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
1963
British Secretary of War John Profumo submits his resignation following revelations that he had lied to the House of Commons about his affair with alleged prostitute Christine Keeler. This is a pivotal event in what soon came to be known as ‘The Profumo Affair,’ which more than a quarter-century later would serve as the basis for the film Scandal and its PSB-penned and ‑produced soundtrack number ‘Nothing Has Been Proved,’ sung by Dusty Springfield.
1986
The Pet Shop Boys perform ‘Opportunities’ on Top of the Pops.
1988
Neil and Chris perform at London’s Picadilly Theatre as part of Before the Act, an Anti-Clause 28 show that celebrates the artistic creations of gay men and lesbians. Not every performer on stage is gay, but every literary excerpt, dramatic piece, song, and composition on the program is avowedly written or composed by gay people. Therefore the Boys’ choice of songs to perform—their own compositions—serves, in essence, as an act of ‘coming out.’
2001
The Very Introspective, Actually PSB tribute disc is released.
2002
The Boys perform in Las Vegas.
2007
Their Fundamental Tour comes to the Royal Concert Hall in Nottingham, U.K.
2011
Neil and Chris have lunch with Johnny Marr, who had attended the previous night’s PSB/Take That show in Manchester.
2013
This evening the Boys bring their Electric Tour to Moscow.
2015
They begin a brief Summer 2015 ‘extension’ of the Electric Tour with a concert in Badajoz, Spain.
2016
The Boys are in Berlin for an appearance this evening on the German TV show Mensch Gottschalk.
2019
They continue work on ‘Angelic Thug’ and then develop its instrumental version, ‘Johnny’s Theme.’
2020
Neil records vocals for the song ‘Why Can’t I?’
2022
The Boys perform in Hamburg, Germany.
- Facts collated by geowayne.com