problems were part of the reason.

dVTB wrote:I was wondering about this too, actually. Certainly after hearing Neil perform "Left To My Own Devices" on Live8... - This must have been his worst vocal performance ever. In general, Neil was singing better and better live, but Live8 was an exception. I wonder if 'monitor' problems were part of the reason.

He's hearing a mix of his own voice, the backing tracks, Chris and the other musicians/singers. In programmed songs with parts without rythms tracks, he's also hearing a click track. He doesn't use guide vocals.

It's basically what all musicians/singers hear in their monitors. Some prefer to have their monitor mix from speakers at the front of the stage, other prefer headpieces.