Show been to : WEMBLEY
Monday 20th December 1999
Finally, after reading about all the US and early European dates, this is my own very long (warning, slightly gushing, but basically just happy!) account about seeing my first ever Pet Shop Boys concert, at Wembley Arena, and then what happened outside later...

Monday 20th December 1999. ...It's absolutely fabulous they're still around today I'm sure that they will yet go a very long way! My day started early, and it may not often snow at Christmas, but there was some lying a couple of centimetres thick on the ground so it was a cold morning. As we travelled towards London, it thinned and quickly disappeared. Spent some time s-h-o-p-p-i-n-g around Oxford Street, and managed to pick up a couple of PSB items which I wouldn't have been able to get back home. Looked around outside Wembley early, and smiled with appreciation on seeing a guy at the front of a queue wearing a bright orange wig. (Spoke to a friendly guy who said that Gary Barlow's concert the night before had been less than great...) Went in a while later, and practically bought the place out of merchandise. ;) Found our seats, pretty much what I expected, there were a lot that would have been better,

and an equal number which would have been worse. Had a good enough view of the stage, but couldn't even really see their faces properly. :( I think a giant TV screen as used by the largest venues would be useful even in a smaller place like the Arena. I took a few photos, but I'm not very sure whether they'll come out at all. It was fairly full, one block at the front and back were empty, but I think a big chunk of the front one would have almost been behind the stage, which is presumably why it was empty. There were still some great seats there though. *sigh* Neither Kylie or David Bowie turned up. Which was probably not a huge surprise, but there was some speculation they might invite a guest star since it was London. Apparently there were rumours that DB was in town, though Kylie was entertaining Australian troops in East Timor on Tuesday! I would have fussed with the set list, preferring to hear one or two different songs to the ones they did, but I really can't complain, since all their songs are magical in their own way.

I most missed the absence of "Paninaro ('95)", which would have pulled Chris into a welcome moment in the spotlight. I didn't see anyone giving out hats/postcards as others have said, I guess that was only on the floor or at the front. I don't think anyone was wearing hats at the sides either. They looked nifty, but I actually wondered if they might have obstructed people's views. First song up, as most of you know by now, several months into the tour, was "For your own good", at 8.20pm. Loved the images on the curtain - big colourful pics of them spinning around. I hope that every song, but that start in particular will make it to the future video (yes, there had better be one!).

And, no, they weren't filming that night, I think I'd have seen the cameras. The set list was unchanged from all the previous dates. Then the curtain went down and there they were! Huge welcoming cheer from the crowd. Chris didn't move from his keyboard. He also didn't say a word - I hoped he might, but predictably he didn't. The version of "Being Boring" had a surprisingly melancholic air to it, I didn't expect they could make it sound so sad. I like "Happiness is an option" a lot, and particularly enjoyed listening to Neil singing the chorus. The last verse was a little different to that on Nightlife, he talked a bit faster and not to quite the same rhythm. I loved hearing the various classic lines, such as "Che Guevara and Debussy to a disco beat", most of "Being Boring", and "because you dance to disco and you don't like rock. :) The people in our section sat through the whole first half. A few people on the same side, nearer the stage, were dancing but that was about it. I couldn't really see the floor, or how the crowd was reacting down there. I'm not much of a dancer, but I would have happily joined in that night if the people around me were. It is the biggest concert I've ever been to, but it felt like one you shouldn't sit still through. The first half went quickly, but the second half seemed to be literally over in a flash.

I can hardly believe they packed in all those songs! I can't impress enough on people who have yet to go how quickly two hours passes. I think I did, but you really have to make sure to savour every single minute. The red lighting through "Vampires" was so very cool. I think it was that one where the smoke machines on stage went crazy, and Chris was completely hidden towards the end! There was another song where a light from the stage was glaring out seemingly right into my eyes, which was a bit annoying, but generally the lights only added to the atmosphere. I must admit that I didn't pay a lot of attention to the films and picture projections, they were rather in the background, and I spent most of the time staring towards Neil trying to make out his gestures! I can quite understand why people would want to see them several times because there's a lot of different things to take in at once. At some point I vaguely noted that the backing singers + Sylvia were not very intrusive in the sound mix at all. I wasn't too bothered since I'm quite happy to listen to Neil, but I wonder if it was a problem. In fact, I rarely even heard Sylvia. I was surprised that they didn't do more extended versions of songs, if only to give Neil a slight break. "Vampires" was the only one where the backing singers took over for a minute or two at the end. The acoustic

