Pet Shop Boys Share Wild Stories About Barbara Windsor and Music Videos in New Book
Pet Shop Boys are releasing a 600-page book about their music videos and visual work. The duo shared wild stories about working with actress Barbara Windsor and how their record label censored some of their videos.
Pet Shop Boys, the electronic music duo behind hits like "West End Girls" and "It's a Sin," are celebrating their visual work with a massive new book. The 600-page collection covers their groundbreaking costumes, concerts, album covers, and music videos spanning decades.
The band members revealed colorful stories about their creative process, including working with British actress Barbara Windsor, who appeared in their "Always On My Mind" music video as a seaside landlady. Windsor was known for her roles in the Carry On comedy films and later EastEnders.
The duo also discussed ongoing battles with their record label EMI over video content. They mentioned having to censor a "naked trampolinist" and other provocative imagery that horrified their bosses. The band said they deliberately tried to "side-step the pop-star thing" with their unconventional visual approach.
Their influence on visual culture was significant enough that photographer Wolfgang Tillmans, then 20, tore down one of their poster advertisements from a building site in Hamburg in 1988 and hung it in his apartment.
The book offers rare behind-the-scenes stories from one of the most successful electronic music acts. It shows how artists often clash with record labels over creative control and reveals the making of iconic 80s and 90s music videos.
The 600-page visual retrospective book is now available, offering fans detailed looks at decades of Pet Shop Boys imagery.
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