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”.
Working with Peter Rauhofer in New York City, Neil records the vocal for ‘Break 4 Love.’
Neil is the guest on today’s edition of the BBC Radio 3 show Private Passions, where he talks about Dmitri Shostakovich, Noël Coward, Eva Cassidy, Francis Poulenc, Olivier Messiaen, and other favorites.
It’s Election Day in Britain. Chris and Neil vote, after which they go to the studio to work on ‘After the Event.’
Still on the European leg of their Fundamental Tour, the Boys travel to Berlin, where they will perform two nights later. They have dinner with Rufus Wainwright, who also happens to be in town.
Neil is interviewed in a podcast for Word magazine. This same evening, a Dusty Springfield tribute concert takes place at London’s Royal Albert Hall. The Pet Shop Boys are unable to attend in person, but they contribute a videotaped message that’s played for the audience in which they recount several ‘Dusty anecdotes.’
Once again Neil and Chris attend a performance of the revival of Closer to Heaven at London’s Union Theatre, accompanied by their friend and former manager Jill Carrington. Also in attendance this evening is their collaborator on the show, playwright Jonathan Harvey.