Neil Tennant Movies, TV Shows, and Filmography
Neil Tennant
Acting
Biography
Neil Francis Tennant (born 10 July 1954) is an English singer, songwriter and music journalist, and co-founder of the synth-pop duo the Pet Shop Boys, which he formed with Chris Lowe in 1981. He was a journalist for Smash Hits, and assistant editor for the magazine in the mid-1980s. Tennant coined the phrase imperial phase to describe the period in which a musical artist is regarded to be at their commercial and creative peak simultaneously. This observation was initially self-referential, made as the Pet Shop Boys had achieved commercial success with four British number one hits ("West End Girls", "It's a Sin", "Heart", and "Always on My Mind"), had received critical praise for their first three albums and had expanded their creative horizons through innovative collaborations in the visual and performing arts. Neil Francis Tennant was born in the town of North Shields, approximately 8 miles east of Newcastle upon Tyne, to William W. Tennant (1923–2009), a sales representative, and Sheila M. (Watson) Tennant (1923–2008). He has an older sister, Susan, and two younger brothers, Simon and Philip. The family moved to Greenfield Road (opposite the corner of South Bend), Brunton Park, Gosforth shortly after Neil was born. Tennant attended St Cuthbert's Grammar School, an all-boys' Catholic school in Newcastle upon Tyne. His songs "This Must Be the Place I Waited Years to Leave" and "It's a Sin" refer to his early life in Catholic school and the strict upbringing there. As a child, Tennant taught himself to play guitar and piano and started writing songs. He also played cello in school. During his teenage years, he played in a folk music group named Dust, who were heavily influenced by The Incredible String Band. Tennant wrote several of their songs including "Can You Hear the Dawn Break?", which he regards as his first 'proper' song. He was also a member of the youth theatre at the People's Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne. In 1975, having completed a degree in history at North London Polytechnic (now part of London Metropolitan University), Tennant worked for two years as the production editor for Marvel UK, the UK branch of Marvel Comics. He was responsible for anglicising the dialogue of Marvel's catalogue to suit British readers and for indicating where women needed to be redrawn for the British editions. He also wrote occasional features for the comics, including interviews with pop stars Marc Bolan and Alex Harvey. In 1977, he moved to Macdonald Educational Publishing, where he edited The Dairy Book of Home Management (1980) and various illustrated books about cookery, playing the guitar and other home interests. Then he moved to ITV Books, where he edited TV tie-in books. After having commissioned Steve Bush, then the designer of Smash Hits and The Face, to design a book about the group Madness, he was offered a job at Smash Hits as news editor of the British teen pop magazine in 1982. The following year, he became assistant editor. He also edited The Smash Hits Yearbook from 1982 to 1985. ... Source: Article "Neil Tennant" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA.
Filmography Movies
Acting
It Couldn't Happen Here
Pet Shop Boys Chris Lowe and Neil Tennant embark upon a journey across England - but which England? Is it the half-remembered England of their childhoods, or the brutal reality of Mrs Thatcher's late-eighties England? Along the way they come across many familiar (and sinister) faces. The movie also features some of the Pet Shop Boys' most popular records.
Discovery: Live in Rio 1994
Pet Shop Boys filmed live in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, at the end of their 1994 Discovery tour. They perform many of their most famous songs as well as cover versions and tracks from their hit album, "Very", before a wildly enthusiastic Brazilian audience.
Pet Shop Boys at the BBC
A look back at one of British music’s most enduring and significant partnerships, Pet Shop Boys, with highlights from Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe’s many appearances on the BBC that demonstrate their dedication to both style and substance.
Oscar
Writer Michael Bracewell presents an unusual and provocative look at the life and legacy of Oscar Wilde, the controversial Irish-born writer. Michael sets out to rescue him from the dangers of respectability by portraying him as an inspiration to generations of rockers and artists.
Pet Shop Boys Smash The Videos 1985 - 2020
Covering a 35-year period between 1985 and 2020, ‘SMASH – The Singles’ works chronologically through the duo’s classic output, opening with their debut hit West End Girls and journeying through 2020’s Monkey Business. Select physical editions of ‘SMASH’ collect the duo’s videos on Blu-Ray for the first time, with a second disc containing bonus clips and lyric videos (including songs not featured on the audio tracklist), with a bumper 66 visuals presented in total. The remastered videos especially are a treat to behold, particularly from an act like Pet Shop Boys, for whom the image has always gone hand-in-hand with the music and serves to enhance the overall experience.
Pet Shop Boys: Somewhere
Documentary and live concert from the Savoy Theatre London, June 1997. Tracklist: The Dress Rehearsal - Opening Night - Yesterday, When I Was Mad - The Truck Driver And His Mate - Se A Vida É - Hallo Spaceboy - To Step Aside - Go West - The Theatre - It's A Sin / I Will Survive - Discoteca - Can You Forgive Her? - Somewhere - Rent - Being Boring - Left To My Own Devices
Projections
The innovative and influential British filmmaker Derek Jarman was invited to direct the Pet Shop Boys' 1989 tour. This film is a series of iconoclastic images he created for the background projections. Stunning, specially shot sequences (featuring actors, the Pet Shop Boys, and friends of Jarman) contrast with documentary montages of nature, all skillfully edited to music tracks.
