On August 19th, Neil and Chris meet by chance in an electronics shop on the Kings Road. Realizing they have a common interest in dance music, they begin to write together. Initially they call themselves West End; later they come up with the name Pet Shop Boys, a name derived from some friends who work in a pet shop in Ealing. “We thought it sounded like an English rap group”.
The Boys set up their own management office, ending their professional relationship with Tom Watkins.
BPI awards a U.K. platinum album to Behaviour.
BPI awards a U.K. platinum album to Discography.
They begin the Australian leg of their DiscoVery tour.
They perform on the U.K. TV show TFI Friday.
BBC Radio 2 airs the second half of its interview/popumentary Pet Shop Boys, Really.
The Pet Shop Boys perform at the Arizona State Fair.
Neil and Chris perform a brief set at a War Child benefit concert at Brixton Academy. They had been specifically invited to perform by Tim Rice-Oxley of the band Keane.
Ultimate, the Pet Shop Boys’ third hits collection, is released today in the U.K. and various other countries (although it had been released in several countries a few days earlier).
At Metropolis Studios in London, Neil goes through tapes in preparation for the re-mastering of tracks for their upcoming b‑sides collection Format.
The Boys perform at the Long Center for the Performing Arts in Austin, Texas.
Neil’s book One Hundred Lyrics and a Poem is published in the U.K. today. Also, an online auction of ‘celebrity shoes’ begins today to benefit the charity Small Steps Project. Neil has donated a pair that he wore during a 2016 appearance by the Pet Shop Boys on The Graham Norton Show, during which they performed ‘The Pop Kids.’