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”.
‘Jealousy’ (re-recorded with a full orchestra) is released as a single.
Neil records new vocals for ‘Happiness Is an Option.’
The Pet Shop Boys perform in Chicago.
They perform in Manchester—the fifth consecutive sold-out date on their current tour.
While Chris continues work on ‘A New Bohemia,’ Neil begins writing a new song, ‘Why Can’t I?’
They bring their Dreamworld Tour to Resorts World Arena in Solihull, just outside of Birmingham.
Chris attends Barry Manilow’s show at the London Palladium this evening and gets a chance to meet him. He posts a photo of the two of them the next day.