Skip to navigation Skip to content

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.

On this day

1991

The first (eponymously titled) album by Electronic is released. Two tracks feature one or both Boys: Neil co-wrote and sings on ‘Getting Away with It’—which doesn’t initially appear on the U.K. version, but does in other countries (it’s added to the U.K. version upon later re-release)—and both Neil and Chris co-wrote and perform on ‘The Patience of a Saint.’

1994

The Boys host a ‘Comic Relief’ charity special this evening on BBC Radio 1, airing music of their choice. They’re joined on the show by a number of popular British comedians.

2002

The Pet Shop Boys perform in Detroit.

2007

They perform at London’s Hammersmith Apollo.

2011

Take That’s reunion tour, with the Pet Shop Boys as ‘special guests,’ kicks off with the first of four nights at the Sunderland (U.K.) Stadium of Light. The Boys perform a 40-minute ten-song opening set of highlights from their Pandemonium Tour.

2015

They finish work on their song for Thilo Heinzmann’s wedding.

2016

At the International Music Summit in Ibiza, Neil and Chris are interviewed onstage by dance music DJ/executive Pete Tong.

2022

The Pet Shop Boys conclude their concert this evening in Newcastle by dedicating their performance of ‘Being Boring’ to Depeche Mode’s Andy Fletcher, who had died of natural causes the previous day.