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 fly into Oakland, California, where Chris’s luggage is lost at the airport. (It’s later recovered.) That evening they perform at the Warfield Theater in San Francisco.
On the second date of their Latin American ‘mini-tour,’ the Boys perform in Mexico City.
Toward the end of a day working on various Fundamental track mixes, the Boys have an evening drink with the members of Bananarama.
The Fundamental Tour comes to West Valley, Utah.
It is announced that the Pet Shop Boys will receive BPI’s prestigious
2011
At his London home, Chris composes music for the German poem ‘Thoughts Are Free.’