February 1986
On February 24th, ‘Love comes quickly’, which will remain one of their favourite songs, is released, reaching a disappointing #19 in the UK.
History
March 1986
On March 24th, their first LP ‘Please’ is released. “It’s so people can go into the record shop and say can I have the Pet Shop Boys album, please?”.
April 1986
‘West End girls’ reaches #1 in USA.
May 1986
On May 19th a new version of ‘Opportunities’ is released. “The point of that song is that the humour is black, it’s like a joke. The impression is that the people in it are not going to make any money”.
June 1986
The Pet Shop Boys announce, then cancel, a tour of Europe and America; the cost of using a theatre designer and playing fairly small venues proves prohibitive.
September 1986
On September 22nd, a re-recorded version of ‘Suburbia’, a song inspired by the Penelope Spheeris film of the same name about a group of disenchanted rebellious youths in suburban Los Angeles, is released. “It’s about a riot happening in some decaying suburb. It’s just the description of the riot happening and then the aftermath”. On the B‑side is the first version of ‘Paninaro’, named after an Italian youth cult and featuring a quote they both liked that Chris had said on a TV show: “I don’t like country and western, I don’t like rock music, I don’t like rockabilly… I don’t like much really, do I? But what I do like, I love passionately”.
November 1986
On November 17th ‘Disco’, an LP of disco remixes, is released.
On this day
1989
Photographer Lawrence Watson snaps a picture of Neil and Chris at Japan’s Narita Airport during their MCMLXXXIX Tour. This photo later appears on the artwork of the singles ‘Where the Streets Have No Name (I Can’t Take My Eyes Off You)’ and ‘How Can You Expect to Be Taken Seriously?’
1999
The Pet Shop Boys debut their ‘Nightlife look’ as well as some songs from that upcoming album at Capital Radio’s ‘Party in the Park’ at London’s Hyde Park.
2002
They perform in Dusseldorf, Germany.
2007
Evidence (as if any were really needed) that the Boys aren’t joined at the hip: Chris is in London, where he attends a Zaha Hadid exhibition at the Design Museum, while Neil enjoys a stopover in Paris on his return trip from a visit to Spain.
2008
Neil records vocals for the chorus of ‘Love etc.’ and he, Chris, and the Xenomania crew finalize the song’s structure. Neil also writes new lyrics for ‘Building a Wall.’
2012
Having received its radio debut the day before, ‘Winner’ today receives its digital single release on iTunes and Amazon.
2013
The Boys bring their Electric Tour show to the Czech Republic city of Karlovy Vary—their first-ever visit there.
2017
Not quite ten years since their previous show there, the Pet Shop Boys make their second appearance at the Montreux Jazz Festival. Following the concert, Chris and Neil meet singer-songwriter Beth Ditto of the band Gossip.
2018
The Pet Shop Boys, collaborating with London designer Jeffrey Bryant—who has worked with them before on a number of occasions, most notably having created their infamous ‘plastic straw jackets’ for the Electric Tour—are among the artists who have created customized trainers (more commonly ‘sneakers’ or ‘tennis shoes’ to Americans) that are auctioned off starting today on eBay to benefit the Albert Kennedy Trust charity for homeless LGBT youth.
2019
A new production of Closer to Heaven premieres this evening at Above the Stag Theatre in London.
2024
The Boys bring their Dreamworld Tour to Warsaw.
- Facts collated by geowayne.com