Editing Neil Tennant (section)

==Biography==
===Early life===
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).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=bA50vdYN8eUeyzPu%2Fv7AWw&scan=1|title=Index entry|access-date=22 August 2014|work=FreeBMD|publisher=ONS}}</ref> He has an older sister, Susan, and two younger brothers, Simon and Philip.<ref>{{cite book |last=Heath |first=Chris |date=2020 |title=Pet Shop Boys, Literally |location=London |publisher=William Heinemann |page=278 |isbn=9781473575691}}</ref> The family moved to Greenfield Road (opposite the corner of South Bend), Brunton Park, [[Gosforth]] shortly after Neil was born.<ref>{{cite news |last=Graham |first=Hannah |date=25 November 2016 |title=Childhood homes of North's stars; Where Our Famous Sons and Daughters Grew Up|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Childhood+homes+of+North%27s+stars%3B+WHERE+OUR+FAMOUS+SONS+AND+DAUGHTERS...-a0471378822|work=Evening Chronicle |location=Newcastle, UK |access-date=11 October 2024}}</ref>

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.{{sfn|Tennant|2018|p=16-17, 96-97, 192-193}}<ref>{{Cite AV media notes |title=Behaviour: Further Listening 1990-1991 |title-link=Behaviour (Pet Shop Boys album) |last=Heath |first=Chris |author-link=Chris Heath |others=[[Pet Shop Boys]] |year=2018 |pages=6-7|type=booklet |publisher=Parlophone Records |id=0190295818852}}</ref>

As a child, Tennant taught himself to play guitar and piano and started writing songs.{{sfn|Tennant|2018|p=9}} He also played cello in school.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Harrison|first=Ian|date=August 2013|title=Pet Shop Boys Interviewed: We prefer not to be fake |url=https://www.mojo4music.com/articles/stories/pet-shop-boys-interviewed/|magazine=Mojo|access-date=8 October 2024}}</ref> During his teenage years, he played in a [[folk music]] group named Dust, who were heavily influenced by [[The Incredible String Band]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Tapper |first=James |date=10 April 2022 |title=From Pet Shop Boy to nostalgic folkie: Neil Tennant plays guitar |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/apr/10/neil-tennant-plays-guitar-from-pet-shop-boy-to-nostalgic-folkie |work=The Guardian |location=London |access-date=8 October 2024}}</ref> Tennant wrote several of their songs including "Can You Hear the Dawn Break?", which he regards as his first 'proper' song.{{sfn|Tennant|2018|p=10}} He was also a member of the youth theatre at the [[People's Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne]].{{sfn|Tennant|2018|p=10}}

===Early career===
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.<ref>{{cite book | title=Pet Shop Boys, Annually | year=1989| id= {{ASIN|0723568421|country=uk}} }}</ref><ref name="PSB1975">{{cite web |url=https://www.petshopboys.co.uk/history/1975|title=Pet Shop Boys Official Site, History Section 1975|website=petshopboys.co.uk|access-date=11 October 2024}}</ref> He also wrote occasional features for the comics, including interviews with pop stars [[Marc Bolan]] and [[Alex Harvey (musician)|Alex Harvey]].<ref name="wordpodcast">{{cite AV media |people=Ellen, Mark and Hepworth, David (hosts)|date=9 April 2024|title=Word in Your Ear ep. 621: Neil Tennant remembers the pop press and the last great era of forward-looking songs|type=podcast|url=https://shows.acast.com/word-in-your-ear-2/episodes/word-podcast-621-neil-tennant-part-one|time=}}</ref> In 1977, he moved to Macdonald Educational Publishing,<ref name="PSB1975"/> where he edited ''The Dairy Book of Home Management'' (1980)<ref>{{cite news|title=The Dairy Book of Home Management - Hardcover|url=https://www.abebooks.co.uk/9780356072968/Dairy-Book-Home-Management-Carol-0356072967/plp|work=ABE Books.co.uk|year=1980|access-date=8 October 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Turner|first=Luke|date=20 May 2024|title=Playful yet Professional, Nevertheless: a Pet Shop Boys Interview|url=https://thequietus.com/interviews/pet-shop-boys-interview-neil-tennant-chris-lowe-nonetheless/|magazine=The Quietus|access-date=11 October 2024}}</ref> 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 (magazine)|The Face]]'', to design a book about the group [[Madness (band)|Madness]], he was offered a job at ''Smash Hits'' as news editor of the British teen pop magazine in 1982.<ref>{{cite news |last=Perrone |first=Pierre |date=5 April 2012 |title=Eric Watson: Photographer who worked with the Pet Shop Boys and for pop bible Smash Hits|url=https://www.the-independent.com/news/obituaries/eric-watson-photographer-who-worked-with-the-pet-shop-boys-and-for-pop-bible-smash-hits-7622219.html|work=The Independent |location=London |access-date=11 October 2024}}</ref><ref name="wordpodcast"/> The following year, he became assistant editor. He also edited ''The Smash Hits Yearbook'' from 1982 to 1985.

