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.
The Pet Shop Boys perform in Chicago.
‘Liberation’ is released as a single.
They mix the ‘slow version’ of ‘Closer to Heaven’ that will later be released on the Telegraph promo disc.
‘Flamboyant’ enters the U.K. singles chart at #12.
Neil and Chris have breakfast with their manager and discuss asking Trevor Horn to produce their next album, which will become Fundamental. Later they begin writing ‘Minimal.’
Continuing the Australian leg of the Fundamental Tour, the Boys perform in Adelaide.
The Pet Shop Boys’ official website announces that they will appear as ‘special guests’ on the upcoming summer Take That reunion tour of the U.K., Ireland, and continental Europe. Meanwhile, in the studio, Neil and Chris continue working (with Pete Gleadall) on their song ‘Vocal’ and their remix of ‘The Colour of a Man.’