An exhibition opens at the Royal Academy in Piccadilly, London, today on the theme of “Happiness”. Various famous people have donated objects which represent an idea of personal happiness. Neil Tennant has given a signed photograph of David Bowie as Ziggy Stardust explaining:
“In June, 1972, I went to see David Bowie perform at the City Hall in Newcastle on his Ziggy Stardust tour. At the climactic moment of the concert when Bowie sang “Wham! Bam! Thank you ma’am!” in the song “Suffragette City”, the audience was showered with these promotional posters of Bowie as Ziggy and I grabbed one. Later my friends and I waited in a crush of fans outside the stage door. Bowie emerged and signed my poster in pencil. The late Mick Ronson, his legendary guitarist and musical arranger, signed it also. I was very happy.”
(Behind the poster is an original vinyl copy of the Ziggy Stardust album.)
The free exhibition continues until December 20th and all items are for sale in aid of the Royal Academy Schools.
Pet Shop Boys announce their new double A‑side single, “New London boy / All the young dudes”, and an accompanying remixes single, both of which are now available to pre-order on CD at the link below.
Recent Pet Texts
I saw a wonderful concert by Arooj Aftab in Berlin tonight. She has the most beautiful voice and is accompanied by brilliant musicians who play with a rare delicacy. I’ve been listening to her album “Night Reign” which I highly recommend! Neil x
Happy Birthday, Chris!
The Hidden Cameras’ 2009 album, “Origin: Orphan”, is re-released tomorrow, October 4, including Pet Shop Boys “organic” remix of the song, “Colour of a Man” which has never been properly released before. Video and streaming links below.
We are starting work early this year on the 2025 edition of “Annually”, which, as always, will include a selection of your letters answered by Chris and Neil. So if you have a question for them, email it to info@beckerbrown.com with “Annually letters” in the subject line by next Monday, 7th October. (Alternatively, you can leave a question on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter). Details on how to pre-order your copy of Annually 2025 will be available on this site soon.
Pet Shop Boys’ latest single “Feel” is released on CD today and available to order at the link below. Artwork photo by Corbin Shaw. This is PSB’s fourth CD single release this year — the others are still available at our online store. Will there be a fifth?
“Feel” has just been added to the BBC Radio 6 Music playlist. The “Feel” CD single will be released next week Friday, 27th September. Link to pre-order below.
Neil will be appearing as a special guest vocalist for “Great Movie Songs with Anne Dudley & Friends” at The Roundhouse, London on Tuesday, 25th March 2025, as part of the London Soundtrack Festival. Full details and ticket information at the link below.
On this day 20 years ago, Pet Shop Boys premiered their new score to Eisenstein’s classic 1925 Russian silent film “Battleship Potemkin” in front of an estimated audience of 20,000 at London’s Trafalgar Square. PSB performed behind gauze with the Dresdner Sinfoniker conducted by Jonathan Stockhammer, playing orchestrations by Torsten Rasch while the movie is projected on a giant screen above the performers. Listen to the score at the link below. Photo: Open Culture