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
1987
Chris and Neil are winding up a three-week stint in South London and Clacton filming It Couldn’t Happen Here.
1994
The Pet Shop Boys perform in Mexico City for a second night.
2006
Continuing their post-touring vacation, Neil and Chris enjoy an evening as spectators at a Mexican wrestling match at the Monterrey Coliseo.
2009
The Boys perform in Thessaloniki, Greece.
2010
Neil and Chris are interviewed on Matthew Rudd’s Q Radio show, during which records by other artists selected by them are also played. The most delightful surprise to this writer? — Bob Lind’s big 1966 folk-pop hit ‘Elusive Butterfly.’
2011
London department store Fortnum & Mason unveils their 2011 Christmas window decorations. The store’s creative director, Paul Symes, tells an interviewer that this year’s display is inspired by the Pet Shop Boys’ music video for ‘What Have I Done to Deserve This?’ He points out, ‘We’ve been very careful to stay on the glamorous side and not stray into anything seedy.’
2014
The Boys are in Punta Del Este, Uruguay in preparation for their concert there the following evening.
2015
As noted a few days later on their official Facebook page, Chris and Neil pay a backstage ‘surprise visit’ this evening ‘before the final curtain call’ to the cast of the revival of their musical Closer to Heaven at London’s Union Theatre.
2017
The Boys are in Berlin. Today they work on a new song, ‘Only the Dark,’ after which they visit an electrical shop called Saturn.
- Facts collated by geowayne.com