Pet Shop Boys members Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe are fans of the reimagination of their track, saying, “Sleaford Mods have brought East End boys back to the West End streets for a great cause and we love their new version.” The duo also remixed Sleaford Mods’ cover version which will feature on the limited edition single.

The Pet Shop Boys took to social media to promote the “West End Girls” cover, calling it “excellent.”

Check out the @sleafordmods’ excellent new cover version of “West End girls”. All proceeds go to the UK charity @Shelter. There’s also a PSB remix! Links below. https://t.co/e32hMvph5Thttps://t.co/yCV9reGYza https://t.co/6pEKqXqscA #PetText pic.twitter.com/C7v86ghOaY

— Pet Shop Boys (@petshopboys) November 21, 2023

Speaking on their decision to cover the track, Andrew Fearn of Sleaford Mods said “West End Girls is a song that’s very close to my heart, my coming-of-age track in so many ways.”

Bandmate James Williamson added, “I’ve been listening to the Pet Shop Boys’ albums ‘Please’ and ‘Actually’ a lot, the music still fits this landscape so well. When Andrew suggested we cover West End Girls, it was important to honour the track’s brilliance. So, when Neil and Chris gave the track their blessing our tiny minds were blown, and when we received their remix… it was almost too much. It was brilliant!”

Williamson also commented on teaming up with Shelter, saying, “We wanted to do something for Shelter again in the run up to Christmas so felt why not join up the two things. Their work all year round is so important and – unfortunately, considering the state of the country –needed more than ever. We are pleased proceeds from the single can go to them, and if you are coming to a show and can afford to make a donation, then Andrew and I really appreciate it too.”

Sleaford Mods have worked with Shelter previously and are keen to continue their fundraising efforts. All profits from the new single will go to the charity and the duo are also fundraising at their UK shows. Donate to their fundraiser here.

Shelter is a UK-based charity, tackling homelessness. Shelter believes that “Home is a human right. It’s our foundation and it’s where we thrive. Yet, every day millions of people are being devastated by the housing emergency. We exist to defend the right to a safe home. Because home is everything.”

Sleaford Mods’ cover of “West End Girls” is available to stream now, with physical vinyl and CD releases coming on 15th December.

Purchase tickets for Sleaford Mods’ UK shows here.

22/11/23 – O2 Academy – Birmingham
23/11/23 – O2 Academy – Glasgow
25/11/23 – National Stadium – Dublin
28/11/23 – O2 Academy – Leeds
29/11/23 – O2 Victoria Warehouse – Manchester
30/11/23 – O2 Academy – Bristol
2/12/23 – Alexandra Palace – London

Yo. More UK GRIM”, the new EP, written alongside UK GRIM is out on Friday 20 October. Pre-order/save your copy now https://t.co/4LVj8F3Gi6 pic.twitter.com/zFD9wZq5Ws

— Sleaford Mods (@sleafordmods) September 20, 2023

Made up of Andrew Fearn and Jason Williamson, Sleaford Mods released UK Grim to wide critical acclaim, with the album finding chart and mainstream success. Now, the duo are looking to further capitalise on the wave they have been riding, gearing up to release a companion EP to UK Grim. The group also shared a new single from the impending EP, with “Big Pharma” expounding with a critical eye, the Covid pandemic and all of the information that, they allege, certain groups pushed forward with the aim of making capital gains. The song has been described by Sleaford Mods as lyrically punishing and brutally honest.

Tomorrow. 11am BST #sleafordmods #moreukgrim pic.twitter.com/gEWqn99r43 — Sleaford Mods (@sleafordmods) September 19, 2023

Speaking on the new single, Williams said, “‘Big Pharma’ was written in the opening chapters of autumn 2022 when Covid kicked in again. It carries a lot of the normal Sleaford Mods absurdism but also looks at the ongoing fascination with trying to find truths in information wholly pushed by very questionable people.” 

Further elaborating on the politically charged phrase that is the song’s title, Williams added, “Now, Big Pharma is more familiar as a term used by right wing and industrial groups trying to mask the financial aims of their arguments with some kind of critical thinking panache-type legitimacy. It just feels wrong. It feeds on hopelessness, widespread fear and generations of unfettered misinformation linked to the limited critical perception we as the masses are burdened with.”

The song is also accompanied by a new video, helmed by Sean Sears. The video features an animated format that matches the lyrical content of the track and recalls the fear and information overload that often characterised the panic surrounding the pandemic.

The single and EP announcement also comes amid the duo’s preparations for their upcoming UK and European tour, beginning in October and running through to the end of the year. The pair have also shared that their performance at London’s Alexandra Palace in December will feature special guests, Special Interest, John Grant and Stewart Lee.

Back in June, Sleaford Mods joined Brit-pop legends Blur for their two night Wembley Arena performances. Supporting the band on their first night, Sleaford Mods had the opportunity to promote their sound to scores of potential new listeners.

Sleaford Mods new EP, More UK Grim can be pre-ordered here. Tickets for the upcoming tour can be found here.

Sleaford Mods UK and Europe Tour:

14/10/2023 – Tivoliredenburg – Utrecht, Netherlands
15/10 – De Roma – Antwerp, Belgium
16/10 – Batschkapp – Frankfurt, Germany
18/10 – Carlswerk Victoria – Cologne, Germany
19/10 – Grosse Freiheit 36 – Hamburg, Germany
21/10 – Columbiahalle – Berlin, Germany
24/10 – Taubchenthal – Leipzig, Germany
25/10 – Roxy – Prague, Czech Republic
26/10 – Vienna Arena – Vienna, Austria
28/10 – Tonhalle – Munich, Germany
29/10 – X-Tra – Zurich, Switzerland
01/11 – Sala Apolo – Barcelona, Spain
03/11 – La Riviera – Madrid, Spain
05/11 – Le Krakatoa – Bordeaux, France
06/11 – Stereolux – Nantes, France
07/11 – Le Bataclan – Paris, France
22/11 – O2 Academy – Birmingham
23/11 – O2 Academy – Glasgow
25/11 – National Stadium – Dublin
28/11 – O2 Academy – Leeds
29/11 – O2 Academy Warehouse – Manchester
30/11 – O2 Academy – Bristol
02/12 – Alexandra Palace – London
05/01/2024 – Rockaway Beach Festival – Bognor Regis