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History

August 1983

Neil is sent to New York by Smash Hits to interview The Police. By this time the Pet Shop Boys are obsessed by a stream of hi energy records made by New York producer Bobby Orlando, known as Bobby O’. “I thought well, if I’ve got to go and see The Police play then I’m also going to have lunch with Bobby O’ ”. Neil and Bobby O share a cheeseburger and carrot cake at a restaurant called The Apple Jack on August 19th (two years to the day since Neil and Chris met) and Bobby O’, flatered by Neil’s compliments, suggests making a record with the Pet Shop Boys.

History

On this day

1986

Having had lunch with him two days before, Chris and Neil attend a concert by Larry Blackmon’s band Cameo at London’s Hammersmith Odeon, after which they meet with the group backstage.

2001

Session bass player Steve Walters joins the Boys in the studio and records bass parts for ‘Birthday Boy’ and ‘Home and Dry,’ although his playing on the latter isn’t used in the final version.

2008

Neil and Chris attend sessions at London’s famous Abbey Road studios, where string and horn parts are recorded for two of the tracks on their next album, Yes (although the title hasn’t yet been decided on at this time). Afterward they travel by taxi to Soho for a meeting related to their ballet plans.

2013

The Pet Shop Boys appear in concert at the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto.

2018

Working with Pete Gleadall, Neil records his revised lyrics for ‘Give Stupidity a Chance.’

2022

The Pet Shop Boys and New Order bring their Unity Tour show to Philadelphia.