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.
CyberWorld 3D starts appearing in IMAX Theaters across the U.S. One of the short animated films featured is the Boys’ ‘Liberation’ video.
Continuing their ‘touristing’ in Chile, Chris and Neil visit the coastal city of Valparaiso, considered the nation’s ‘cultural capital.’
The Boys work some more on ‘Winner’ and begin writing a new song called ‘Ego Music.’
Neil and Chris enjoy a Sunday off in San Francisco between their Saturday and Monday Electric Tour dates in neighboring Oakland. Chris can see Alcatraz from his hotel room, and he had considered taking a tour of the island today. But he is unable to do so on account of the current U.S. federal government shutdown (caused by budgetary wrangling in Congress), which has forced the temporary closure of all federal parks and landmarks—Alcatraz among them.
The Pet Shop Boys headline the Breakfest Festival this evening in Medellín, Colombia. It’s their final anticipated tour date of the year.
The new album, For All the Dogs, by Canadian singer/rapper Drake is released today. One of its tracks, ‘All the Parties,’ includes (uncredited) the melody and lyrics from the chorus of ‘West End Girls.’ Immediately (the same day) the Pet Shop Boys post on their website a statement of ‘surprise’ at this occurrence, pointing out ‘No credit given or permission requested.’