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
1993
Boy George’s PSB-produced ‘The Crying Game’ peaks at #15 on the U.S. charts.
2001
The first public performance (not the official ‘opening night’) of Closer to Heaven takes place in London.
2003
Alcazar’s Alcazarized, featuring the PSB-written ‘Love Life,’ is released in the Swedish band’s native country.
2007
The Pet Shop Boys perform in Zurich, Switzerland.
2008
While Neil collaborates with Xenomania’s Miranda Cooper on ‘Where the Wild Things Are’ (part of which is eventually appropriated for ‘More Than a Dream’), Chris writes melodies for ‘The Way It Used to Be.’
2012
Neil works on the credits list for Elysium.
2013
In Buenos Aires, the Pet Shop Boys appear at a ‘private gig’ hosted by Mercedes Benz to celebrate the launch of their new A‑Class auto. They perform a truncated version of their current Electric Tour setlist.
2019
Frances Barber records her vocals for ‘Ich bin Musik’ and ‘For Every Moment.’
2022
The Pet Shop Boys bring their Dreamworld Tour to the Hallenstadion in Zurich, Switzerland.
- Facts collated by geowayne.com