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
Pet Shop Boys today release “SMASH — The Singles 1985–2020” – the complete collection of their singles in chronological order.
Recent Pet Texts
More Dreamworld tour merchandise, including a windbreaker, a tee shirt and a water bottle, is now available in the official Pet Shop Boys store. Link to order below.
We are today launching a series of classic live performances of some of Pet Shop Boys’ most famous songs. Originally filmed during the 1991 “Performance” tour, “West End girls (Live in Birmingham)” is now available to watch on YouTube at the link below.
I loved visiting Charleston House in East Sussex today, both a refuge and a workplace of the Bloomsbury Group. Information at the link below. Neil x
Tickets for Pet Shop Boys’ Dreamworld shows in Santiago de Chile and Lima are now on sale at the links below.
I just enjoyed seeing Paul McCartney’s photographs of the view from within Beatlemania, recently rediscovered and now splendidly exhibited at the newly-reopened National Portrait Gallery in London. (Link below.) Neil
It looks like a giant bear is floating in the sky! Neil
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was today sentenced to a 19-year prison sentence in a trial reminiscent of the Soviet era. Navalny has already suffered poisoning and is still serving a nine-year prison sentence for his opposition activities which include producing a film about Putin’s corruption. Link to the film below.
There’s nothing like an English summer! Neil x