Neil Tennant
Neil Tennant worked for Marvel Comics in the 1970s and for Smash Hits in the early 1980s. He retired as a journalist in 1985 to concentrate on being one of the Pet Shop Boys.
Neil Tennant on the RBP podcast
37 articles
List of articles in the library
Sex Pistols: Terrorise Your Fans The Pistol Way
Readers' Letters by Neil Tennant, uncredited writer, New Musical Express, 8 May 1976
GOSH, BLIMEY, what's going on ere? Relax, it's just a friendly Friday night down at the local — the Nashville, Kensington to be precise — ...
Duran Duran, Talk Talk: Duran Duran/Talk Talk: Hammersmith Odeon, London
Live Review by Neil Tennant, Smash Hits, 7 January 1982
A LOT OF headbands and scarves in the audience tonight: red silk scarves tied around bushy barnets; thin chiffon numbers screwed round youthful necks; Palestinian ...
Culture Club, Musical Youth: Heaven, London
Live Review by Neil Tennant, Smash Hits, July 1982
THERE'S A nightclub in London called Heaven which is normally ruthlessly well run, organised for fun and good value. Tonight it's catering for a "rock" ...
Interview by Neil Tennant, Smash Hits, 8 July 1982
Marc Almond gets a few things off his chest. Neil Tennant provides the vapour rub. ...
The Undertones: Kilburn National Ballroom, London
Live Review by Neil Tennant, Smash Hits, 2 September 1982
PLAYING ONLY their second live date of '82. The Undertones were greeted by an ecstatic audience. ...
Interview by Neil Tennant, Smash Hits, 28 October 1982
Two 19-year-olds from Bushey, Herts, who play all-British rap and funk? I meet all sorts in this job, claims Neil Tennant. ...
Malcolm McLaren: The New Adventures of Malcolm McLaren
Report and Interview by Neil Tennant, Smash Hits, 6 January 1983
A MAN IN HIS thirties with a shrill voice and a big, daft hat is telling me how pop music can regain its lost purpose. ...
Pete Wylie, Wah!: The Story of the Wylie
Report and Interview by Neil Tennant, Smash Hits, 20 January 1983
THE WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON run-through for Top Of The Pops is a chaotic affair. In front of one of the three stages in the studio, a ...
Interview by Neil Tennant, Smash Hits, 3 February 1983
The latest of the new pop duos. Neil Tennant gives them a bit of exposure (sorry). ...
Malcolm McLaren: The Mud Club, London
Live Review by Neil Tennant, Smash Hits, 3 February 1983
ALL THE OLD dances are coming back, you know. ...
Sharon Redd: Embassy club, London
Live Review by Neil Tennant, Smash Hits, 3 February 1983
SEEING REDD: Midnight at the Embassy club with Sharon. Neil Tennant watches from the shadows. ...
Interview by Neil Tennant, Smash Hits, 17 February 1983
FIRST WE WENT on the Ferry across the Mersey. Then we walked through Liverpool for some tea. Gary Daly and Eddie Lundon of China Crisis ...
Musical Youth: The Youth of Today
Report and Interview by Neil Tennant, Smash Hits, 3 March 1983
No different from the Musical Youth of the day before. Neil Tennant meets five young professionals taking worldwide success in their stride. ...
Haircut 100, Nick Heyward: Back To Square One: Nick Heyward
Interview by Neil Tennant, Smash Hits, 31 March 1983
"IS IT REALLY worth talking about?" Ask Nick Heyward what he's been up to in the six months since the release of ‘Nobody's Fool’, the ...
Jonathan King: "I Think About 90% of the Public Really Hate Me — and I Don't Like Them"
Interview by Neil Tennant, Smash Hits, 14 April 1983
There you have it — the Jonathan King philosophy. So far it's got him loads of hit records, a slot on Top Of The Pops ...
The Alarm: For Whom The Bell Tolls: The Alarm
Report and Interview by Neil Tennant, Smash Hits, 12 May 1983
"WE WANT TO spread the vibe of friendship." No sniggering at the back, please. Mike peters of The Alarm really means that. And what’s more ...
Kajagoogoo: The Sound Of The Crowd: The Kajagoogoo Tour
Report and Interview by Neil Tennant, Smash Hits, 26 May 1983
Shrieks, squeals, gasps, wails...It gets even louder when the band actually come on stage. The Kajagoogoo tour is not an experience easily forgotten. Neil Tennant ...