How to Be Absolutely Fabulous
Jennifer Saunders hosts a party of AbFab outtakes and behind-the-scenes footage.
Pet Shop Boys: Live at Roskilde Festival 2009
Roskilde Festival is a festival held south of Roskilde in Denmark and is one of the largest music festivals in Europe and the largest in Northern Europe. Chris Lowe and Neil Tennant originally made their first ever festival performance at 1997's Roskilde, and now they'll return to Denmark for a performance that will mix classic tracks with cuts from their Yes album. Setlist: 1. More Than a Dream / Heart 2. Did You See Me Coming? 3. Pandemonium / Can You Forgive Her? 4. Love Comes Quickly 5. Love Etc. 6. Integral / Building a Wall 7. Go West 8. Two Divided By Zero 9. Why Don't We Live Together? 10. Always on My Mind 11. Closer to Heaven / Left to My Own Devices 12. Do I Have To? 13. King's Cross 14. The Way It Used to Be 15. Jealousy 16. Suburbia 17. All Over the World 18. Se A Vida É (That's The Way Life Is) / Discoteca / Domino Dancing / Viva La Vida 19. It's a Sin 20. Encore: 21. Being Boring 22. West End Girls
Pet Shop Boys Dreamworld: The Greatest Hits Live at the Royal Arena Copenhagen
Formed in London in 1981 and consisting of primary vocalist Neil Tennant and keyboardist Chris Lowe, English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys have sold more than 50 million records worldwide, and have been cited as one of the most successful duos in UK music history. Captured live at Copenhagen’s Royal Arena, the exhilarating performance features a lavish stage show, full back-up band and mesmerizing visual backdrops, in front of an exuberant, sold-out audience. This brand-new concert film includes all of PSB's greatest hits including 'West End Girls', 'Suburbia', 'Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots of Money)', 'Always on My Mind', 'What Have I Done to Deserve This?' and 'It’s a Sin'.
Production
It Couldn't Happen Here
Pet Shop Boys Chris Lowe and Neil Tennant embark upon a journey across England - but which England? Is it the half-remembered England of their childhoods, or the brutal reality of Mrs Thatcher's late-eighties England? Along the way they come across many familiar (and sinister) faces. The movie also features some of the Pet Shop Boys' most popular records.
Pet Shop Boys: Pop Art - The Videos
Back at the start of the 1980s, pop music was becoming as much about fashion as it was about the music itself (indeed, in some cases the fashion was so loud it drowned out the tune). Fighting his way through the melee of makeup and mascara was one Neil Tennant, reviewer of singles for UK teen music mag Smash Hits. By the time he left that job to devote himself full-time to the electronic dance duo he’d been pottering around with since 1981, Tennant would have seen and heard the best and worst of what pop music had to offer. No surprise then that the band he formed with keyboardist and programmer Chris Lowe, Pet Shop Boys, would turn out to be unlike any other outfit in English pop history.
Pet Shop Boys Dreamworld: The Greatest Hits Live at the Royal Arena Copenhagen
Formed in London in 1981 and consisting of primary vocalist Neil Tennant and keyboardist Chris Lowe, English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys have sold more than 50 million records worldwide, and have been cited as one of the most successful duos in UK music history. Captured live at Copenhagen’s Royal Arena, the exhilarating performance features a lavish stage show, full back-up band and mesmerizing visual backdrops, in front of an exuberant, sold-out audience. This brand-new concert film includes all of PSB's greatest hits including 'West End Girls', 'Suburbia', 'Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots of Money)', 'Always on My Mind', 'What Have I Done to Deserve This?' and 'It’s a Sin'.
Firebird
At the height of the Cold War, a troubled soldier forms a forbidden love triangle with a daring fighter pilot and his female comrade amid the dangerous surroundings of a Soviet Air Force Base.
Imagine… Pet Shop Boys: Then and Now
Featuring exclusive access to their recent tour and their new album, this documentary reveals the fascinating world of Pet Shop Boys, Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe.
An Audience with Elton John
Elton John entertains a celebrity studio audience, answering questions and singing songs with his guests.
Pet Shop Boys: A New Bohemia
Following the release of All of Us Strangers, acclaimed British filmmaker Andrew Haigh shoots Tracey Emin and Russell Tovey alongside the Pet Shop Boys in the music video for new single A New Bohemia, taken from their latest album Nonetheless – released on Parlophone, and premiering exclusively on NOWNESS. Discussing the project, Andrew Haigh said, “I have loved the Pet Shop Boys since the release of Please. I have every album and have seen them play live many times over the years. Getting to make a music video with them has been a dream come true.” “We had a lovely sunny day in Margate filming this video with Andrew Haigh, fresh from his success with All of Us Strangers," Pet Shop Boys shared. "Thanks to Andrew and all concerned, in particular the many local residents who took part, including Russell Tovey and Tracey Emin.”
Projections
The innovative and influential British filmmaker Derek Jarman was invited to direct the Pet Shop Boys' 1989 tour. This film is a series of iconoclastic images he created for the background projections. Stunning, specially shot sequences (featuring actors, the Pet Shop Boys, and friends of Jarman) contrast with documentary montages of nature, all skillfully edited to music tracks.
Gallery
