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

After only being available as an iTunes exclusive until 2016, the album became available as a limited-edition CD that could only be purchased on the bands website. As an early Christmas gift, the band selflessly made their holiday tunes public without any social-media announcement or incentives to promote their newest album, Imploding The Mirage.

Don’t Waste Your Wishes features 10 tracks. The most popular singles off the album include Joel The Lump of Coal, Dirty Sledding and the cover of I’ll Be Home For Christmas which features Ned Humphrey Hanson.

This year, the most powerful track goes to Christmas in LA, which is fitting for the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic as it deals with isolation and mental-health during the holiday season. Another single which is in keeping with the times would be ¡Happy Birthday Guadalupe!, featuring Wild Light and Mariachi el Bronx; it deals with politics surrounding boarder control.

There are many famous faces to appear in the music videos and in the recordings of these singles including Jimmy Kimmel, Elton John, Richard Dreyfuss and Owen Wilson. Many of the actors contributed by starring in the music video, like short films.

Christmas is nigh, Covid-19 continues to surge, but The Killers have released Don’t Waste Your Wishes at the very moment when joy and cheer are needed most throughout the UK. Nevertheless, fans can repay this early stocking-gift by ordering tickets for the upcoming The Killers tour in the spring and summer of 2021.

Don’t Waste Your Wishes Tracklist:

01. A Great Big Sled (feat. Toni Halliday)
02. Don’t Shoot Me Santa (feat. Ryan Pardey)
03. Joseph, Better You Than Me” (feat. Elton John and Neil Tennant)
04. ¡Happy Birthday Guadalupe! (feat. Wild Light and Mariachi el Bronx)
05. Boots
06. The Cowboys Christmas Ball
07. I Feel It in My Bones (feat. Ryan Pardey)
08. Christmas in L.A. (feat. Dawes)
09. Joel the Lump of Coal (feat. Jimmy Kimmel)
10. Dirt Sledding (feat. Ryan Pardey and Richard Dreyfus)
11. I’ll Be Home for Christmas (feat. Ned Humphrey Hansen)