"You only tell me you love me when you're drunk" was good, very different, and rather faster so it was over even more quickly than the short enough already album track. I prefer the album version merely because it takes longer to get to the end. ;) "Se a vida e" started on guitar, but lost the simplicity as it progressed ('twas still fab though!). Finally by "Always on my mind", people around us started getting up and dancing. "Shameless" was one of my favourites, fantastic song, especially when they slowed it down in the middle. The 10 second intro to "Opportunities" has always been a PSB highlight for me, and it was very special to hear it in that setting. Everyone nearby sat down again for "Footsteps", and then "Go West" started and finished and it was all over in the shortest two hours which have ever passed! Well, the concert was over at least... It's really impossible to tell whether they thought it went well when compared to other nights, but I hope they enjoyed it. (If anyone in London reads any newspaper s, please post them, e-mail them to me, or let me have a web link!)

Afterwards, we walked around the outside, wondering whether there was anywhere to wait to possibly see them leaving. I was shocked and a little amused at encountering the sellers with unofficial PSB things on the road outside. Their T-shirts looked terrible, but I must confess (it's a sin and I tried not to do it), to succumbing to buying a Nightlife poster. I wish they'd sold official posters inside - I don't like thinking of these people ripping off Neil and Chris like that. I figured I'd bought enough of the official goodies, so I hope they can both forgive me the one poster. ;) So we came around to the gate nearest the backstage door, where maybe 100 fans gathered. It was very cold. As time passed so slow, this number dwindled to about 50. I didn't really plan to do it, but my philosophy was that once you've started to wait, you have to stay right to the end, however long it might take! Various people and cars left through the gates and we all stared at each car with deep suspicions that a Pet Shop Boy might be hiding in the boot, or under the seats. ;) I thought Janet (Street-Porter) may have been in one of the cars, but I can't be sure. I think I stuck with waiting because I had a certain faith that they would come out and we'd at least see them up close, and they might come over to talk for a minute. Also because I was very aware that it might be a once in a lifetime opportunity, and if I found out later they'd met fans, I would have been forever regretting the missed chance. After an hour, hour and a half, Dainton came out to let a car *in*. He signed one guy's programme too. His presence gave me hope, and made me believe that they were still inside - just because a group of fans were there didn't mean that the Boys hadn't left Wembley the second they walked off stage! At about 12.20, the legendary white limo came through the gates, and was stopped by a rush of fans. Chris was apparently in it, but there was a group of fans both sides of the gates, I was the wrong side, and by the time I got anywhere near, his window was surrounded! I think he just said a few words of thanks after winding his window down a fraction, then the car made its getaway and Chris was gone.

:( There was some doubt as to whether Neil was with him too, but the consensus was that he wasn't, so we settled back to wait. I don't think I've ever been so cold, but luckily it wasn't raining, else I doubt we'd have suffered that for long. I wouldn't normally do this kind of thing, and I don't think I'd have done it for anyone else on the planet! The next day, you can hardly believe you waited that long in total, but while you're there, it's exciting because you have that very real hope that you might meet them... We wandered about 30 footsteps in the dark further along the fence, where we could see the people coming out the stage door more clearly than from the entrance gate. About 15 minutes later, Neil appeared. He saw us - two females plus another female fan who was there - and *started walking towards us*. I think time stopped or something, my heart started missing several beats - I could hardly believe it was happening! He said "hello", in *that voice* and I practically melted on the spot. I was literally completely star struck, there were so many things I could have said, and I just managed a few mumbled compliments and "thank you's"! I wanted to say to him "For your own good call me tonight"! ;) He squiggled on our programmes, by this time there were about 30, largely French, fans behind us, screaming and almost pushing us over. My lovely new poster got ripped in the crush, I'm trying to look at it as something of a battle scar. ;) I'm sure if it was anyone else, from Michael Jackson to Tony Blair, I would have thought nonchalantly, "oh, neat, Michael Jackson's standing in front of me", but this was NEIL, who means far more to me than any other celeb, and thus my mind went blank. Ah, if only I could talk to him properly for 5 minutes -

