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 first-ever live public performance by the Pet Shop Boys takes place in Ostende, Belgium. They mime to ‘West End Girls,’ with Chris using a keyboard borrowed from another band.
Suddenly inspired by an offhand comment made by their friend Janet Street-Porter, Chris and Neil decide on the title Results for the album they’ve just produced for Liza Minnelli.
The Boys perform at London’s Gay Pride Festival.
The Release Tour comes to Paris.
In anticipation of their performance the following Sunday at the ‘T in the Park’ festival at Balado Airfield, a particularly delightful, light-hearted interview with the Boys by journalist Aiden Smith appears in the Scotland on Sunday newspaper. Neil and Chris subsequently take issue with a couple of apparent misquotes, but they’re still pleased enough to link to it on their official website.
After having recording equipment set up in Neil’s London house, they work on ‘Give It a Go,’ with Neil supplying new vocals.
The Pet Shop Boys perform in Tallinn, Estonia. (Earlier in the day, Chris had gotten a haircut at the city’s popular ‘FashionHair’ salon.)
Neil works at London’s Metropolis Studios with Pete Gleadall and Andy Baldwin to master the tracks for Musik. Later this evening he attends a new production of Closer to Heaven.
The CD single of ‘A New Bohemia’ is released today.