August 1983

Neil is sent to New York by Smash Hits to interview The Police. By this time the Pet Shop Boys are obsessed by a stream of hi energy records made by New York producer Bobby Orlando, known as Bobby O’. “I thought well, if I’ve got to go and see The Police play then I’m also going to have lunch with Bobby O’ ”. Neil and Bobby O share a cheeseburger and carrot cake at a restaurant called The Apple Jack on August 19^th (two years to the day since Neil and Chris met) and Bobby O’, flatered by Neil’s compliments, suggests making a record with the Pet Shop Boys.

History

On this day

1987

‘West End Girls’ is named the ‘International Hit of the Year’ at the Ivor Novello Awards.

1991

The Pet Shop Boys perform in Montreal, Canada, the final gig on the North American leg of their Performance tour.

2011

They begin working on a demo of a song drafted by Neil two years before, ‘Breathing Space.’

2013

Starting with a backing track composed by Chris, they work on what quickly becomes ‘Entschuldigung!’ and essentially complete it in a single day.

2014

The Boys appear in concert this evening at the Majestic Theatre in Dallas, Texas. Earlier in the day they did some ‘touristing’ in Dallas. Neil visited the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum to see what he subsequently describes on their website as the former president’s ‘strangely fascinating paintings of world leaders.’

2015

In London, Neil attends the special live 20^th anniversary celebration of the BBC Radio 3 classical music program Private Passions with his friend Janet Street-Porter.

Facts collated by geowayne.com