March 1995
On March 6th, ‘Various’, a collection of the Pet Shop Boys’ most recent videos, is released.
History
July 1995
On July 31st, the Pet Shop Boys release ‘Paninaro ‘95’, a new version of the song they first recorded in 1986. It is based upon the new arrangement Chris performed on the ‘Discovery’ tour, and Chris’ new, updated lyrics.
August 1995
On August 7th an album of Pet Shop Boys B‑sides is released. It is called ‘Alternative’ (a last minute change from the title which had always been saved for this record: ‘Besides’). It contains thirty songs in chronological order from ‘In the night’ to ‘Some speculation’, and the first copies of the CD and album have a hologram on the cover which shifts between two photographs, one of Neil, one of Chris, both in fencing masks. “They’re some of our favourite songs”, Neil explains, “and it just seemed like a nice idea to have them in one place”. On the same day, ‘Discovery’, a video of the Pet Shop Boys performing live in Rio de Janeiro, is released.
December 1995
On December 19th the Pet Shop Boys record a two hour radio programme, Merry Pet Shop Boys, for Radio One to broadcast on Christmas Eve. They play their favourite records from the previous year, beginning with Livin’ Joy’s ‘Dreamer’ and ending with the Sleaze Sisters with Vicki’s ‘Let’s Whip It Up’, and including songs by Edwyn Collins, Grace, The Original, The Passengers, Dubstar, Gusto, Billie Ray Martin, and two by Oasis. During the recording they drink champagne, and eat twiglets and crisps. Neil leaves the band once, and Chris explains to a Radio One producer why he likes the records that he likes: “It’s like art. You like it because you like it. You don’t know why. I I like any song with the word ‘love’ in it. I like any record with love in it because, as far as I’m concerned, right, love’s the only thing that matters”.
On this day
1987
On the eve of its release as a single, the Pet Shop Boys perform ‘Rent’ on the U.K. TV show Live from the London Palladium.
1989
Dusty Springfield records her vocal for the PSB-written and ‑produced ‘Daydreaming.’
1999
Nightlife is released.
2006
The Boys appear in concert in Toronto.
2007
They perform at the Pilar Festival in Zaragosa, Spain.
2009
Neil and Chris visit Brazil’s capital city, Brasilia, for the first time. They spend much of the day playing tourist, appreciating the architecture, and are photographed in front of the Presidential Palace. That evening they perform at the city’s Marina Hall.
2010
Chris and Neil attend a performance in London of the duo My Bad Sister—the twins Sophie and Polly Duniam, who had performed as backup singers and dancers on the Boys’ Pandemonium Tour.
2011
They write the new song ‘Odd Man Out,’ while Pete Gleadall begins mixing their demo of ‘Winner.’
2013
They perform in Las Vegas.
2018
Alex Needham of The Guardian visits the studio where Chris and Neil are working and interviews the latter for his book One Hundred Lyrics and a Poem. Meanwhile, they continue working on the song ‘On Social Media.”
2022
Neil and Chris are driving up the coast of California from Los Angeles to San Francisco, the next stop of the Unity Tour. Along the way they stop at Big Sur, where Neil snaps a photo of a local cat who has decided to perch him/herself atop some of his luggage.
- Facts collated by geowayne.com