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History

March 1985

They sign to Parlophone Records after long negotiations with Bobby O’, who relinquished his contractual rights over them in return for a substantial royalty on future record sales.

April 1985

On April 5th, Neil leaves Smash Hits. In the next issue an ‘obituary’ is written, bidding him a sad adieu and predicting that in a matter of weeks Neil’s pop duo, the Pet Shop Boys “will be down the dumper and he’ll come crawling back on bended knees, ha ha ha”. “I spoke to my mum on the telephone and said how we’d signed with EMI and she said “But you’re not going to give up your job, are you?” and I said, actually I did last week”.

July 1985

On July 1st, the first version of ‘Opportunities’ is released. It reached #116 in the UK.

1985 July

August 1985

They play a short set as part of the ICA Rock Week in London, Chris showing off his skills on the trombone. Neil and Chris are interviewed on stage by Max Headroom. They re-record ‘West End girls’ with producer Stephen Hague the same month.

October 1985

‘West End girls’ is released on October 28th and goes to #1 in the UK in January. It is subsequently #1 in USA, Canada, Finland, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, New Zealand and Norway, selling 1.5 million copies. “People endlessly ask us what it’s like having a #1” says Neil at the time. “But what it feels like is vaguely nothing. It feels like having a cup of tea”.

On this day

1989

The Boys perform their second concert in Hong Kong.

2002

Continuing the Scandanavian leg of their Release Tour, they perform in Stockholm.

2009

Once again in Sweden, Neil and Chris now appear in Göteborg for tonight’s date on the Pandemonium Tour.

2011

The first of no fewer than eight PSB/Take That concerts at London’s famed Wembley Stadium takes place this evening. Meanwhile, earlier in the day, Neil rewrites the lyrics for ‘Give It a Go.’

2017

Still in Dresden following the PSB concert the previous night, Neil is interviewed this morning by Carsten Nicolai in front of an audience at the Dresden Academy of Fine Arts.

2022

The Boys perform at the Release Athens Festival, Greece’s largest annual music event.