At ''Smash Hits'', an opportunity arose for him to go to New York to interview [[The Police]]. While there, Tennant arranged to meet [[Bobby Orlando]], a producer whom he and Chris Lowe admired. Tennant mentioned he was writing songs in his spare time, and Orlando agreed to record some tracks with him and Lowe at a later date. Orlando produced the Pet Shop Boys' first single "[[West End Girls]]".<ref>{{Cite AV media notes |title=Please: Further Listening 1984-1986|title-link=Please (Pet Shop Boys album)|last=Heath|first=Chris|others=[[Pet Shop Boys]]|year=2018|page=1|type=booklet|publisher=Parlophone|id=0190295831745|ref=pleasefurther}}</ref>

===Pet Shop Boys===
{{main|Pet Shop Boys}}
[[File:Neil Tennant (Pet Shop Boys) at Pori Jazz 2014.jpg|thumb|Tennant performing at [[Pori Jazz]] 2014 in Pori, Finland]]

===Solo appearances===
Alongside his work with Chris Lowe as Pet Shop Boys, Tennant has worked on several side projects including:
* In August 2024, he recited spoken-word lyrics of the song "[[Why? (Bronski Beat song)|Why?]]" by [[Bronski Beat]] on a remix by [[Superchumbo]] for the 40th anniversary edition of ''[[The Age of Consent (album)|The Age of Consent]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://djmag.com/news/bronski-beats-why-remixed-pet-shop-boys-neil-tennant-and-superchumbo-listen|title=Bronski Beat's 'Why' remixed by Pet Shop Boys' Neil Tennant and Superchumbo: Listen|last=LeJarde|first=Arielle Lana|date=7 August 2024|website=DJ Mag|access-date=3 November 2024}}</ref>
* In June 2024, he appeared on the [[Michael Berkeley]] album ''Collaborations'', singing "Zero Hour", a song about Ukraine for which Tennant also wrote the lyrics.<ref>{{cite news |last=Fairman|first=Richard|date=26 June 2024|title=Composer Michael Berkeley is joined by famous friends on 'Collaborations' — review|url=https://www.ft.com/content/3481abad-27c7-4402-ab2d-b1ae8f14e7c3|url-access=subscription|work=Financial Times|location=London|access-date=3 November 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Achenbach|first=Andrew|title=M Berkeley Collaborations|url=https://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/m-berkeley-collaborations|magazine=Grammophone|access-date=3 November 2024}}</ref>
* In 2023, Tennant provided vocals on "Skydive" by UK rapper [[Casisdead]].<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Davies|first=Sam|date=26 October 2023|title=An extremely rare interview with Casisdead|url=https://theface.com/music/casisdead-interview-album-deadcorp-famous-last-words|magazine=The Face|access-date=11 October 2024}}</ref>
* In 2017, Tennant sang a duet with [[Chrissie Hynde]] on "Let's Get Lost", which originally appeared on the 2016 album ''[[Alone (The Pretenders album)|Alone]]'' by [[The Pretenders]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/pretenders-lets-get-lost-neil-tennant/|title=Pretenders Release New Version of "Let's Get Lost" Featuring Pet Shop Boys' Neil Tennant|last=Giles |first=Jeff |date=6 February 2017|website=Ultimate Classic Rock|access-date=10 October 2024}}</ref>
* In 2014, Tennant provided vocals on "Were You There" by Diamond Version.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.releasemagazine.net/neil-tennant-sings-on-new-song-by-diamond-version/|title=Neil Tennant sings on new song by Diamond Version |last=Carlsson |first=Johan |date=24 April 2014 |website=Release Music Magazine|access-date=10 October 2024}}</ref>
* In 2008, Tennant's vocals featured in [[The Killers]]' Christmas song "[[Joseph, Better You Than Me]]".<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Vozick-Levinson|first=Simon|date=4 August 2020|title= U2, Elton John, and the Killers record Xmas songs for charity|url=https://ew.com/article/2008/12/23/killers-elton-x/|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=12 October 2024}}</ref>
* In 2007, Tennant co-produced [[Rufus Wainwright]]'s album ''[[Release the Stars]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Cohen|first=Jonathan|date=12 February 2007|title=Rufus Wainwright Seeing 'Stars' On Next Album|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/rufus-wainwright-seeing-stars-on-next-album-1055063/|magazine=Billboard|access-date=11 October 2024}}</ref>
* In June 2006, Tennant provided backing vocals on "Throw" by [[DJ Fresh]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Spencer|first1=Roy|date=1 May 2020 |title=Classic Album: DJ Fresh|url=https://www.pressreader.com/australia/future-music-9629/20200501/283648237046947
