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
1986
‘Opportunities’ is re-released as a single, this time proving successful.
1990
Electronic’s ‘Getting Away with It’ (co-written by Neil) peaks at #38 on the U.S. singles chart.
2005
The Boys begin work on ‘Casanova in Hell.’
2006
Fundamental is released in Germany and various other countries in continental Europe—a few days ahead of its U.K. release.
2007
Continuing the Fundamental Tour, Neil and Chris arrive in Stuttgart, Germany, for their concert there the following evening.
2009
As they note today on their official website, the Pet Shop Boys are in the midst of rehearsals for their upcoming world tour, which they have dubbed ‘The Pandemonium Tour.’
2011
Chris and Neil reportedly put in an appearance this evening at the London club Room Service.
2019
Frances Barber comes back into the studio to re-record vocals for ‘For Every Moment’ and ‘Friendly Fire.’ Neil then works with Pete Gleadall to edit a prospective single version of ‘Ich bin Musik’ (though it’s never released as a single).
- Facts collated by geowayne.com