Neil Francis Tennant (born 10 July 1954) is an English musician, singer, songwriter, music journalist and co-founder of the synthpop duo Pet Shop Boys, which he formed with Chris Lowe in 1981. He also was a journalist for Smash Hits, and was assistant editor for the magazine for a period in the mid-1980s.\n', '

Neil Francis Tennant was born in North Shields, a fishing port near Newcastle upon Tyne to William W. Tennant (1923–2009), a sales representative, and Sheila M. (Watson) Tennant (1923–2008). He has an older sister, Susan, and two younger brothers, Simon and Philip. The family moved to a semi-detached house in Greenfield Road (opposite the corner of South Bend), Brunton Park, a relatively affluent suburb in Newcastle, shortly after Neil was born.\n', '

As a child, Tennant attended St. Cuthbert\'s Grammar School, an all-boys\' Catholic school in Newcastle upon Tyne. Tennant\'s songs "This Must Be the Place I Waited Years to Leave" and "It\'s a Sin" refer to his early life in Catholic school and the strict upbringing there.[citation needed]\n', '

Return to Neil Tennant Autograph Profile