January 1988
‘I’m Not Scared’, a song the Pet Shop Boys have written and produced for Patsy Kensit, is released as a single by her group Eighth Wonder, and is their first hit.
History
February 1988
At the BPI Awards, the Pet Shop Boys win the Best Group award. They also mime to ‘What have I done to deserve this?’ on stage with Dusty Springfield. Afterwards Neil comments, “It’s kind of macho nowadays to prove you can cut it live, I quite like proving that we can’t cut it live. We’re a pop group, not a rock ’n’ roll group”.
March 1988
A different mix of ‘Heart’ is released as a single on March 21st and reaches #1 in the UK. “It’s a real disco song — the idea of ‘heartbeat’ the beat of the record and the beat of your heart. It’s actually pretty corny, to be honest, but I think the words are quite sweet and sincere”. The video, shot in Yugoslavia, is a resetting of the Dracula story with Ian McKellen in the title role.
May 1988
For the second year running, the Pet Shop Boys win the Best International Hit award at the Ivor Novello Awards, this time for ‘It’s a sin’.
June 1988
Ian McKellen persuades the Pet Shop Boys to play live at an anti-Clause 28 benefit, Before The Act, at London’s Piccadilly Theatre, performing ‘It’s a sin’ and ‘One more chance’. “A brilliant event”, they say afterwards.
July 1988
‘It couldn’t happen here’ is released on July 8th to mixed reviews: it wins an award at the Houston film festival.
August 1988
The Pet Shop Boys win the Berolina award in Germany for ‘Group of the Year’. The award is presented to them by Miss Venezuela.
September 1988
On September 12th, ‘Domino dancing’ is released, a song they recorded that February in Miami with Expose producer, Lewis Martinee. They shoot a video in Puerto Rico and appeared with a full Latin band on Wogan and Top Of The Pops.
October 1988
On October 10th, their new album ‘Introspective’ is released. It is so called because “all the songs, although it’s a dance album, are introspective”. The title was chosen after considering and dismissing ‘f’, ‘Dogmatic’, ‘Bounce’ and ‘Hello’. They explain that ‘Introspective’ sounds serious, like an art exhibition: “Nick Rhodes”, says Chris at the time, “will be so jealous”.
November 1988
On November 14th, ‘Left to my own devices’ is released: “an exaggerated autobiography”. The second verse refers to a time when Neil’s mother would worry about him because he’d wait in a corner of the back garden pretending to be a Roundhead soldier.
On this day
1991
Derek Jarman records in his diary, ‘Neil Tennant and his friend Jay arrive for tea.’
1995
Chris and Neil take part in shooting the video for ‘Paninaro ’95.’
1997
‘Somewhere’ is released as a single.
2002
The Boys perform in Leipzig, Germany.
2011
They begin work on two brand new songs, ‘Shouting in the Evening’ and ‘Give It a Go.’
2013
Despite an earlier attempt to persuade them to cancel the show in protest of Israel’s policies with regard to Palestinians, the Pet Shop Boys bring their Electric Tour show to Tel Aviv this evening.
2014
They work on a new song titled ‘Will You Love Me?’
2015
They complete work on their wedding-present track, ‘Wedding in Berlin.’
2018
Neil is among an estimated 50,000 people from across the U.K. political spectrum who march in London today to protest ‘Brexit’ – Britain’s pending exit from the European Union. This same evening, Dusty, a new ‘jukebox musical’ based on the life of Dusty Springfield, makes its world debut at Theatre Royal in the city of Bath. Written by Jonathan Harvey (who had previously collaborated with PSB on their own musical Closer to Heaven) and starring Katherine Kingsley, it includes a climactic rendition of ‘What Have I Done to Deserve This?’
2019
Neil, playwright Jonathan Harvey, and singer-actress Frances Barber tape their appearance as guests on Graham Norton’s BBC Radio 2 show to talk about the Boys’ new cabaret stage show Musik starring Ms. Barber. (It will air the following Saturday.)
2023
Neil visits the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool. When evening comes, he and Chris perform their Dreamworld Tour show at that city’s M&S Bank Arena.
- Facts collated by geowayne.com