Neil Tennant, Dome Corn Exchange, Brighton, May 17

2:16pm Monday 19th May 2008

The Pet Shop Boys have never played the fame game. And that was something Neil Tennant, one half of the electronic pop duo, freely admitted while in conversation with writer Michael Bracewell.

From making their own arthouse film rather than touring, to refusing to wear paper bags over their heads on a live children's TV show, the band has always trod its own, more difficult path.

In an hour-long interview the besuited and engaging Neil went through the creation of the band's sound, which combined his own early folk singer-songwriting experience with bandmate Chris Lowe's love of hedonistic dance music. When Neil realised New Order had gone down the same route with the classic track Blue Monday, he confessed he almost cried.

Also covered were the band's collaborations with legends like Dusty Springfield and Liza Minelli, and the Pet Shop Boys' eventual decision to tour - albeit in a series of directed performances often featuring no musicians on stage.

In the following question and answer session he revealed the pair are now working on a new album due for release next March, and a score for a ballet, continuing their run of idiosyncratic projects.

Editor's Choice