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
2000
Mini is released in Japan.
2001
The Boys fly to Moscow to attend a Marilyn Manson concert.
2002
Neil is one of a number of celebrities attending Bananarama’s 20th anniversary show at London’s G‑A-Y nightclub, during which ex-member Siobhan Fahey reunites onstage with her former bandmates for several songs.
2005
They work in the studio on several songs in progress, and then write a brand new one, ‘The Resurrectionist.’
2011
Chris has a cold. Nevertheless, he and Neil continue working in the studio on ‘Your Early Stuff.’
2012
Adam Tressler records guitar parts for ‘Breathing Space,’ after which the Boys discuss, as they put it, the ‘direction to take’ on the song.
2020
Neil appears today on Stuart Maconie’s ‘First, Last and Everything’ segment on BBC Radio 6.
2021
The official PSB website announces that Chris and Neil have recorded a ‘dramatic’ new song, ‘Cricket Wife,’ which will soon be released on a bonus CD single accompanying the next edition of their Annually publication.
2023
Neil joins Jake Shears this morning on BBC Radio 2’s Piano Room for a live performance of ‘Rent.’
2024
Exactly one year after their previous appearance on the show, Neil and Chris guest on BBC Radio 2’s Piano Room to perform ‘Left to My Own Devices,’ their new single ‘Loneliness,’ and a cover of David Bowie’s ‘All the Young Dudes,’ accompanied by the BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by Anne Dudley. During a question-and-answer session, the Boys are surprised and delighted that one of the questions comes from fellow rock/pop star Rod Stewart, who asks them which football teams they support. Chris responds ‘Arsenal… and Blackpool, obviously’ (being a Blackpool native), whereas Neil admits to not really being a fan but nevertheless taking an interest in his hometown team of Newcastle.
- Facts collated by geowayne.com