Pet Shop Boys, HIV/AIDS, and Salt-N-Pepa's "Not So True" History According to Dave Jemmott

 I recently came across an article on "this" internet machine about Salt-N-Pepa performing at the various benefits concerts through the years. http://lifebeat.org/2012/01/05/lifebeat-heroes-salt-n-pepa/   I believe their version of their history is different from the truth.....MY TRUTH..well my truth as well as I remember the truth.

This 1991 tour was famous for Axl Rose showing up at one of their performances.

   

Let's start at the beginning. In 1991 The Pet Shop Boys went on tour, with a huge stage show. Their tour didn't generate a profit. Their record label, Parlophone said, "No more tours!" Fortunately, The Pet Shop Boys only owed one more record to them, so they released a best of titled, Discography. I didn't see them on that tour. Axl Rose did.

   One year later, The Pet Shop Boys started their own label Spaghetti Records. Life Beat (an organization based on music and creating awareness about HIV/AIDS) asked them to perform at a fund raiser in NYC. They said, "Yes."...I saw that show.

  So Pet Shop Boys, whom I thought I'd never get to see...got scheduled to play at this "Life Beat" benefit and I went. I went with Andre (Dre, aka DJ Andre from WDRE). We roll up to Roseland, on 52 St. in NYC, go in and wait.

  This is where my version and Salt-N-Pepa's differ.

  Their version: "We have supported Life Beat from day one. We co-headlined the 1st Life Beat benefit concert ever held in 1992."

  My version: Andre & I, as well as a thousand others ( mostly homosexual men)...waited for the show to start. We waited & waited. The show was suppose to start at 8pm. At 9pm I was pissed, only stage lights and pre-programmed house music was being pumped in.

  I was bored so I went by the Merch tables, which at Roseland are by the front doors. ....as I stood there, looking at t-shirts, and signing petitions....I hear a commotion, security people running around. I watched and I saw...Salt-N-Pepa come running into the building. through the FRONT doors. They were both wearing neon orange bomber jackets, one of 'em was holding an toddler (also wearing a neon orange bomber jacket). They were escorted away. I followed.

   Fifteen minutes later...I hear the intro to "Let's Talk About Sex"....the place goes nuts!!!!! Salt-N-Pepa take the stage. They rip through it. People are freaking out!!!! The stage lights are going bonkers...the crowd is going wild. Salt-N-Pepa are in control.....and then ......and then.....they wrapped it up and walked off  stage.

  That was it. ONE SONG!...immediately afterwards, I saw the same security hustle them right back out the front doors.

  Twenty minutes later: Pet Shop Boys (No stage show)