Go searching and also you simply might end up amid a Pet Store Boys renaissance.
In fact, the English duo — consisting of Neil Tennant, 69, and Chris Lowe, 64 — by no means went anyplace. They’ve been steadily placing out music since their landmark 1984 debut, Please, which immediately established them with timeless songs like “West Finish Ladies” and “Alternatives (Let’s Make A number of Cash).”
However Pet Store Boys’ deep catalog has been plundered lately in all places from Madison Avenue (“Alternatives” confirmed up in a Tremendous Bowl advert for Allstate) to Hollywood (a number of classics had been used to great impact in two of final 12 months’s zeitgeistiest films, Saltburn and All of Us Strangers). Their signature sound is instantly in all places — wistful and longing, danceable and intellectually subtle synth-pop. Their fifteenth studio effort, Nonetheless, drops tomorrow and options extra of that infectious trademark music.
Tennant and Lowe sat with The Hollywood Reporter lately to relive their headiest profession moments — from basking within the glow of the neon Pet Store Boys billboard that when adorned Sundown Boulevard to their days sipping tea at The Savoy with the Rat Pack.
That is such an thrilling second for me. You guys are like my Beatles. The soundtrack of my life.
NEIL TENNANT Oh, God.
CHRIS LOWE Wow. That’s going within the press launch.
Proper earlier than the pandemic, you introduced the tour with New Order. I purchased tickets, after which increase, all the pieces shut down. Did the primary single from the brand new album, “Loneliness,” come out of that interval?
TENNANT “Loneliness” was truly the final observe written for the entire album. So it was on the finish of the COVID-19 pandemic, across the finish of 2022. But it surely’s undoubtedly the one most affected by COVID, by the isolation. Chris despatched me the observe, which is basically fairly “up” sounding, and I’d already written this lyric about “the place you’re going to run to now from loneliness” in my pocket book. And so I simply began to sing it to the refrain half and that simply crammed all of it in, actually. It’s traditional Pet Store Boys in that it’s a contented observe with a tragic lyric. But it surely’s fairly a defiant lyric, as effectively. It’s attempting to assist somebody.
In some methods it jogs my memory of one other Pet Store Boys music, “I Don’t Wanna,” which can be a music a couple of lonely man who simply doesn’t need to depart the home. Then one thing lastly convinces him to get out.
TENNANT He hears “Rhythm Is A Dancer” on the radio. Yeah. Nicely, there’s all the time plenty of miserablism within the Pet Store Boys, you already know? Once more, although, it has a contented ending.
Precisely. I really like this by means of line in your work — that one way or the other music can pull you out of those darkish locations.
TENNANT Nicely, I believe that’s true. I believe we each assume that. I believe we each use music for that, as effectively.
And I believe your music has carried out that for thus many individuals.
TENNANT That will be good if it had. That’s undoubtedly one of many capabilities we see for music, to accompany you thru all of the phases and moods of your life and that can assist you when essential — and to carry pleasure and happiness as effectively.
I’m curious what your course of is. Is it a two-room kind factor, like with Elton John and Bernie Taupin?
TENNANT Nicely, it modified. After we began — and for a lot of, many, a few years, till truly very lately — we’d carry issues into the studio individually, however we’d be in the identical room. However then with the pandemic, we had been in separate homes. So Chris prompt to me that I learn to program, which I by no means thought was my operate. So I discovered tips on how to use Storage Band on my pc. And that was form of surprisingly enjoyable, truly.
Chris, do you ever write lyrics?
LOWE No. God no. I’m just about illiterate.
However you cut up all of the writing credit like Lennon/McCartney did — Tennant/Lowe.
TENNANT Sure, completely.
LOWE In any other case, we’d have most likely cut up up. Even Coldplay do it that means, don’t they? All of the bands which have cut up up, it has been over songwriting publishing.
TENNANT Truly, The Beatles had that argument after they cut up up.
LOWE They cut up up after they cut up up. However Spandau Ballet, I imply, they’re the traditional instance.
TENNANT Then there’s [Oasis’] Noel [and Liam Gallagher]…
Humorous it’s best to carry Noel Gallagher up. Did you hear the good issues he mentioned about you?
