We are very sad to hear that the legendary Frankie Knuckles has died. The word “legendary” is rather overused these days, but Frankie Knuckles was a true dance legend and a pioneer of house music. We were honoured to work with him in 1988 when he did his brilliant dark mix of “I want a dog”. It was so exciting to drive out to Jersey City to hear this mix for the first time in his studio and then drive back to New York with the mix on repeat. We were thrilled with it and included it on our album, Introspective. In 1990 Frankie came over to London to play at Chris’s birthday party at Brixton Academy and enthralled the crowd with his brilliant set. In the early days, House music was referred to as “Chicago House” after the city where it was invented — it was great to visit the city last year and see that a street had been named after the music’s inventor: Frankie Knuckles Way. Love and respect forever. xx
A new studio recording of the “All the young dudes” / “West End girls” medley, performed by PSB and the Manchester Camerata, and produced by Stuart Price with strings arranged by Anne Dudley, is available to stream now at the link below. The medley was performed at the MTV EMAs last night. It’s accompanied by a different “orchestral” mix by Stuart Price.
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Neil and Chris did not speak to the Daily Mirror or any other press at the EMAs on Sunday. Subsequent press reports are misleading.
In this first episode, Neil and Chris take you on a journey through their Queer-inspired playlist including tracks by Patrick Cowley, Modern Rocketry, and Judy Garland.
Listen this Monday from 11pm on BBC Sounds.
Thanks to the very stylish Aaron Taylor-Johnson for presenting us with our “Pop Pioneers” award at the EMAs yesterday!
Photo: John Phillips/Getty Images
An exciting night in Manchester at the EMAs getting the Pop Pioneers award presented by Aaron Taylor-Johnson and performing with the Manchester Camerata! Thanks to MTV and our amazing creative team. Link to the performance below.
Photo: Vita Spalding
Pet Shop Boys’ cover of “All the young dudes”, originally written and performed by David Bowie, has been added straight to the BBC Radio 2 playlist. Rotation begins this Saturday, 9th November.
Two new PSB tracks are set to premiere on UK radio tomorrow morning, 7th November. First, Zoe Ball will be giving the Pet Shop Boys cover of David Bowie’s “All the young dudes” its first play on BBC Radio 2 at 7:50 AM GMT. The Boy Harsher remix of “New London boy” will premiere on BBC Radio 6 Music at 8:55 AM, where Nick Grimshaw sits in for Lauren Laverne. All details at the links below.
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!