On February 28 the Pet Shop Boys begin a short, four-concert Russian tour, visiting Moscow and St. Petersburg, inspired by their visit to St. Petersburg to see Brian Eno the previous summer. In Moscow they perform twice in one night, once in a large arena then later in the middle of an over-crowded nightclub. The local media ask them whether they speak Russian, “We’re very good at saying ‘nyet’,” they explain.
On April 13, Twentieth Century Blues: The Songs of Noel Coward is released. It is an album of Noel Coward songs covered by contemporary musicians, co-compiled by Neil, who has been working on it for the past eighteen months. He has loved Noel Coward’s music since he first heard it in about 1970. “I think as a songwriter he’s slightly underrated,” Neil says, “simply because his plays are so famous, and people forget.” The Pet Shop Boys do a version of “Sail Away”, and amongst the other interpreters are Elton John, Paul McCartney, Suede, Robbie Williams and the Divine Comedy. “We tried to choose artists,” Neil explains, “who somehow seem to be in the Noel Coward tradition of wit, theatrically and style.” To promote the album, Neil appeared along on TFI Friday where he sang along with a busker playing Pet Shop Boys songs on an acoustic guitar.
At the request of their former American record company, the Pet Shop Boys agreed to the release of ‘Essential Pet Shop Boys’, a compilation of early Pet Shop Boys songs recorded between 1985 — 1990, including a number of rare remixes, as part of a series of limited edition CDs by other artists.
At the behest of director Gus Van Sant, the Pet Shop Boys wrote a new song, with Tom Stephan, at extremely short notice for the soundtrack of Van Sant’s remake of ‘Psycho’. It is called “Screaming”. “It’s about an obsessive fan, written from the obsessive fan’s point of view,” Neil says. “Or actually just by someone obsessed with someone who doesn’t love them.”
‘It’s Alright’ is released as a single.
Chris and Neil are among the celebrity guests attending a lavish private party in Hertfordshire celebrating George Michael’s 30th birthday.
The Boys work with Danny Tenaglia on a new song, ‘Before.’
They bring their Release Tour to Brussels, Belgium.
Chris and Neil take a break from the European leg of the Fundamental Tour to do some sightseeing in Bilbao, Spain, including the Guggenheim Museum there.
They perform in Leipzig.
Ten years (plus two days) after their first appearance at the Glastonbury Festival, the Pet Shop Boys perform there once again. Their set is broadcast live on BBC3 TV.
While Neil is out taking a morning walk, Chris begins working on a track that will eventually become ‘Pazzo!’
The Super Tour comes to Baden-Baden, Germany.
Neil records vocals for ‘The Schlager Hit Parade.’
Exactly twelve years to the day since their previous appearance at the Glastonbury Festival, the Pet Shop Boys perform there an abbreviated version of their Dreamworld Tour setlist. A technical glitch, however, results in Chris not appearing at the beginning of their performance, leaving Neil at first the only Pet Shop Boy onstage and causing many fans to wonder ‘Where’s Chris?’ Chris soon makes his appearance, however. Later, special guest Olly Alexander joins them for the song ‘Dreamland,’ and the Boys dedicate their closing song, ‘Being Boring,’ to the victims of the preceding day’s terrorist attack on a gay club in Oslo, Norway.
The PSB Dreamworld Tour comes to Brighton.
Pet Shop Boys perform in Amsterdam.