Interview by Neil Tennant, Smash Hits, 23 June 1983
Just how different are they? Neil Tennant puts the girls through that terrifying ordeal — being asked the same questions separately. And here's the answers. ...
Duran Duran: That Was The Week That Was
Report and Interview by Neil Tennant, Smash Hits, 4 August 1983
The week when Duran Duran got mobbed, met the Royals and hit the headlines every time they moved. Neil Tennant was never far behind them. ...
The Police: May The Force Be With You
Report and Interview by Neil Tennant, Smash Hits, 1 September 1983
When The Police played New York's Shea Stadium it looked like something from outer space. 67,000 people were in the audience. One of them was ...
Interview by Neil Tennant, Smash Hits, 19 January 1984
Two people are having lunch in Paris. One of them is a tax exile who owns an Aston Martin sports car, is permanently pursued by ...
The Style Council: Two's Company
Interview by Neil Tennant, Smash Hits, 1 March 1984
But three's just that little bit cosier. Neil Tennant has a tête-à-tête-à-tête with The Style Council. ...
Live Review by Neil Tennant, Smash Hits, 29 March 1984
OUTSIDE, COPIES of Socialist Youth are on sale and touts are trying to buy tickets because they can resell them for twenty quid to those ...
Frankie Goes To Hollywood: The War Game
Interview by Neil Tennant, Smash Hits, 26 April 1984
They've become the most notorious British group since the Sex Pistols. Now they're dressing up in army uniforms to promote their new single – "a ...
George Michael, Wham!: Wham!: The Beach Boys
Report and Interview by Neil Tennant, Smash Hits, 24 May 1984
A sun-soaked story of sea, sand, shorts, shuttlecocks and snogging. Yes, Wham! are back. Your travel guide in Miami: Neil Tennant. ...
Interview by Neil Tennant, Smash Hits, 19 July 1984
Billy Idol was the typical punk back in the late '70s — tough, rude, a bit mental. In 1984 he's exactly the same (only more ...
Film/DVD/TV Review by Neil Tennant, Smash Hits, 30 August 1984
PRINCE loves to pout. To press together his moist, full lips while throwing a sulky, sensuous stare with his big eyes. Even more, he loves ...
John Lennon, Julian Lennon: Julian Lennon
Interview by Neil Tennant, Smash Hits, 25 October 1984
• His father was one of the most famous pop stars ever. • Now he has a hit of his own and talks to Neil Tennant. ...
Depeche Mode: Strange But True
Report and Interview by Neil Tennant, Smash Hits, 22 November 1984
WHEN DEPECHE MODE were in Berlin a few months ago, they got a bit drunk while doing an interview and let a photographer take some ...
Interview by Neil Tennant, Smash Hits, 1985
MADNESS ARE PLANNING A TV SERIES. THEY'RE STARTING A RECORD LABEL. THEY EVEN WEAR HAND-MADE SOCKS THESE DAYS. IT'S CALLED "BROADENING ONE'S OUTLOOK". WELL, THAT'S ...
Janice Long: The Janice Long Story
Interview by Neil Tennant, Smash Hits, 17 January 1985
How do you get a job as a Radio 1 DJ? Simple – you go to a "really posh" school, then become an insurance clerk, ...
Spandau Ballet: Shout To The Top
Interview by Neil Tennant, Smash Hits, 31 January 1985
When they started out, at the dawn of the '80s, Spandau Ballet were determined "to do something different". They said they'd never end up like ...
Pet Shop Boys: Neil Tennant At The British Record Industry Awards
Report by Neil Tennant, Smash Hits, 28 February 1985
You saw Prince. You heard Frankie. You felt the warmth of Wham's sun tans. You watched the TV show but now read THE FULL STORY! ...
Marilyn: Does Anyone Still Want Him?
Interview by Neil Tennant, Smash Hits, 14 March 1985
"I COULD DROP DOWN DEAD TOMORROW AND I COULD COUNT THE PEOPLE WHO WOULD CARE ON ONE HAND." MARILYN IS TRYING TO MAKE "A COMEBACK". ...
Eurythmics: C'est Eurythmics N'est Pas?
Interview by Neil Tennant, Smash Hits, 28 March 1985
Of course it is, mes petits choux-choux. And they're in Paris (hence the Eiffel Tower — trés brilliant, non?). Annie and Dave are making un ...
Pet Shop Boys: Hate – Neil Tennant on the Power of Negative Thinking
Comment by Neil Tennant, Select, October 1992
IF NOT FOR hatred, I wouldn't be doing what I do now. I became a pop star because I hated football at school. I hated ...
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