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
2001
The Boys are in Neil’s home studio, where they resume work on an old track that will ultimately evolve into ‘The Night I Fell in Love.’
2010
The Pet Shop Boys are among the artists who have donated items for an online charity auction to raise money for the victims of the devastating earthquake in Haiti ten days before. Chris and Neil have donated a copy of their highly collectible (and very expensive) special 11-disc vinyl edition of Yes.
2011
The Pet Shop Boys make a surprise appearance performing at the Prada ‘Spring/Summer 2011 Fashion Show and Special Event’ at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing.
2013
They’re spending much of the month planning and working on their upcoming Electric Tour. Today they develop a new version of their old song ‘I Get Excited (You Get Excited Too)’ for the show.
2021
The limited series It’s a Sin debuts on U.K. television this evening. Not only does it borrow its title from the PSB hit, but it also stars Olly Alexander, whose band Years & Years had collaborated with PSB on the song ‘Dreamland.’ To coincide with the debut of the series, a new remake of ‘It’s a Sin’ by Years & Years is released today.
- Facts collated by geowayne.com