TENNANT We did, sure. Abruptly Noel Gallagher grew to become a Pet Store Boys fan.
LOWE He got here to see us at Glastonbury. He was already at Glastonbury, clearly, however he truly made the trouble to return and see us, slightly than go and see…
TENNANT Kendrick Lamar.
LOWE He selected us.
You’ve been taking your biggest hits present, Dreamland, everywhere in the world. I assume it’s the one I noticed on the Hollywood Bowl?
TENNANT The Hollywood Bowl exhibits had been nice exhibits. What a unbelievable venue that’s.
LOWE It was simply magical enjoying there.
I as soon as learn that your 2012 album Elysium was named after Elysian Park, which is close to the place I reside in L.A. Is that true?
TENNANT Yeah. We had been in L.A. for two-and-a-half months making that album, and we had been dwelling above Beverly Hills. However we did the picture session in Elysian Park. And that’s the place the thought for Elysium got here from, the park title. As a result of we had been combating an album title.
I keep in mind seeing TMZ chasing you down sooner or later. Do you keep in mind that?
TENNANT Sure! We had simply come out of a tea store.
LOWE As a result of we’re English, we wish to have a cup of tea at 4 o’clock. After which from nowhere, out of this van got here a video crew, and we’re being chased down the road.
TENNANT I used to be pondering, “Wait a minute, we’re not well-known sufficient. We’re not Kim Kardashian.”
That’s what you mentioned.
TENNANT Did I truly say that?
In case you’re going to get stopped by any paparazzo, you need TMZ. That’s the creme de la creme.
TENNANT Yeah, you do.
I do know you went to Madonna‘s biggest hits tour lately. Through the years, I’ve heard totally different Madonna rumors about Pet Store Boys. One was that the 1987 music “Coronary heart” — which options Ian McKellan as Dracula within the music video — was written for her. Is that true?
TENNANT No, we wrote “Coronary heart,” and we thought it could be nice for Madonna. We didn’t ship it to her. However we talked about that in an interview, and folks typically point out it.
The opposite rumor is the Madonna album that grew to become 2008’s Laborious Sweet, that Pet Store Boys had been supposed to provide that album.
TENNANT True. Nicely, not true. We had been requested by Madonna’s supervisor, who sarcastically is now our supervisor, Angela Becker, “Madonna needs to know for those who’ve bought any tracks she may work with.” This was the interval the place we had been requested concurrently to jot down for Madonna and for Kylie Minogue. And out of it got here nothing for both. Kylie, we wrote a load of songs for, which I assumed had been fairly good. I don’t even know if Kylie ever heard them, to be sincere. As a result of she’s by no means, ever talked about them. As for Madonna, they phoned again and mentioned, “Neglect about that. Madonna’s going to make an R&B album.” So we did write some stuff, however it was by no means despatched to her.
LOWE We’re not the go-to for [R&B].
TENNANT Weirdly, we wrote fairly a very good R&B observe, however she by no means heard it.
However you might be good at rap, and “New London Boy,” a brand new music from Nonetheless, has I believe your finest rap since “West Finish Ladies.”
TENNANT I really like my rap in it. Individuals preserve declaring it’s the identical rhythm as “West Finish Ladies.” I do early ’80s rap. I do Grandmaster Flash rap. That’s my type. I’ve truly carried out extra up-to-date rap, however as Chris identified, it takes too many phrases.
It looks like there’s a whole lot of throwback to your earliest work within the new album. Was that intentional?
TENNANT Probably not, no. I imply, we’re these folks nonetheless. When Chris despatched by means of the observe for “Dancing Star,” I assumed that appears like Madonna’s first album, which continues to be my favourite album. I don’t know if that’s the place the “Dancing Star” title got here from [which Chris came up with himself]. Was that intentional?
LOWE No, it’s simply what I did. However the sound of the document could be very a lot early analog synths, and so it has a purity of sound.
Are they precise classic synths that you simply’re utilizing?
LOWE James Ford, the producer, has bought a room filled with them, and previous drum machines, previous analog synths, the entire thing. And that’s mainly the sound of this document.
