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History

August 1981

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”.

On this day

1997

The Pet Shop Boys begin their three-week run of Somewhere shows at London’s Savoy Theatre.

2001

The PSB back catalogue is re-released on CD with bonus discs.

2002

The Release Tour comes to San Diego, California.

2006

Neil and Chris are in Paris filming the video for ‘Minimal.’

2007

Playing to an exclusive invitation-only audience, the Boys perform a live show for BBC Radio 2 to mark the re-opening of the historic BBC Radio Theatre in London.

2008

Neil and Miranda Cooper collaborate on the lyrics for ‘Love etc.’

2010

The Boys report on their official website that they have just finished composing the music for their ballet, scheduled to debut in 2011.

2014

Chris and Neil are in Sydney, Australia in preparation for their upcoming three consecutive nights’ concerts at Carriageworks.

2019

Neil records a telephone interview with the BBC’s Zoe Ball. Then he and Chris work on several tracks: ‘Omar’s Theme,’ ‘Ich bin Musik,’ and ‘Angelic Thug.’

2022

The PSB Dreamworld Tour comes to Oberhausen, Germany.

2023

The Boys perform at Sala Apolo in Barcelona, their second concert in that city in less than a week.

2024

‘A New Bohemia’ with bonus tracks is released as a digital single today. (A physical release will follow.) This same evening, the Boys perform in Glasgow.