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”.
Derek Jarman notes in his diary that he has learned that censors in Hong Kong are ‘up in arms’ on account of some of the background visuals (including a shot of two boys kissing) that he had provided for the Pet Shop Boys’ recent performance there.
The Boys perform ‘Somewhere’ on Top of the Pops.
Chris and Neil work on the ‘1971 version’ of the Billie Trix song ‘Run, Girl, Run’
Neil records narration for two parts of a three-part BBC Radio 2 documentary about the music of Noël Coward. Afterwards he attends a Damien Hirst exhibition at London’s White Cube gallery.
The Boys perform at Denmark’s Roskilde Festival.
They appear in concert at the State Opera House in Vienna.
The Dreamworld Tour comes to Finland’s Helsinki Ice Hall.