The quilt artwork is fascinating. You’ve gloves masking your faces for the “Loneliness” single cowl after which mild bulbs in your mouths for the LP cowl. Is it some reference to the pandemic, or is there another symbolism there?
TENNANT In our heads, in our mouths. We labored with this photographer, Tim Walker, and that was his concept. As quickly as we noticed it, it was instantly a really sturdy picture. We thought, “Nicely, that’s the album cowl.”
LOWE I like your interpretation, and we can be repeating it.
You reinvigorated two traditional acts, Liza Minnelli [with the 1989 album Results] and Dusty Springfield [with the 1987 smash “What Have I Done to Deserve This?”]. What was working with Liza like?
TENNANT Our then-manager, Tom Watkins, had this group known as Bros who had been a giant teen factor for a second in Britain. He went to America to satisfy with Sony. And the A&R man mentioned, “We’ve simply signed Liza Minnelli.” I imply the wonderful factor about working with Dusty, you get supplied all the pieces. That’s how the music business works. We bought supplied each feminine singer. And Liza was actually particular as a result of, for our era, she’s Cabaret. In 1973, you’ve bought David Bowie, and also you’ve bought Cabaret. And that every one filters into punk rock, as effectively. It was a giant widespread tradition second, Liza Minnelli in Cabaret.
And so we had been instantly intrigued by this concept. So Liza was in London enjoying with Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. And we met her in a collection on the Mayfair Resort. And we went up within the elevate to satisfy. And we walked down the hall and rang the doorbell of the suite. And Liza answered it, and the three of us all laughed. We simply burst out laughing. As a result of it was so ridiculous.
LOWE It was an incredible second. As a result of Liza is so Liza.
TENNANT She is Liza. She’s Liza in actual life.
LOWE She is Liza. Implausible.
TENNANT And, in fact, we’re us in actual life. And all of us laughed. And that was that. We’re doing the album. And we did some demos in New York after which we simply bought right down to it. We solely had 10 weeks. The album had a price range, which we weren’t conversant in the idea of, and we did it. And that’s why we did cowl variations — as a result of we didn’t have time to jot down extra songs.
LOWE Consequently we ended up at this wonderful dinner for Frank, Liza, and…
TENNANT And Sammy.
LOWE On this enormous room within the Savoy Resort. We made an entrance.
TENNANT Everybody was there. And Liza was excellent at making an entrance. And so the three of us got here in, us on both arm with Liza, and she or he was apprehensive that Frank was going to be in a temper as a result of Chris wasn’t carrying a swimsuit. However then he was very good to us, truly.
LOWE Yeah. And we noticed Frank Sinatra backstage simply earlier than we went on stage on the Royal Albert Corridor, and that was one thing you’d always remember.
TENNANT He got here out with a glass of bourbon or whiskey, or no matter it was he drank, and there’s a slope, and he’s carrying his shiny patent leather-based footwear. And he simply slid down it together with his bourbon. He regarded like somebody who meant mischief.
LOWE Yeah, undoubtedly had a twinkle.
TENNANT One afternoon, we had been in Liza’s suite at The Savoy. We appreciated it since you get tea served by a waiter, the entire thing. And we had been having tea served and instantly a barefoot Sammy Davis Jr. is available in, and he calls Chris and I, “You cats.”
LOWE Doesn’t get any higher than that, does it?
TENNANT I imply, to be known as, “You cats” by Sammy Davis Jr. is an actual profession excessive. And really, he advised us — it is a showbiz unique for you — that he wished to play the Phantom of the Opera. And I believe he even was in dialog with Andrew Lloyd Weber about doing that.
LOWE After which in fact we went to see him in a cabaret. Not the musical.
At an precise cabaret.
LOWE Was it in considered one of Trump’s locations?
TENNANT It was in Atlantic Metropolis.
LOWE In Atlantic Metropolis. Oh, Liza did this wonderful factor. I mentioned, “You do know, Neil, that she’s going to place the highlight on us as a result of I understand how showbiz works.” And he was like, “No, no, she gained’t. She gained’t try this.” Anyway, so in fact, “Oh, it’s wonderful. I’ve bought Neil Tennant! The Pet Store Boys are right here.” Anyway, so we didn’t get up, which in fact is the showbiz custom. So the viewers needed to get up to take a look at us.
