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.
History
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.
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
Directed by Derek Jarman, the Pet Shop Boys have a dress rehearsal in London for their upcoming tour—their first ever—which will kick off one week later with a show in Hong Kong.
1991
‘Where the Streets Have No Name (I Can’t Take My Eyes Off You)’ hits its #72 peak on the U.S. singles chart.
1992
Electronic’s single ‘Disappointed,’ co-written by Neil, who also sings lead vocals, is released.
2002
The Boys perform in Hamburg, Germany.
2009
Neil and Chris are in Amsterdam for their concert this evening at the Heineken Music Hall.
2011
Tonight is the first of three consecutive PSB/Take That shows in Glasgow, Scotland. As they have throughout the tour, the Boys work on new songs back at their hotel. Today they begin writing a song titled ‘Making Waves.’
2015
Chris and Neil work all day on a song titled ‘Wedding in Berlin,’ which they will later offer as a wedding present to some friends of theirs.
2017
They perform this evening at the Nottingham Motorpoint Arena.
2018
The Pet Shop Boys are among the artists—creators of ‘Northern anthems’ as voted on by the general public—depicted in an exhibition of original portraits by Manchester-based illustrator Stanley Chow that opens today at Sage Gateshead as part of the ‘Great Exhibition of the North.’ The PSB songs that have been nominated by the public as ‘Northern anthems’ are ‘Love Comes Quickly’ and ‘It’s a Sin.’
2022
The Dreamworld Tour comes to Cork, Ireland.
2024
Pet Shop Boys headline at the Isle of Wight Festival.
- Facts collated by geowayne.com