Jack Bond’s cinematic journey began with a BBC apprenticeship and quickly ascended to prominence through audacious collaborations. His partnership with the visionary Jane Arden in the 1960s and ’70s yielded groundbreaking works like ‘Separation’, ‘The Other Side of the Underneath,’ and ‘Anti-Clock,’ films that pushed the boundaries of avant-garde cinema and psychological storytelling.

Following Arden’s tragic death in 1982, Bond shelved these works for decades, their haunting resonance unearthed only in 2009. Later, his contributions to The South Bank Show—featuring Werner Herzog, Patricia Highsmith, and an indelible portrait of Roald Dahl—cemented his reputation as a chronicler of artistic genius.

In the 1980s, Bond’s idiosyncratic style found a new canvas with the Pet Shop Boys, directing their surrealist feature ‘It Couldn’t Happen Here’ (1988). This surreal narrative intertwined the Pet Shop Boys’ music with enigmatic visuals, creating a cinematic experience that defied conventional genres. Stephen Dalton described it for the BFI upon its 2020 re-release as “a full English breakfast of kiss-me-quick kitchen-sink surrealism” reflecting its unique blend of British cultural references and avant-garde filmmaking.

Bond’s collaborations with the Pet Shop Boys marked a significant intersection of avant-garde filmmaking and mainstream pop. In addition to the film, Bond directed the music video for ‘Heart,’ released in March 1988. The video featured actor Ian McKellen portraying a vampire, adding a dramatic and theatrical element that complemented the song’s themes. He also directed the music video for the Pet Shop Boys’ 1987 reimagining of the Elvis classic ‘Always on My Mind.’

In a statement released on 22 December, The Pet Shop Boys acknowledged Bond’s significant impact on their visual presentation. They expressed sadness at his passing and reflected on their collaborative work, noting that Bond’s direction played a crucial role in bringing their artistic visions to life. They finished by emphasising that “He was a warm and funny man who we very much enjoyed working with and we send our love and condolences to his family and those close to him.”

After his collaborations with the Pet Shop Boys his cinematic wit continued to shine in ‘The Blueblack Hussar’, chronicling Adam Ant’s return to music, and ‘An Artist’s Eyes’, a portrait of painter Chris Moon.

Jack Bond’s death at 87 brings an end to a life of unyielding creative passion. His work includes groundbreaking films with Dalí, Jane Arden, as well as musicians, which underscores his remarkable adaptability and his gift for capturing and often subverting the zeitgeist. How work was much about exploring identity and modernity as they were about creating enduring art. Bond’s influence lives on, flickering in the haunting frames of his oeuvre.

The three day festival, ‘Radio 2 in the park’, has been taking place since 2011, and each year creates quite a stir, with huge acts taking to the stage each year. Until 2023, it was held in London’s Hyde Park, however now takes place in a different location each year as part of the BBC’s Across the UK plan, with last year’s show taking place in Victoria Park in Leicester.

Recently, Zoe Ball announced the exciting weekend’s initial lineup on her show. So far, the organisers are catering for all audiences, with the main stage on the Saturday being graced by a performance of the iconic Sting, alongside performances from nostalgic artists such as: Sugababes, Snow Patrol, Kim Wilde, Travis, and Craig David.  The Sunday does not disappoint either, with Manic Street Preachers, Sister Sledge and Paul Heaton stirring up audiences. The performance from Sting on the Saturday is set to be like no other, as he takes his new dynamic trio to the stage to perform his own songs, alongside Police classics.

The people of Preston are also clearly excited for this event, with Chief Executive at Preston City Council, Adrian Phillips, telling the BBC, “We’re looking forward to welcoming thousands of people to Radio 2 in the Park, as well as our favourite presenters, who we love to listen to day in, day out. It promises to be the biggest live event Lancashire has seen in many years, and everyone can’t wait to enjoy what promises to be a fantastic weekend of live music in the city.”

Tickets will go on sale at 8:15am 4th June, with each festival day ticket sold separately, priced at £59, excluding ticket fees. Tickets for Radio 2’s pre-party, are priced at £30, also excluding ticket fees. All tickets can be accessed here.

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

pic.twitter.com/RlB7QM6ckW

— Depeche Mode (@depechemode) May 26, 2022

“We are shocked and filled with overwhelming sadness with the untimely passing of our dear friend, family member, and bandmate Andy ‘Fletch’ Fletcher.” Writes the band, “Fletch had a true heart of gold and was always there when you needed support, a lively conversation, a good laugh, or a cold pint. Our hearts are with his family, and we ask that you keep them in your thoughts and respect their privacy in this difficult time.”

