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History

May 2008

On May 2 the Pet Shop Boys appear at Heaven nightclub in London, playing a four song set as part of Can You Bear It?, a benefit for Dainton Connell’s family. For the final song they are joined by Suggs and Carl from Madness, in rambunctious high spirits, to perform a dance version of Madness’s “My Girl”: “It was a very emotional night”.

October 2008

On October 27 a Pet Shop Boys-produced single by the British artist Sam Taylor-Wood, “I’m in love with a German film star”, is released on the cult German dance label Kompakt. It is the Pet Shop Boys’ third collaboration with Sam Taylor-Wood though the previous one was released under the pseudonym Kiki Kokova. The song is an electronic reinterpretation of the 1981 single by the Passions, a suggestion of Neil’s.

December 2008

This year’s annual Christmas single from the Killers — “Joseph (Better You Than Me)” — is originally planned as a collaboration between The Killers and Elton John. Neil gets involved after Brandon Flowers asks for help with the lyric; in the end Neil’s short section of guide vocal for the lyric he contributes will remain in the final song when it is made available for download.

On this day

1963

Its precise day of release seems uncertain, but on this date ‘Puff the Magic Dragon’ by Peter, Paul and Mary debuts on the Billboard singles chart. Why is this significant in PSB history? Because, as best he can remember, it’s the first record that Chris Lowe ever bought.

1996

Chris, a boxing fan, attends the Mike Tyson-Frank Bruno heavyweight championship fight in Las Vegas.

2001

Wayne Studer’s Commentary website debuts on the Internet. wink

2007

The first of two consecutive nights’ PSB concerts in the largest city in the southern hemisphere, São Paolo, Brazil.

2009

The ‘Love etc.’ single is released. Meanwhile, continuing to promote the new single and album (Yes), Neil and Chris are interviewed on two different BBC radio channels.

2011

Neil and Chris attend the dress rehearsal for their ballet The Most Incredible Thing at Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London.