The Pet Shop Boys are back with a show and a new single.
Neil Tennant talked to Simon Gage.

SIMON: Is the story about you and Chris meeting in an electrical store in the King's Road true?

NEIL: It is true, yes.

So, who cruised who?

I wouldn't put it like that.

Why would you not put it like that? Two men meet in a shop, that's cruising, isn't it?

I didn't regard myself as gay at the time actually. In fact, I'd just finished going out with a girl. This is a long time ago, sixteen years ago. So I'd just finished with what I now know with hindsight to be my last ever relationship with a girl. So I didn't consider myself to be gay then.

So did Chris help you in any way to come to... I don't want to say come to terms, 'cause I hate that...

I'm just thinking about that question... erm, in so much as he's always been a good friend.

Have you ever fancied him?

Well, I'm, not going to answer questions like that.

Why? You're no fun. Everyone else fancies him, you must.

Is he still the number 7 most fanciable man in the country or whatever?

He's probably gone up.

Someone pointed out that list in your magazine. I think he was quite chuffed, when he was number one anyway.

When you came out, did the reaction of the public change at all?

I don't think so because I think most people thought I was gay anyway so I didn't really... It's a very difficult thing to gauge though, isn't it, reaction of the public.

It seemed like you were reluctant to come out for some reason. What was the reason?

I always thought that from just before I left Smash Hits I was pretty out in my personal life. When we became pop stars I didn't want to be out simply because I thought it was more interesting not to be.

So do you regret having come out?

No, I don't regret it at all. But as one of the Pet Shop Boys I do feel pigeon-holed in a way. Do you think that's true? But then you probably always thought I was gay anyway.

You said that I should ask Chris about his own sexuality, but he never does interviews does he?

No, that's the problem with that one really.

Won't he let you speak on his behalf?

No, most definitely not.

On stage you're the singer, so obviously you're going to be in the forefront . But he does tend to hang back a little.

Oh, he's deliberately gone about being the Pet Shop Boys in a way that means he can go unrecognised in everyday life, which by and large he can do as long as he doesn't wear a baseball cap and dark glasses. He has to put those on to do the Pet Shop Boys thing really.

Clear up the hamster stories.

The hamster story is... I personally don't believe anyone's ever put a hamster up their bum. Chris and I had some friends who worked in a pet shop in Ealing and they used to be referred to as the pet shop boys and we used to say that they should start a group 'cause it sounds like a rap group. There were B Box Boys and the Peech Boys and the Beastie Boys were just coming up then. Do you know anyone who's ever done that? Have you ever met anyone in your own life who's done that?

No, but I lead a very sheltered life.

I'd be very surprised. You've got to laugh anyway, if that's what people think we get up to. We're animal lovers, we wouldn't do anything like that. You thought it was Chris did you?

Well, you know what a dark horse he is. So your idea of a video is to get Bruce Weber to take you somewhere exotic with lots of Brazilian boys and they have to get undressed and get in the bath and things...

It's always his idea. He did 'Being Boring' and 'Se A Vida E'. 'Being Boring' was done in a freezing cold house in Long Island in the winter . We just had this party going on for about 8 hours and we had these two camera crews, which is why it looks so pretty, it was really quite natural. It was just all these models...

...Jumping on trampolines naked...

...Getting changed into clothes and having a bit of a party. And the 'Se A Vida E' shoot was great too, in the swimming pool. But I didn't really fancy anyone there, if that's what you're thinking.

You're a bit hard to please.

I think they probably look better on film.

You know what they say: 'Picky, picky, don't get no dicky'.

Well. You get what you want though, don't you. It's better to get what you want than something you don't want.

I can't imagine not wanting someone in one of those videos.

Oh, I didn't say 'Being Boring', just 'Se A Vida E'.

Do you do that then? Do you get the boys after filming's finished?

No I don't. Well, I mean...

You wouldn't want to rule it out?

No. I certainly wouldn't rule it out.

Are you courting at the moment?

No, I'm not actually. Not that I would use the word 'courting' anyway. I just recently finished a relationship with someone.

Was that your idea, or his?

Erm, that's a good question. It was mutual.

So you don't feel dumped or anything?

Oh no, quite the opposite.

So, you did dump him?

No, I didn't really. No, I don't want to say that because he'll probably read this. We're still very good friends.

That's what they all say.

I think it's quite Interesting 'cause I think when you have been out with someone - I know it's not the case with everyone - but I always tend to stay friendly with people when I've been out with them. It becomes like an extended family.

It's easy if you dump them, but if they dump you, sometimes it's too humiliating to be friends.

I think with relationships, you both tend to know really, don't you? It's different if you shag someone twice and think oh God, I'm bored to death with you now, but that's not really a relationship anyway, is it?

You didn't have a relationship till really late on did you? Why were you such a late starter?

In the 70's I was officially straight and had two long affairs with two girls who were really nice. I'm still friends with one if them. That went on till just after I met Chris actually. Then I, as you put it, came to terms with it all. Then we became famous. And I had sex with people sometimes but I didn't meet anyone, to be honest.

Were you looking for someone?

Yeah, I was. There was someone I went out with for a while, but it all went a bit weird.

Is it difficult to have a relationship with you now 'cause everyone's going to feel a bit like Mrs Neil Tennant?

I do think there is that actually. Sometimes I realise why pop stars go out with models.

'Cause they're gorgeous?

One, 'cause they're gorgeous. If they are gorgeous in real life and not just in photographs. But also because when you go out with a pop star you become their boyfriend, and you lose your identity. Most people in my experience find that frustrating after a while. And most people assume that you are just a kept man.

And it must be such a risk when you start a relationship with a pop star that your whole life changes for the better and you're going to all these glamorous things...

If that's important to you. I think that's a novelty that wears off very quickly.

But you stand to lose a lot if you start a relationship with someone and your lifestyle changes in whatever way and then you've got to go back if it finishes.

I don't think you should look at it like that. I think you have to look at someone as a person and not as a glamorous way of life. If I go out with someone, I join their way of life too. It's a two-way thing, isn't it?

So you end up down the chip shop?

Quite likely. Actually, it would never be a chip shop 'cause I don't like fish and chips. You know, you're in Amalfi on Old Compton Street. I don't always like pissy expensive places anyway. I'm quite happy to be in the kitchen cooking, or at someone else's house with a bottle of wine.

So what are you looking for in a young man?

You assume that they're young. I'm looking for someone who is intelligent, doesn't just relate to me as a pop star, is a fun-loving person but not a clubaholic - someone who is just occasionally in bed before five o'clock in the morning. Someone who has got nice eyes, smiles a lot, is affectionate...

Aaah. And what age range are we looking at?

I think we're looking over a wide age range. From 24 to..

Very precise, 24.

Not a student.

Students need not apply.

Up to my age. Not older than me.

You don't want a daddy.

No I don't, actually. Also I don't want to be a daddy to them, to be honest.

That sounds easy. You could get that.

I'm not really looking to be honest. The other one only finished recently.

You don't want to let the grass grow under your feet.

I'm not a serial monogamist.

Are you going out sowing wild oats until the next one comes along?

Who knows?

This interview was published in the 14th June 1997 issue of Boyz.