1999

The Boys perform in Toronto, Canada. On this same day, ‘New York City Boy’ is released as a single in the U​.​S.

2005

Chris attends a launch party at London’s popular club Kilo in celebration of the release of the new Bananarama album Drama. Neil, however, attends a book-launch party at the National Army Museum, which is also attended by Britain’s last surviving World War I veterans—men more than a century old.

2006

Neil is interviewed on Los Angeles radio station KBIG FM. That evening the Boys perform the second of two consecutive nights’ shows in L​.​A. Backstage afterward they meet Diane Warren, the composer of ‘Numb,’ in person for the first time.

2009

Dame Shirley Bassey’s album The Performance is released, featuring the Tennant-Lowe song ‘The Performance of My Life.’

2010

The Pet Shop Boys appear on television this evening on BBC1’s The One Show.

2016

Back in the States following a brief visit to Canada, the Boys bring the Super Tour this evening to Boston.

2017

They work in the studio on ‘Happy People,’ after which Neil takes the U1 to record train sounds for use in ‘Will-o-the-wisp.’

The cathedral’s glittering on coronation day
Crowned heads and cardinals under military sway
I approach the altar slowly in a humble shroud
to receive the acclamation of the loyal crowd

Give me power over people in a palace
with a permanent guard
and the flags unfurled
Give devotion, dedication, celebration
not some cheap charade
and I’ll rule the world
All of these delusions of grandeur
because they said ‘We don’t understand you’
and I want revenge

In audience I receive the media’s pleas
They kiss my ring in interviews on bended knees
In victory I’m magnanimous and charming when
I speak exclusively at length to CNN

…