January 1988
‘I’m Not Scared’, a song the Pet Shop Boys have written and produced for Patsy Kensit, is released as a single by her group Eighth Wonder, and is their first hit.
History
February 1988
At the BPI Awards, the Pet Shop Boys win the Best Group award. They also mime to ‘What have I done to deserve this?’ on stage with Dusty Springfield. Afterwards Neil comments, “It’s kind of macho nowadays to prove you can cut it live, I quite like proving that we can’t cut it live. We’re a pop group, not a rock ’n’ roll group”.
March 1988
A different mix of ‘Heart’ is released as a single on March 21st and reaches #1 in the UK. “It’s a real disco song — the idea of ‘heartbeat’ the beat of the record and the beat of your heart. It’s actually pretty corny, to be honest, but I think the words are quite sweet and sincere”. The video, shot in Yugoslavia, is a resetting of the Dracula story with Ian McKellen in the title role.
May 1988
For the second year running, the Pet Shop Boys win the Best International Hit award at the Ivor Novello Awards, this time for ‘It’s a sin’.
June 1988
Ian McKellen persuades the Pet Shop Boys to play live at an anti-Clause 28 benefit, Before The Act, at London’s Piccadilly Theatre, performing ‘It’s a sin’ and ‘One more chance’. “A brilliant event”, they say afterwards.
July 1988
‘It couldn’t happen here’ is released on July 8th to mixed reviews: it wins an award at the Houston film festival.
August 1988
The Pet Shop Boys win the Berolina award in Germany for ‘Group of the Year’. The award is presented to them by Miss Venezuela.
September 1988
On September 12th, ‘Domino dancing’ is released, a song they recorded that February in Miami with Expose producer, Lewis Martinee. They shoot a video in Puerto Rico and appeared with a full Latin band on Wogan and Top Of The Pops.
October 1988
On October 10th, their new album ‘Introspective’ is released. It is so called because “all the songs, although it’s a dance album, are introspective”. The title was chosen after considering and dismissing ‘f’, ‘Dogmatic’, ‘Bounce’ and ‘Hello’. They explain that ‘Introspective’ sounds serious, like an art exhibition: “Nick Rhodes”, says Chris at the time, “will be so jealous”.
November 1988
On November 14th, ‘Left to my own devices’ is released: “an exaggerated autobiography”. The second verse refers to a time when Neil’s mother would worry about him because he’d wait in a corner of the back garden pretending to be a Roundhead soldier.
On this day
1989
Liza Minnelli’s Results, produced by the Pet Shop Boys, debuts on the U.S. album chart, beginning a ten-week run that peaks at #128.
1996
‘Single’ is released as a single under the title ‘Single-Bilingual’ on account of another artist’s record titled ‘Single’ being released as a single around the same time.
2004
The Boys perform at Wembley Arena as part of a special Prince’s Trust show in honor of Trevor Horn.
2011
11/11/11 proves a propitious day for PSB fans: Neil and Chris reveal in an online interview that their second b‑sides collection, titled Format, is scheduled for release in February, and that they’re about to begin recording their next studio album, aiming for release the following autumn.
2016
In the wake of the U.S. presidential election several days before, the Boys perform this evening in Washington, D.C.
2018
Still working at Berlin’s Hansa Studios, the Boys work with Stuart Price on ‘An Open Mind,’ including Neil singing newly revised lyrics.
2024
Chris and Neil host the first of four hour-long thematic programs on BBC Radio 6 as ‘Artists in Residence.’ These shows, in which the Boys present and discuss music of their choice, air for four consecutive nights.
- Facts collated by geowayne.com