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 Pet Shop Boys make an early TV appearance on BBC’s Whistle Test (formerly The Old Grey Whistle Test).
BPI awards U.K. triple-platinum album status to Actually.
They perform at the Equality Rocks concert in Washington, D.C. As part of their set, Neil duets with Melissa Etheridge on ‘What Have I Done to Deserve This?’
The Back to Mine compilation of various-artists tracks chosen by Chris and Neil is released.
The Boys perform in Oslo, Norway.
Neil and Chris attend this evening’s performance in London of the revival of Closer to Heaven. Also in attendance is comedian David Walliams, who poses with the Boys and the show’s cast members for a photo he then posts on Twitter.