1976 — 1978
Chris plays trombone in a seven-piece dance band wittily named One Under The Eight, who perform old-time popular favourites like “Hello Dolly”, “La Bamba”, and “Moon River”.
Chris plays trombone in a seven-piece dance band wittily named One Under The Eight, who perform old-time popular favourites like “Hello Dolly”, “La Bamba”, and “Moon River”.
Neil records the vocals for ‘Screaming.’
An early-morning automobile accident in Moscow takes the life of PSB bodyguard, personal assistant, and good friend Dainton Connell. Known among friends as ‘The Bear,’ Connell had accompanied Chris to Moscow for a DJ’ing gig. (Chris was not involved in the accident.) Neil and Chris are, in their own words, ‘devastated’ by the news.
Still in Chile enjoying a brief break from the South American leg of their Pandemonium Tour, the Boys take an afternoon drive up into the Andes.
Continuing from the previous day, the Boys resume work on their demo of the song ‘Winner,’ changing its rhythm track to (as Neil states in his diary) ‘make it more electro.’
For the fourth day in a row, they work on ‘Natural Wonders Every Child Should Know’ for A Man from the Future.
The Pet Shop Boys perform the first of two shows at the Fox Theater in Oakland, California.
Neil appears onstage ‘in conversation’ with poet Andrew McMillan at RNCM Theatre, an event that’s part of this year’s Manchester Literature Festival.