After joining the band Composition Of Sounds in the last 70s, alongside Martin Gore and Vince Clarke, the group soon recruited singer Dave Gahan. Once the group underwent a name change and became Depeche Mode, the rest is history. The new wave movement has many names associated with it; Duran Duran, Talking Heads, New Order etc. – but not many had the staying power of Depeche Mode, who were still touring up until 2018 off the back of their 14^th studio album Spirit. The album made it to no.5 in the UK charts, but throughout the group’s 4-decade career they had managed to bag not 1, but 2, no.1 albums with Ultra and Songs Of Faith And Devotion.

Synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys took to their socials once the news was released, “Fletch was a warm, friendly and funny person who loved electronic music and could also give sensible advice about the music business.”

 Lol Tolhurst, known most famously as a founding member of The Cure, was once of the first to pay their respects, “I knew Andy and considered him a friend. We crossed many of the same pathways as younger men. My heart goes out to his family, bandmates, and DM fans.”

After the band’s 2018 tour concluded, their last great moment would be that of their induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Fletcher, Gahan, and Gore were joined by former bandmates Vince Clarke and Alan Wilder for the ceremony.

20 years since their last album Cruelty without Beauty, Soft Cell’s partnership on the new track was originally due to be remixed by Pet Shop Boys before manifesting itself into a fully-fledged collaboration. Soft Cell’s David Bell has declared this single as; “probably our finest pop moment since the early 1980s”.

Fellow bandmate Marc Almond continued; “Working with the Pet Shop Boys was a pleasure, and this track is the perfect combination of us and them” Furthermore Pet Shop Boys members Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe said; “We are thrilled to collaborate with such an inspirational duo as Soft Cell on this gorgeous song.”

The song effectively presents the distinctive sounds of the two artists and delivers a nostalgic, inspiring display of positivity. The forthright chorus singing “Lets’s get out of this life, I’m afraid and alone, paralyzed in the purple zone” wilfully highlighting the struggles found in our modern world. In regards to the inspiration for the new record, Almond explained; “In this album I wanted to look at us as a society: a place where we have chosen to put profits before people, money before morality and decency, food before the rights of animals, fanaticism before fairness and our own trivial comforts before the unspeakable agonies of others. But in the album there is also a belief that there is a utopia if we can peel back the layers and understand what really matters.”

Further collaborations on Soft Cell’s upcoming fifth album will see the Grammy-winning producer & mixer Phillip Larsen work his magic. Having previously reworked songs of pop royalty such as; Kylie Minogue, Britney Spears, Moby, Lady Gaga and Backstreet Boys (with many more astounding credits to his name).

“Purple Zone” is available digitally as well as on CD & 12” for pre-order here. The CD will feature Soft Cell’s reimagining of the X-Ray Spex tune “The Day The World Turned Glo” as well as a remix of “Purple Zone” by Manhattan Clique. While the 12” will contain a collection of various mixes by Pet Shop Boys.

Fresh cut editions of Soft Cell’s new album and other recent and singles such as “Bruises On My Illusions”, “Happiness Not Included” & “Heart Like Chernobyl” can be found here.

Since @Channel4 drama #ItsASin started three weeks ago, streams of the @petshopboys song that inspired its name have increased by an average of 310,000 plays a week. https://t.co/nIaPe4sEOb

— Official Charts (@officialcharts) February 18, 2021

It’s A Sin – which served as the lead single on the synth-pop pioneers’ second album Actually – provided the duo with their second UK Number #1, coming two years after they reached the chart summit with breakthrough hit West End Girls. The song had originally been rejected by the production powerhouse of Stock Aitken Waterman, and was later the subject of an ugly legal wrangle after it eventually hit the shelves; with DJ Jonathan King alleging the group had plagiarised the melody from Cat Stevens’ 1971 folk-pop hit Wild World. The band sued King, and were subsequently awarded out-of-court damages which they donated to charity.

Prior to the first episode of It’s A Sin last month, London electro-pop outfit Years & Years – whose frontman Olly Alexander stars in the show – released a stripped-back cover of the song to raise funds for HIV charity the George House Trust. Speaking to Celeb Mix, Alexander said “I’ve always loved the iconic Pet Shop Boys and this song’s expression of the gay experience. My character Ritchie loves this song too so I’m really excited to put out our own version. I made this mostly from home just me and my piano so it feels pretty raw and exposed, it’s a really beautiful song to sing.”

The new series, created by BAFTA award-winning Swansea writer Russell T. Davies, follows a group of friends whose lives are changed forever when the AIDs crisis hits 1980s London. The drama has received near-universal critical acclaim, with The Guardian hailing it as a “poignant masterpiece” with “humour and humanity” at its heart.

It’s A Sin‘s soundtrack is also a blistering tour-de-force. In addition to the titular Pet Shop Boys number, viewers are treated to an eclectic feast of smash hits of the era from the likes of Blondie (Call Me); Eurythmics (Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)); Yazz (The Only Way Is Up); The Flying Pickets (Only You); Culture Club (Karma Chameleon); Laura Branigan (Gloria); Kate Bush (Running Up The Hill); Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark (Enola Gay); Wham! (Freedom); and more.

