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.
Boy George’s PSB-produced ‘The Crying Game’ peaks at #15 on the U.S. charts.
The first public performance (not the official ‘opening night’) of Closer to Heaven takes place in London.
Alcazar’s Alcazarized, featuring the PSB-written ‘Love Life,’ is released in the Swedish band’s native country.
The Pet Shop Boys perform in Zurich, Switzerland.
While Neil collaborates with Xenomania’s Miranda Cooper on ‘Where the Wild Things Are’ (part of which is eventually appropriated for ‘More Than a Dream’), Chris writes melodies for ‘The Way It Used to Be.’
Neil works on the credits list for Elysium.
In Buenos Aires, the Pet Shop Boys appear at a ‘private gig’ hosted by Mercedes Benz to celebrate the launch of their new A‑Class auto. They perform a truncated version of their current Electric Tour setlist.
Frances Barber records her vocals for ‘Ich bin Musik’ and ‘For Every Moment.’
The Pet Shop Boys bring their Dreamworld Tour to the Hallenstadion in Zurich, Switzerland.