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 appear on the Top of the Pops Christmas Party TV special.
With ‘Always on My Mind’ a U.K. Christmas #1, Chris visits his folks in Blackpool for the holiday. While in Blackpool, Chris is denied entry to a local hotspot because he’s wearing jeans. Meanwhile, Neil also enjoys Christmas dinner with his family in Newcastle, after which they all watch the pre-recorded PSB performance of their latest hit on Top of the Pops.
The Boys perform ‘Heart’ on Top of the Pops—their second Christmas appearance in a row on the show.