The new run of It’s A Sin-related exposure coincides with the fortieth anniversary of Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe forming the Pet Shop Boys in west London. Last year the two-piece released their fourteenth studio album, Hotspot, to broadly positive reviews. The lead single from the LP – Dreamland – also featured a guest vocal appearance from Olly Alexander; while its follow-up Burning The Heather included a cameo from Suede guitarist Bernard Butler.

In 2022 the group will take to the road across Europe for their first-ever greatest hits tour. Having already been postponed twice due to pandemic-related complications, the twenty-date Dreamworld tour next May and June includes eight UK gigs as follows:

20/05/22 – AO Arena – Manchester
22/05 – The O2 – London
24/05 – Motorpoint Arena – Cardiff
25/05 – BIC – Bournemouth
27/05 –  Utilita Arena – Newcastle
28/05 – Resorts World Arena – Birmingham
29/05 – SSE Hydro – Glasgow
31/05 – Bonus Arena – Hull

So here’s that Radio 2 Live at Home line-up in full!

Featuring
Classic Hyde Park sets
New sets from @SherylCrow, @nilerodgers @CHICorg @RebeccaFMusic, @CraigDavid, @erasureinfo, @RealSirTomJones, @thekillers, @johnlegend, @mcflymusic, @GregoryPorter, @ThePretendersHQ pic.twitter.com/TnRTlvMQhT

— BBC Radio 2 (@BBCRadio2) September 1, 2020

The festival will take place over the weekend of September 12/13. All the sets will be available on BBC Sounds and BBC iPlayer. Throughout the weekend there will also be highlights shows and compilation footage, and furthermore, special BBC Red Button content. After this, the footage will be available for another month.

On Saturday, the live hosts include Fearne Cotton and Rylan Clark-Neal. Sunday’s sets will be presented by Trevor Nelson, Sara Cox and Zoe Ball. A detailed line-up is available in the tweet below.

The UK acts will film their performances at Radio 2’s Live At Home stage which is somewhere in the British countryside. American performers will stream their sets from remote locations; rumour has it that The Killers’ set takes place on the roof of a Las Vegas hotel, and Nile Rodgers and co. will be live in Central Park, New York.  British synth pop duo Erasure will perform live from either side of the Atlantic!

In addition to new sets, the other ‘headliners’ will be compiled of some of the best previous performances from earlier years. These will be available on iPlayer in the lead up to the event. They include Elton John, The Pet Shop Boys, Take That and Kylie Minogue. BBC Radio 2 have shared a teaser clip from Elton John’s “spellbinding” 2016 set – watch it below!

“And you can tell everybody this is your song…” You can now re-live @eltonofficial‘s spellbinding Hyde Park set as part of Radio 2 Live at Home. Watch on @BBCiPlayer. Listen on @BBCSounds. pic.twitter.com/e8KMGbfsKB — BBC Radio 2 (@BBCRadio2) September 1, 2020

Speaking about Radio 2 Live at Home, Craig David says: “Whilst we can’t party in person, we can have a house party for Radio 2 Live at Home.” Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders adds that, “After months in lockdown, come rain or shine, we are so happy to be able to perform in the glorious British outdoors for Radio 2 Live at Home!”

The Head of Music for Radio 2, Jeff Smith, had this to say about the newly digital festival: “Radio 2 Live At Home will celebrate some of our favourite artists performing in the great outdoors, as well as offering the opportunity to relive some classic sets from our Festival in a Day from years gone by. Who wouldn’t want to relive Jeff Lynne’s amazement at 55,000 people singing along as ELO performed their first full set in 27 years, or Kylie’s impromptu reunion with Jason Donovan on stage for a unique performance of Especially for You.”

The 50-minute performance, described as a “musical biography”, was narrated by Juliet Stevenson and featured an excerpt from Gordon Brown’s public 2009 apology for Turing’s 1952 conviction for homosexual activity. The work, entitled A Man from the Future, received a standing ovation at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

Chrissie Hynde also performed alongside both Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, giving renditions of three slightly lesser-known Pet Shop Boys songs with the BBC Concert Orchestra, before joining Tennant in a version of the band’s 1987 hit ‘Rent’.

Alan Turing and his Bletchley Park colleagues worked during World War Two to help accelerate Allied efforts to read German naval messages enciphered with the Enigma machine. Turing went on to kill himself in 1954, two years after being prosecuted for gross indecency. Last year he received a posthumous royal pardon.

“Turing was way ahead of his time in the realms of both technology and sexuality,” said Tennant and Lowe ahead of Wednesday’s concert, which can be heard via the BBC iPlayer. Continuing, Tennant stated that “His open expression of his homosexuality was astonishingly brave and forward-looking at a time when gay men were relentlessly persecuted by the government.”