Chris Lowe
Christopher Sean Lowe (born on October 4, 1959 in Blackpool, Lancashire, England) is an English musician, who, with his colleague Neil Tennant, makes up the successful pop duo, Pet Shop Boys.
Childhood
He attended the Arnold School (then named Arnold House School), a private school in his home town of Blackpool. 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 became a skilled pianist and debuted as keyboard player in the progressive rock band, Stallion.
Later life
Lowe studied architecture at 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. 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, using the alias "Blockhead," wrote what is best described as a chill out track called "Blockhead" that was featured on a "Café Mambo" chill-out compilation. He has also written the music for a song featured in the revival of Bent at the Trafalgar Studios in Whitehall in 2006.
He once stood in for Pete Tong when he was sick to present the Essential Selection on BBC Radio 1. In 1995 he had a cameo in the Australian soap opera Neighbours. Lowe has a passion for Japanese cuisine and recently acquired a minority stake in Japanese noodle bar chain Wagamama.