Chris Lowe

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Chris Lowe
Chris Lowe (left) with Neil Tennant in a Pet Shop Boys concert, Boston, 2006
Background information
Birth name	Christopher Sean Lowe
Born	4 October 1959 (1959-10-04) (age 50) Blackpool, Lancashire, England
Genres	Synthpop, dance, electropop, electronica
Occupations	Musician, keyboardist
Instruments	Synthesizer, Piano, vocals
Years active	1981–present
Associated acts	Pet Shop Boys
Website	Official Pet Shop Boys website
Notable instruments
Korg Triton Extreme

Chris Lowe (born Christopher Sean Lowe on 4 October 1959) is a British musician, who, with colleague Neil Tennant, makes up the successful pop duo the Pet Shop Boys.

Childhood

Lowe attended the Arnold School (then named Arnold House School), an independent school in his home town of Blackpool in North West England. While there, Lowe played trombone in a seven-piece dance band called One Under the Eight, that played old-time favourites like "Hello Dolly", "La Bamba" and "Moon River". Lowe's grandfather had been a trombonist and was a member of comedy jazz troupe The Nitwits. Lowe also became a skilled pianist.

Later life

Lowe studied architecture at the University of Liverpool from 1978. During a work placement in 1981 at a London architectural practice, he designed a staircase for an industrial estate in Milton Keynes. It was at this time that he met Neil Tennant in a hi-fi shop on the Kings Road in London.

Although Lowe has not been involved in many solo projects, in 1993 he wrote and produced the track "Do the Right Thing" for the footballer, Ian Wright (Lowe is a die-hard Arsenal F.C. fan^[1]). The song featured backing vocals by the long-time Pet Shop Boys’ backing singer, Sylvia Mason-James, and the single featured remixes by Rollo. In 2004 Lowe was commissioned to do music for an advertisement for the sunscreen brand Blockhead. The song ended up in a remixed version on a "Café Mambo" chill-out compilation. He has also written the music for the song "Streets of Berlin", featured in the revival of Bent at the Trafalgar Studios in Whitehall in 2006.

He once stood in for Pete Tong when he was too sick to present the Essential Selection on BBC Radio 1. In 1995, he had a cameo in the Australian soap opera Neighbours.^[2] In 1997, his flat was the subject of an in-depth feature in Elle Decoration magazine.

Stage presence

After the Pet Shop Boys began touring on a regular basis, Lowe became known for his behaviour of standing still while playing keyboards on stage.^[3] In 1995, The Guardian commented that he was "possibly more famous for not doing anything than almost anyone else in the history of popular entertainment."^[4]

Radio

In August 1991 Chris and Neil were invited to take over Simon Bates' mid-morning show on Radio One, Britain's national pop radio station, for a week. They chose all the records, principally dance music. Chris swore on air once, but despite this they were still invited back to fill the same role in July 1992.^[5]

Chris Lowe along with Neil Tennant presented a radio cover show at Absolute Radio on March 15 2009, while DJ Geoff Lloyd was on holiday. They played all their favorite new music as well as some old favorites.

Both Chris Lowe and Neil Tennant appeared on Rob Da Bank and Friends on Monday 16 March(2am-4am), showcasing their A to Z of music.

Lowe was interviewed by Gaydar Radio presenter Simon Le Vans. The interview was transmitted on Thursday afternoon 19 March 2009.

Notes

1. ^ "Absolutely Pet Shop Boys Unoffical web site - RADIO 2 CONCERT Literally 30". Petshopboys.net. 2006-05-07. http://www.petshopboys.net/html/literallys/literally_30/page2.html. Retrieved 2009-07-26. 
2. ^ January 02, 2007 (2007-01-02). "Chris Lowe (Pet Shop Boys) in Neighbours". YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JWScLDoLe8. Retrieved 2009-07-26. 
3. ^ Harrison, Andrew (April 2006), "The Pet Shop Boys talk for Britain", The Word (no. 38): 98-106
4. ^ Bracewell, Michael (15 July 1995), "Pop perfection", The Guardian: T012
5. ^ "Absolutely Pet Shop Boys Unoffical web site - Profile". Petshopboys.net. 1991-05-27. http://www.petshopboys.net/html/general/profile.html. Retrieved 2009-07-26. 

External links

• Official Pet Shop Boys Site.
• Chris Lowe discography at Discogs.
• Chris Lowe at the Internet Movie Database.