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”.
The first (eponymously titled) album by Electronic is released. Two tracks feature one or both Boys: Neil co-wrote and sings on ‘Getting Away with It’—which doesn’t initially appear on the U.K. version, but does in other countries (it’s added to the U.K. version upon later re-release)—and both Neil and Chris co-wrote and perform on ‘The Patience of a Saint.’
The Boys host a ‘Comic Relief’ charity special this evening on BBC Radio 1, airing music of their choice. They’re joined on the show by a number of popular British comedians.
The Pet Shop Boys perform in Detroit.
They perform at London’s Hammersmith Apollo.
Take That’s reunion tour, with the Pet Shop Boys as ‘special guests,’ kicks off with the first of four nights at the Sunderland (U.K.) Stadium of Light. The Boys perform a 40-minute ten-song opening set of highlights from their Pandemonium Tour.
They finish work on their song for Thilo Heinzmann’s wedding.
At the International Music Summit in Ibiza, Neil and Chris are interviewed onstage by dance music DJ/executive Pete Tong.
The Pet Shop Boys conclude their concert this evening in Newcastle by dedicating their performance of ‘Being Boring’ to Depeche Mode’s Andy Fletcher, who had died of natural causes the previous day.