Neil plays in a group in Newcastle called Dust: Their most popular song is a preposterous affair he has written called “Can you hear the dawn break?”. They are heavily influenced by The Incredible String Band. “We were convinced we would become terribly famous. It was a very kind of stoned seventies but we used to think it was absolutely brilliant at the time”.
The Pet Shop Boys perform in Chicago.
‘Liberation’ is released as a single.
They mix the ‘slow version’ of ‘Closer to Heaven’ that will later be released on the Telegraph promo disc.
‘Flamboyant’ enters the U.K. singles chart at #12.
Neil and Chris have breakfast with their manager and discuss asking Trevor Horn to produce their next album, which will become Fundamental. Later they begin writing ‘Minimal.’
Continuing the Australian leg of the Fundamental Tour, the Boys perform in Adelaide.
The Pet Shop Boys’ official website announces that they will appear as ‘special guests’ on the upcoming summer Take That reunion tour of the U.K., Ireland, and continental Europe. Meanwhile, in the studio, Neil and Chris continue working (with Pete Gleadall) on their song ‘Vocal’ and their remix of ‘The Colour of a Man.’