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.
Derek Jarman records in his journal the strongly negative reaction he receives in response to the footage filmed from the Pet Shop Boys’ recent Wembley Arena concert. He’s especially upset about Chris’s reaction, which he describes as ‘full of serious anguish.’
The Boys work on the tracks ‘E‑mail’ and ‘Time on My Hands.’
Chris and Neil decide to shorten ‘The Samurai in Autumn’: ‘We edited it right down.’
They perform at the SWR 3 New Pop Festival in Rastatt, Germany. Their set includes the world premiere of ‘Miracles.’ On the same day, a large panoramic portrait of celebrity regulars at London’s fashionable restaurant The Ivy, painted by Rolling Stones guitarist (and accomplished portraitist) Ronnie Wood, goes on display at the Royal Academy of Art. Among the many celebrities depicted in the painting are Andrew Lloyd-Webber, Elton John, and Neil Tennant.
The Pandemonium Tour comes to Seattle.
They work on ‘The Way Through the Woods’ and ‘Thick as Thieves.’
Kicking off the final leg of their lengthy Electric Tour, the Pet Shop Boys appear in concert at the Singapore Grand Prix.
Continuing work on ‘Give Stupidity a Chance,’ they decide to change its arrangement, abandoning its original ‘slightly folky’ sound.
Early this morning, Chris and Neil visit the Joe Orton Archive at the University of Leicester. In the evening they attend the first preview performance of My Beautiful Laundrette at Leicester’s Curve Theatre.