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 the vocals for ‘I Get Along.’
They perform ‘Home and Dry’ on the U.K. TV special The BRITS Are Coming. This is also the first night of four consecutive sold-out shows by Brian Wilson performing Pet Sounds in its entirety at London’s Royal Festival Hall. Neil is among the many British music celebrities who attend these concerts, but it’s not certain on which night.
They continue work on ‘The Dead Can Dance’ (started the day before) and also work on ‘Say It to Me.’