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 Boys begin recording ‘Paninaro’ at Abbey Road. (They will continue working on it for the next two days, and then some more in mid-August.)
Continuing their Release world tour, Neil and Chris are in transit from yesterday’s performance in Nigita, Japan, to tomorrow’s performance in Singapore.
Human League singer Phil Oakey records his guest vocals for ‘This Used to Be the Future.’
The Pet Shop Boys perform a three-song set at Wimbledon before the start of the Olympics tennis matches there. With specially prepared backdrop videos, they perform ‘Always on My Mind,’ ‘What Have I Done to Deserve This?’ and their new single ‘Winner.’
The albums Nightlife, Release, and Fundamental are reissued today, remastered and with bonus ‘Further Listening’ discs boasting many additional tracks. On this same day, the Boys perform at the Storsjöyran Festival in Östersund, Sweden.
The Pet Shop Boys conclude their second four-night stand at London’s Royal Opera House with tonight’s concert.