I'm sure I'd be capable of it if I had the chance to get over the initial reaction! It goes without saying that he is completely gorgeous. He was quite smiley, and walked up and down to smoothly sign each thing which was thrust in his direction. One person actually asked him loudly, "can I shake your hand?", and I am forever indebted to whoever that was, because I don't think it would have occurred to me within the time that that was the best possible thing to do! He even managed to be a little conversational, which was impressive considering half of us were stunned into near silence, and the other half were screaming hysterically! One guy said "Te quiero", which I thought was kinda nice. It was so absolutely fleeting though! There was no room for a proper hug through the fence, but I did shake his hand. So was it worth it? Oh, yes.

:-D There was more icing on the cake on the journey home. I picked up a newspaper, and was thrilled to spot a prominent picture of Neil and Chris in the news section. It told me the news that they've won their libel battle against Roger Scruton - I was happy to hear it, and I imagine it'll be a nice Christmas present for them. :) I so hope that they will tour in the future, and that I can get to see them again. If not, at least I've got some wonderful memories, and I know that many fans live too far away to get even one chance. The highlight of the concert for me, since I didn't have ideal seats and thus couldn't pretend to be trying to catch Neil's eye all night was his voice. It was the voice I have been listening to for so many years, maybe far more assured live than I expected, and breathtakingly beautiful throughout. Of course, the fact that they have created limitless amazing songs to put it to is a bonus. ;) I wish that night had really been forever. They always have been and always will be truly two in a million. Thank you Chris, and especially Neil, for one of the Nights of my Life. CJ (a.k.a. neil's blue eyes) Subject: Wembley Wembley Wembley!!!! Date: 24 Dec 1999 01:41:23 GMT From: tjn@aol.com (TJ aka fuzzyfoto)

Organization: AOL http://www.aol.com Newsgroups: alt.music.pet-shop-boys Now that I have had a few days to kick back and shake the jet lag - I had a great time at the Wembley Concert too. though I had purchased my tickets the 2nd day of sale back in June - supposedly before they were out for public sale - I had just OK floor seats. It was cute to see all the folks funny wig-hats in the front area. I wondered why they only restricted giving them out to only that section? I got back home to Boston to the same silly eyebrow-wig hat (xmas card) hand signed and was jubilant! My favorite tracks were certainly "Being Boring" and "Shameless" - however it was cool to see the Dusty tribute and also "Young Offender" seemed to be a surprise - though I thought it was lacklustre as the opener for the 2nd set - it would have worked

better somewhere inbedded in the set. I think "Go West" is a great song - but too Village People anthem-like to end the show. I think if it were exchanged with "Shameless" at the end it would tear the roof off the sucker! And Sylvia Mason-James just did not hit the high notes - though her voice was nicely rounded in the mix. It was most notable on "IDKWYWBICGIA" where she is supposed to do a diva-wail and it is not up in the peak zone as on the cd (actually - I think that is a different singer anyway). I liked the difference of seeing them in London as opposed to NYC to view the stage and setting better. In NYC I was in the very front row/center and had the abfab opportunity to meet Neil in person and "pose for pictures" which was a high moment. In London I got the opportunity to see the amazing light show (Pink Floyd lighting designer I believe)

and video graphics/films better. It was stunning and memorable and I felt the sound was terrific. I enjoyed the back up singers again and really really enjoyed the acoustic numbers. I was even surprised to find that the concert version of "Footsteps" with male back up singers made the song much more listenable - the cd version just reminds me too much of TLC or the like and that just plain bugs me. I also connected with the lyrics of the songs on the new cd during the concert more strongly than ever. If the Boys decide to continue the tour I would really and truly hope they would consider changing the song set a bit for folks who want to see them multiple times. I think it would be wise to add one song that would get Chris involved more - perhaps the upcoming "Lies" track? And the few tunes that I would think would spin the house would be "Closer To Heaven" & "Metamorphosis". "Always On My Mind" never sounded so good!!!! The tour programmes were just slightly different in London with a die cut cover for the word "Nightlife". What else can I say - except I can't wait until they release live material!!!! Brilliant.
Cheers from Boston,
TJ Happy Holidays
All Boston MA