Neil Francis Tennant
[ Neil answers | Neil's favourite records ]
Neil Tennant was born on July 10, 1954, in North Shields. He grew up in Newcastle. In 1970 and 1971 he played acoustic guitar and sang in a folk group called Dust. In 1972 he moved to London to study history at the Polytechnic of North London (he finished a degree in 1975). His first job was as British editor of the American firm Marvel Comics. He subsequently worked at Macdonald Educational Publishing (1977), ITV Books (1981) and at Smash Hits magazine (1982).
the Time Out cover (October 24, 1975) arranged by Neil
Neil answers (from the Nightlife Tour programme)
Favourite drink:
Red wine. Or Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee. Or water.
Favourite food:
Brown rice and vegetables.
Favourite colour:
Dark blue.
Favourite toy as a kid:
A train set, my cousin's originally, on a green board. It had Potter's Bar station on it, and whenever I pass through Potter's Bar station on the way to Durham I always think of the train set.
Favourite item of clothing:
I'm afraid I haven't really got one at the moment.
Favourite word:
Umbilical.
Favourite journey:
When I lived in Rye I used to love the train journey from Ashford to Rye across the marshes on a winter's afternoon.
Favourite animal:
My dog.
Favourite smell:
Lavender.
Favourite book as a teenager:
'The Gormenghast Trilogy' by Mervyn Peake. I haven't read them for thirty years but I think I'm going to read again on this tour. I liked the fact that it was its own world - this enormous castle that goes on forever; you discover unknown rooms with things happening in them.
Turn-ons:
New shoes - I love the way they smell. Beautiful eyes - they make me melt. I also find gentleness a turn-on.
Turn-offs:
Shrinkwrapping. Smelly hotel rooms. People who bend your ear. I'm a bit of an ear-benders magnet.
Best and worst characteristics:
I don't think one should ever discuss what you regard as your best characteristics. The worst are an endless list. So many, really. Tetchiness, tactlessness, bossiness, being too full-on all the time, being slightly obsessive. All these things, by the way, have their positive side, I think.
First single bought:
'Girl Don't Come' by Sandie Shaw. And what a great record it is.
First album bought:
The Beatles' White Album.
First concert:
Jon Hiseman's Colosseum in Newcastle City Hall, autumn 1968. I wouldn't like it now but it was great then. I particularly liked the lights.
First kiss:
With Frances MacDonald in the book cupboard at the back of our classroom in St. Oswald's primary school in Newcastle when I was about nine. I quite enjoyed it.
Most impressive scar:
I've only got one scar really, less than one inch long, below my chin. I imagine I got it as a child, but I don't know how.
Things which make you cry:
Emotional music. For instance at Dusty's funeral when they played a tape
of 'Goin' Back'. People I know dying makes me cry, particularly if they're young. And innocence hurt, in whatever situation. But, especially these days, I don't think crying is necessarily a sign of sincerity.
Ambition as a child:
To be a pop star.