Neil Tennant

This article is about the singer, songwriter and music journalist. For the American philosopher, see Neil Tennant (philosopher).

Neil Tennant
Tennant performing with Pet Shop Boys at Hyde Park in 2019
Tennant performing with Pet Shop Boys at Hyde Park in 2019
Background information
Birth nameNeil Francis Tennant
Born (1954-07-10) 10 July 1954 (age 70)
North Shields, Northumberland, England
OriginNewcastle upon Tyne, England
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • music journalist
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • keyboards
  • synthesizer
  • guitar
Years active1970–present
Labels
Member ofPet Shop Boys
Websitewww.petshopboys.co.uk

Neil Francis Tennant (born 10 July 1954) is an English singer, songwriter and music journalist, and co-founder of the synth-pop duo the Pet Shop Boys, which he formed with Chris Lowe in 1981. He was a journalist for Smash Hits, and assistant editor for the magazine in the mid-1980s.

Tennant coined the phrase imperial phase to describe the period in which a musical artist is regarded to be at their commercial and creative peak simultaneously. This observation was initially self-referential, made as the Pet Shop Boys had achieved commercial success with four British number one hits ("West End Girls", "It's a Sin", "Heart", and "Always on My Mind"), had received unanimous critical praise for their first three albums and had expanded their creative horizons through innovative collaborations in the visual and performing arts.[1]

  1. ^ Ewing, Tom (28 May 2010). "Imperial". Pitchfork. Retrieved 21 October 2022. I felt at this time that we had the secret of contemporary pop music, that we knew what was required. We entered our imperial phase.