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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

1996

Neil and Chris meet with Mark Farrow to discuss ideas for the Bilingual album cover.

1998

They write two songs, ‘Before My Time’ and ‘Playing in the Streets,’ the first of which remains unreleased.

2008

The Boys attend a meeting at Sadler’s Wells Theatre to discuss their prospective ballet.

2020

‘I Don’t Wanna’ is released today as the fourth single from Hotspot.