On August 19th, Neil and Chris meet by chance in an electronics shop on the Kings Road. Realizing they have a common interest in dance music, they begin to write together. Initially they call themselves West End; later they come up with the name Pet Shop Boys, a name derived from some friends who work in a pet shop in Ealing. “We thought it sounded like an English rap group”.
Neil records vocals for ‘Happiness Is an Option,’ using a guide vocal by Chris as a model.
The Boys attend Kylie Minogue’s Showgirl concert at Earl’s Court in London. Neil gets to hear a recording of his own vocals duetting with Kylie on the song ‘In Denial.’
A busy day for the Pet Shop Boys in Berlin: a book signing at Dussmann (the city’s largest bookstore), followed by an evening concert at the Tempodrom.