|url-access=limited|work=Future Music|access-date=12 October 2024|via=PressReader}}</ref>
* In 2005, Tennant provided lyrics and sang on the track "Tranquilizer" by DJ Tom Stephan (a.k.a. [[Superchumbo]]).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ra.co/reviews/3033?comments=1|title=Superchumbo - Wowie Zowie|last=Hogwood|first=Ben |date=19 June 2005|website=Resident Advisor|access-date=12 October 2024}}</ref> Under numerous guises and aliases, Stephan had previously remixed Pet Shop Boys tracks such as "[[Paninaro '95]]", "[[Minimal (song)|Minimal]]", "[[New York City boy]]" and "Sexy Northerner".
* In 1998, along with [[Neil Hannon]] of [[The Divine Comedy (band)|The Divine Comedy]], Tennant sang backing vocals on the [[Robbie Williams]]' single "[[No Regrets (Robbie Williams song)|No Regrets]]".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.petshopboys.co.uk/product/collaboration/robbie-williams-no-regrets
|title=No Regrets - Robbie Williams |website=petshopboys.co.uk |date=23 November 1998 |access-date=12 October 2024}}</ref>
* In 1998, he coordinated a charity album ''[[Twentieth-Century Blues: The Songs of Noël Coward]]'' raising money for [[Red Hot Organization]]. The album featured cover versions of songs composed by [[Noël Coward]]. In addition to the track "Sail Away" contributed by Pet Shop Boys, Tennant co-produced "There Are Bad Times Just Around the Corner" contributed by [[Robbie Williams]] and sang backing vocals on "Twentieth Century Blues" contributed by [[Elton John]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.petshopboys.co.uk/product/collaboration/twentieth-century-blues-the-songs-of-noel-coward|title=Noel Coward — Twentieth Century Blues|website=petshopboys.co.uk|date=6 September 1998}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Dalton|first=Stephen|date=12 March 2012|title=
From Rock's Backpages: Neil Tennant & Brett Anderson on Noel Coward|url=https://thequietus.com/interviews/rocks-backpages/neil-tennant-brett-anderson-vic-reeves-noel-coward/|magazine=The Quietus|access-date=12 October 2024}}</ref>
* In April 1996, Tennant's vocals were featured on two live recordings by the British group [[Suede (band)|Suede]] that were released as b-sides to their single "[[Filmstar (song)|Filmstar]]". One track was a cover of the Pet Shop Boys track "[[Rent (song)|Rent]]", and the second was a duet with Suede singer [[Brett Anderson]] on the Suede song "[[Saturday Night (Suede song)|Saturday Night]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.petshopboys.co.uk/product/collaboration/suede-film-star|title=Film Star|website=petshopboys.co.uk|date=1 August 1997|access-date=7 October 2024}}</ref>
* In 1992, his backing vocals featured prominently on the [[Boy George]] single "[[The Crying Game (song)|The Crying Game]]"<ref>{{cite news |last=Kenny|first=Glenn|date=1 March 1993|title='Crying' Time for Boy George, Pet Shop Boys|work=Rolling Stone}}</ref> and on the Cicero single "Love Is Everywhere".<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Earls|first=John|date=29 August 2023|title=Cicero - Future Boy|magazine=Classic Pop|page=95}}</ref> Both reached the UK Top 40 singles chart.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/24000/boy-george/|title=Boy George Songs and Albums: Full Official Chart History|website=Official Charts|access-date=12 October 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/27339/cicero/|title=Cicero Songs and Albums: Full Official Chart History|website=Official Charts|access-date=12 October 2024}}</ref>
* In 1989, he worked with [[Electronic (band)|Electronic]], singing backing vocals on their first single "[[Getting Away with It]]" and taking lead vocals on the 1992 single "[[Disappointed (Electronic song)|Disappointed]]". Along with Lowe, he wrote and appeared on the ''[[Electronic (album)|Electronic]]'' album track "The Patience of a Saint", on which he shared lead vocals with [[Bernard Sumner]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/interview-johnny-marr-looks-back-on-electronics-debut-album-30-years-on|title=Interview: Johnny Marr looks back on Electronic's debut album 30 years on|last=Draper|first=Jason|date=31 May 2021|website=Music Radar|access-date=11 October 2024}}</ref>

===Books===
* ''One Hundred Lyrics and a Poem'' (2018) – a collection of Pet Shop Boys' lyrics and song-by-song commentaries.<ref>{{cite book |last=Tennant |first=Neil |date=2018 |title=One Hundred Lyrics and a Poem: 1979–2016 |location=London |publisher=Faber & Faber |isbn=9780571348909 |oclc=1085375005}}</ref>