A Pethead Is Born

I don't actually recall the date I was hooked on Pet Shop Boys. But I do recall the events surrounding my initial interest in them. It was during the early years of MTV when I was very much into what was considered New Wave. It was artists like The Police, Tears For Fears, U2, Depeche Mode, Erasure, A-ha and so many others that had me hooked on MTV. It was in 1986 when I saw the video for West End girls, that I was intrigued by this new group called Pet Shop Boys. Being in the boring social wasteland of the Midwest I was not able to find anything by this new group. But while visiting family in the Vieux Carre I was overwhelmed with the abundance of both new and used record shops. Where I lived, we had Peaches Records and Tapes which was probably the largest chain. You know they always had the huge album covers lining the outside perimeter of the buildings (which were always transformed grocery store buildings.)

While going through the variety of record stores in New Orleans I found a Pet Shop Boys CD. I grabbed it and felt so fortunate to have found it when I wasn't really looking for it. I couldn't wait to get in the car to play the CD. I know, CD players were almost unheard of in 1986 but I had my Sony Discman with the cassette adapter for the car. It was the top of the line Discman that retailed for about $500. I had already had my Home CD player since 1983 when they were selling for $800 - $1000. In fact I still have it and it still works.

The bad thing about the mid 80's was that music artists were releasing their albums on both vinyl and the new format, the CD. The vinyl version would be released weeks before the CD was released. Thus I was buying vinyl first and the CD later. I can still remember my 1st CD title I bought. I may expand on that at another time.

Still in 1986 I wasn't really what i would consider a fan of theirs when West End girls came out. It wasn't until Behaviour was released that I really found myself getting deeper into their music. Although I liked the first three albums, none were as artistically complete as Behaviour was. Since being a fan of U2 since the early 80's I was impressed with what they did with the non album single Where The Streets Have No Name and added Frankie Valli's Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You. When you can take a late 60's song and combine it with the 80's U2 song, that was something to hear. Neil and Chris have a way of making a song their own. They proved this when they did the cover version of Elvis' Always On My Mind in 1987.

So I went from liking them in 1986 to becoming a fan in 1988 to becoming a major fan in 1993 with the release of Very. I found over the years that music is the soundtrack to my life. When I hear a song, I can usually tell you where I was at that point in my life and how I was feeling about my life. There isn't a day that I don't have music playing somewhere in the background. Pet Shop Boys music is so much of the feelings and emotions of my life. If a song doesn't hold a particular memory or feeling of emotions, I know that one day I'll go back and listen to the song and find that it was almost like they knew how I would be feeling.

Most people consider Pet Shop Boys music to be depressing and about never having love. But how many of us have that shiny happy people feeling everyday? I'm not here to interpret their songs at least not at the moment. I will say that since Pet Shop Boys became a part of my life, I am a happier and much better person for it. My dream is to someday spend some extensive time to really talk with Neil and Chris. Although Neil is my favourite Pet Shop Boy and have met him at meet and greets, I would truly love to be able to meet with him one on one and exchange thoughts with him on various aspects of Pet Shop Boys. I know he really doesn't know how he and Chris have impacted my life. When I first met Neil in 1999 at the Nightlife show in Chicago I told him how much he has enlightened me and brought out feelings in me that no other musical artist has ever done.

In 1999 in Chicago I was finally elevated from a dedicated fan to that of a Pethead. At that moment after the show while having a few personal moments with Neil I knew that I was truly a Pethead and now I wonder if there is any higher honour than that of a Pethead.

I must say that I have met many fellow Petheads over the years both online through chatrooms, bloggers, forums and in person at the many concerts. But I have also made many friends from all over the country and I know we'll always be friends forever. My main Pet Shop Boy girl is Lynn. She is such a sweet and loving friend who is always there for me. I only wish we could be closer.

Then there's the number one guy I think the world of. His name is Mark or Marky. He knows who he is and I only wish I could tell him what I feel in my heart for him. I never want to distance myself from him, ever!

In closing, I can honestly say that Pet Shop Boys have influenced me and my life as no one (except one man) could ever hope to.