TENNANT I used to be apprehensive that Liza thought we had been very bizarre.
Whose concept was it to have her cowl Stephen Sondheim’s “Shedding My Thoughts?”
TENNANT It was truly my concept as a result of, at that time, I’d simply gotten into Sondheim, as a result of the musical Follies was revived in London, a giant manufacturing. Humorous sufficient, they requested Dusty Springfield to play the half that sings, “I’m Nonetheless Right here.” And he or she turned it down. The primary time I noticed it, I assumed, “Wow, that may very well be a success music, ‘Shedding My Thoughts.’” And so Chris and I did a demo of it, which then Liza later sang. That sounded to me like a success music, first time I heard it.
What an incredible cowl.
TENNANT Stephen Sondheim’s solely had two chart hits, in Britain, anyway. “Ship In The Clowns” by Judy Collins and “Shedding My Thoughts” by Liza Minnelli. I noticed an interview the place Sondheim mentioned, “The Pet Store Boys did a rock model.” I used to be simply intrigued he thought it was a rock model.
If there have been two bands that basically outlined my character as a teen, it was you guys and The Smiths. You guys have saved this stunning partnership going. And I don’t know what the hell occurred with [Smiths co-founders] Johnny Marr and Morrissey, however it actually went down the bathroom.
TENNANT A very long time in the past.
So what’s the key to a contented musical marriage? How do you retain the magic alive?
TENNANT Nicely, as a result of Morrissey is Morrissey. However [Chris and I] have all the time bought on effectively.
LOWE Mm-hm.
TENNANT We like doing it. We’re most likely loyal folks, however we like writing songs, actually. I don’t know if it’s true, however perhaps for The Smiths, it was a restriction for Johnny. I don’t know. No matter it was, it wasn’t good. However Pet Store Boys isn’t a restriction. You possibly can just about do all the pieces in it. You possibly can go from minimal dance information to indicate tunes with all the pieces in between. Individuals assume all our information sound the identical, however they don’t. There’s a variety.
There’s all the time fascinating folks concerned that we usher in — designers and producers and artists and stuff. If it didn’t really feel prefer it was a dwelling factor, we wouldn’t be doing it. It might’ve fizzled out. But it surely’s by no means come near petering out. For the time being, with “Lease” in Saltburn and “All the time On My Thoughts” in All Of Us Strangers, it’s form of like somewhat vote of confidence, in a means.
We love this new album we made and the tour is basically enjoyable to do. It appears like a form of naff concept, doing a biggest hits tour, however truly, our biggest are fairly diverse. A few of the songs are very unusual. Each evening I believe what a bizarre music “So Laborious” is. And it was the primary single from an album. It’s about two homosexual guys accusing one another of infidelity, with a double entendre because the title.
Have you ever guys ever come out formally? I believe you’re considered a homosexual band, however have you ever?
TENNANT I got here out in 1994.
LOWE Got here out of what? You got here out of Newcastle.
TENNANT Yeah, that was in 1992.
LOWE And I got here out of Blackpool.
TENNANT That was fairly sufficient popping out for that day.
LOWE One of many excessive factors in our profession was our neon signal on Sundown Boulevard. I don’t know for those who ever noticed it. You’re not sufficiently old. You weren’t born.
TENNANT It was in 1986.
I used to be very a lot born, however I used to be dwelling in Montreal on the time.
LOWE Oh, what a disgrace. As a result of it was a pink neon signal. On the highest of the EMI constructing, which was on Sundown. And the primary time we went to L.A., we couldn’t imagine it. As a result of on the magic hour…
TENNANT It regarded so attractive. So elegant. It mentioned “Pet Store Boys” and you then drove previous and it mentioned, “Please.” Individuals used to say to us, “Oh, are you the Pet Store Boys? I like your signal.” It was there for a 12 months. I felt very unhappy when it went down.
LOWE Yeah, it regarded so attractive.
Oh, I’ve bought to discover a picture of that.
TENNANT It was on the duvet of Smash Hits. So you possibly can see an image of it.
This interview was edited for size and readability.
Smash Hits journal with Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe of Pet Store Boys
Courtesy of Ascential