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”.
Liza Minnelli’s Results, produced by the Pet Shop Boys, debuts on the U.S. album chart, beginning a ten-week run that peaks at #128.
‘Single’ is released as a single under the title ‘Single-Bilingual’ on account of another artist’s record titled ‘Single’ being released as a single around the same time.
The Boys perform at Wembley Arena as part of a special Prince’s Trust show in honor of Trevor Horn.
11/11/11 proves a propitious day for PSB fans: Neil and Chris reveal in an online interview that their second b‑sides collection, titled Format, is scheduled for release in February, and that they’re about to begin recording their next studio album, aiming for release the following autumn.
In the wake of the U.S. presidential election several days before, the Boys perform this evening in Washington, D.C.
Still working at Berlin’s Hansa Studios, the Boys work with Stuart Price on ‘An Open Mind,’ including Neil singing newly revised lyrics.
Chris and Neil host the first of four hour-long thematic programs on BBC Radio 6 as ‘Artists in Residence.’ These shows, in which the Boys present and discuss music of their choice, air for four consecutive nights.