Pet Shop Boys, Literally

Great Book which provides an insight into their touring life in the early 90's with very honest discussions captured by the Pet Shop Boys

Not sure what the other reviewers were reading, what they expected or how many other pop biographies they've read, but I needed to set the record straight on this one: this is a fantastic book. The PSB passion, boredom (with the mundane workmanlike aspects of touring) and often cruel humour shine through. Heath writes in the same chatty but incisive and perceptive way that was the core of Smash Hits style (much like "Like Punk Never Happened").No, there isn't any digging deep into 'the creative process', perhaps because it charts the course of a tour rather than the recording of an album. But the wealth of observation of the PSB in action, and their sheer hilarious, bitchy bloody-mindedness (this is certainly no hagiography, which some readers might find a bit off-putting) is a delight.Also recommended, but slightly darker, "PSB vs America".

I’m a massive Pet Shop Boys fan and I never got to see them on their 1989 tour big regret. So seeing it documented is brilliant. A great and quick read.

Amazing book, great quality and arrived in perfect condition. A must for fans and fans of music in general.

Essential for all the fans. One of the first writen descriptions of the boys way of being and determinant to know the beginning of their career.

Enjoyable

Written in the form of a diary in the course of the notorious 1989 (sorry MCMLXXXIX) Tour by long time collaborator Chris Heath, "Pet Shop Boys Literally" is a sad, depressing exercise in vainglory and emptiness. For sure, the Pet Shop Boys are not like any pop stars. For sure, they do not really want to do what they do. Of course, it's all a pause...isn't it?..Well it isn't. In reality, we face two spoilt brats, sometimes arrogant, sometimes cheap, but essentially very very insecure - as was demonstrated by the video of this tour, which showed in the face of the world that the PSBs were relying on a lot of effects to bypass what they must have perceived as the weakness of their music while - guess what - the only reason we care for these people is...ahem...their music.The overall picture is therefore quite morose. Chris Heath does not write badly but he has obviously been over-edited and even if, as the Tour goes to Britain, the Boys tend to relax a bit, the casual reader cannot help but feel sorry for these rich, frustrated and arrogant pop stars. Let's play their music and stick to this, shall we?Please note that there was a second edition of this book for the US market (why?) published in 1992: the extra material (a couple of pages on the official history of the band between the end of the 1989 and May 1992) adds absolutely zero value. Potential UK readers can safely stick to the first edition.

The previous review is correct; 'Literally' leaves one totally dismayed. I first read this book when it was first published and recall then being left feeling that it presented a less than favourable representation of PSB. I'd clearly forgotten this and bought it again recently but was left with the same feeling of frustration. It really is truly awful. It has a unique ability for a music biography/ 'history of' a band (if that is what it is supposed to be) of encouraging one to actually dislike thoroughly the subject matter. My impression has always been that they are both highly intelligent, totally professional musicians who are also thoroughly nice people. Heath conveys the impression that they are simply vacuous and shallow. The book provides nothing in the way of detailed analysis of the creative process. PSB have consistently been intelligent and imaginative in their approach to their music and in performance. None of this is examined with any degree of thoughtfulness. Admittedly, this book was published during the earlier period of their career but, even so, surely there was a lot more to write about even then. This is an exceptionally lazy book and badly written. Yes, music biographies quite often are (probably since they tend to be rushed and written by third-rate music journalists) but this is spectacularly bad. There is simply no flare to it. I would not recommend anyone who appreciates the remarkable creative genius of PSB to read this; it will leave you totally disenchanted and frustrated. I am amazed I ever bought another record of theirs after reading this nonsense. The book is sloppy, provides no insight in to anything in particular and, more critically, there is no evidence of any extensive research at all. A random collection of ramblings does not constitute a thorough music biography; it was evidently thrown together and as such is hugely disappointing. Contrast this, for instance, with a number of the exceptionally well-researched and beautifully written biographies of Depeche Mode. There is no comparison! The previous reviewer has hit the nail on the head; this book is excruciatingly bad, which, given the subject matter's intelligent approach to their music and career, is quite a remarkable achievement! How you can make an incredibly important band appear very unremarkable baffles me. To summarise, if you actually like PSB, avoid this book; it is bland, uninspiring, is based upon little (if any) serious research and, ultimately, leaves one quite bemused. PSB deserve an up to date, thorough and intelligent examination of their remarkable career and this is certainly not it.