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”.
On assignment for Smash Hits, a pre-stardom Neil Tennant spends much of the day with Depeche Mode and their entourage before attending their concert this evening in Leicester, U.K.
The Boys perform in San Diego, California. Also, the issue with this date of the California gay magazine Frontiers features an interview with Neil.
In town for their concert the following evening, Neil and Chris visit the Denver Art Museum.
The Pet Shop Boys are informed that they will be recognized for Outstanding Contribution to Music at the next BRITS Awards.
On sale today: the latest issue of the U.K. political/cultural magazine The Spectator, to which Neil contributes this week’s ‘Diary’ feature. This same day, he and Chris are in the studio working on tracks for an upcoming special holiday release.
A busy day for the Boys. They sign 500 prints set to go to fans who have bought their new collection Ultimate from their website. Then they meet with designer Katrina Lindsay and choreographer Javier De Frutos about their upcoming ballet The Most Incredible Thing, during which they see a model of the set and hear production ideas.
Enjoying a day off during their brief visit to Mexico City, Chris and Neil travel roughly 30 miles northeast to the ruins of the ancient Aztec city of Teotihuacan. They make particular note of the famed Pyramid of the Sun, posting a picture that one of them took of it on their official website.
The Boys perform at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
Neil spends time signing pre-ordered copies of his new book One Hundred Lyrics and a Poem.