Pet Shop Boys Unveil Visual Encyclopaedia for 40th Anniversary
The iconic English synth-pop duo, Pet Shop Boys, have announced the release of a comprehensive new book titled Pet Shop Boys Volume, marking four decades since their debut album Please hit the shelves. Formed in London in 1981, the group consists of keyboardist Chris Lowe and vocalist Neil Tennant, who together have sold over 100 million records worldwide, cementing their status as music legends.
A Stunning Collection of Images and Memories
This 592-page tome, published by Thames & Hudson and set for release on April 7 priced at £40, features an astonishing 2,857 images. It captures the duo's entire visual output from 1984 onwards, including original album and single artwork, video stills, film and performance shots, stage sets, costumes, photoshoots, and merchandise. With new sleeve notes from both Neil and Chris, the book serves as a veritable pop encyclopaedia, though Neil humorously flinches at the idea of it becoming a coffee table book, stating, "I don't like coffee table books. They are, in effect, coffee tables. It always bugs me, people come to my house and put coffee and glasses on top of them, you know? But with this book, you can certainly sit in an armchair and read it."
Iconic Traffic Cone Hats and Global Influence
One of the most memorable visuals associated with the Pet Shop Boys is their orange and white zebra-striped traffic cone hats, famously featured in the 1993 video for Can You Forgive Her? from the album Very. Neil Tennant, now 71 and a three-time Brit Award winner, reflects on this enduring symbol: "People, of course, are still wearing those hats. We just came back from Chile and there are people standing in audiences in Santiago wearing pointy hats. Fantastic. That's because David Fielding was the original designer. These dunces’ caps, which is such an ancient Victorian idea - it was a very, very strong visual idea. It's why, even to this day, people will pick up a traffic cone and put them on their heads …we kind of own traffic cones!"
Breakthrough Hits and Musical Journey
The debut album Please included breakthrough hits like West End Girls, which topped charts in both the UK and US, along with eighties anthems such as Suburbia, Love Comes Quickly, and Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money). Despite its success, Neil admits he never felt comfortable rapping on West End Girls, recalling, "I always remember writing the words as a stream of consciousness rap. I wanted to be a pop star. It's sort of embarrassing, and also there was a sort of a cliché sort of rock-pop journalist wants to be in the band kind of thing. It was very exciting writing to a rap rhythm, which was a new thing in those days. But I didn't play West End Girls to people in the Smash Hits office because I was embarrassed I was rapping."
Origins and Collaborations
The duo's name originates from friends who worked in a pet shop in Ealing, leading to the nickname "Pet Shop Boys". Before fame, Neil Tennant was a journalist and assistant editor for the music magazine Smash Hits, while Chris Lowe was a disco enthusiast. They met in August 1981 in a Chelsea electronics shop and quickly formed a bond, with Neil noting Chris's influence on his songwriting: "Chris was completely different to me. He liked disco music and I didn't." Over the years, they have collaborated with artists like Dusty Springfield, Liza Minnelli, David Bowie, and Elton John.
Future Projects and Legacy
Looking ahead, the Pet Shop Boys are involved in a dance show adaptation of Russell T Davies's Channel 4 drama It's A Sin, which dramatised the eighties AIDS crisis, and are celebrating the life of World War II Enigma code breaker Alan Turing in a new album. Neil also mentions his long-awaited autobiography, though he laughs, "I haven't got any further. I did start transcribing my diaries onto the computer. I keep a very brief diary, I've been doing that since 1977. So I know the kind of geology of my life. I was wondering if it is too boring to publish the diary as it is … or I might never do it!"
With their simple lyrics often drawn from observing life and funny one-liners from taxi drivers, the duo continues to inspire generations. Their tradition of one-word titles for all studio albums, started by Neil Tennant, adds to their consistent theme and enduring appeal in the music world.
