After completing a degree in history at the Polytechnic of North London, Neil takes a job at Marvel Comics, anglicizing spellings and indicating where over-risque woman needed to be redrawn decently. While there he interviews comic fan Marc Bolan, who politely points out that his tape recorder wasn’t working. In 1977 he works at Macdonald Educational Publishing, later moving to ITV Books. In June 1982, he joins Smash Hits.
While staying at the Mondrian Hotel in Los Angeles, Neil happens upon Depeche Mode singer Dave Gahan having lunch. They chat briefly. That same evening the Boys perform the second of two consecutive nights’ shows at L.A.‘s Universal Amphitheater.
Chris and Neil begin work on a track called ‘Diddly Squat,’ which later becomes ‘All or Nothing.’
They start working on a remix of the Hidden Cameras track ‘Colour of a Man.’
They note on their website that today they spoke with their manager, Angela Becker, ‘via computer’ about ‘reissues, the new album, etc.’
Pre-recorded segments featuring Neil and Chris have been airing every weekday afternoon this week on the ‘This Is the Day’ segment of Richard Blade’s SiriusXM 1st Wave satellite radio show.
Chris attends this evening’s performance by The Who at London’s Royal Albert Hall, where the Pet Shop Boys are scheduled to perform three nights later. (Both shows are to benefit the Teenage Cancer Trust.)
Their official website announces the pending June release of Smash, the Pet Shop Boys’ fourth hits collection, which will be available in several formats, including a three-CD/two-Blu-ray set.