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History

March 2011

On March 14 a double-CD of the music from the ballet The Most Incredible Thing is released under the name Tennant/Lowe. It contains the full performance score of the ballet with orchestrations by Sven Helbig.

2011 March

On March 17 the ballet The Most Incredible Thing has its first public performance at Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London. Its genesis can be traced back to a week in where, by chance, two initially unrelated events took place. Ivan Putrov, a principal dancer at the Royal Ballet whom the Pet Shop Boys had got to know through Sam Taylor-Wood, called Neil to ask whether they would write a piece for him to dance to. Two days later, before Neil had even had a chance to ask Chris, Chris called to say that he’d just read a story in a new translation of Hans Christian Andersen’s tales that he thought would make a great ballet: “The Most Incredible Thing”. This eventually led to the Sadler’s Wells production, choreographed by Javier de Frutos and starring Ivan Putrov, Clemmie Sveaas and Aaron Sillis. All ten performances sell out.

May 2011

On May 27 the Pet Shop Boys appear at the Sunderland Stadium of Light, joining Take That at their invitation as “special guests” on their first reunion concerts as a five-piece on what will be the biggest British tour ever – 29 British stadium shows – followed by a short European leg. “45 minutes of intensity,” says Chris.

December 2011

On December 31 the Pet Shop Boys appear at a New Year’s Eve concert on an island in Sydney Harbour.

On this day

1991

While staying at the Mondrian Hotel in Los Angeles, Neil happens upon Depeche Mode singer Dave Gahan having lunch. They chat briefly. That same evening the Boys perform the second of two consecutive nights’ shows at L.A.‘s Universal Amphitheater.

2001

Chris and Neil begin work on a track called ‘Diddly Squat,’ which later becomes ‘All or Nothing.’

2011

They start working on a remix of the Hidden Cameras track ‘Colour of a Man.’

2015

They note on their website that today they spoke with their manager, Angela Becker, ‘via computer’ about ‘reissues, the new album, etc.’

2016

Pre-recorded segments featuring Neil and Chris have been airing every weekday afternoon this week on the ‘This Is the Day’ segment of Richard Blade’s SiriusXM 1st Wave satellite radio show.

2017

Chris attends this evening’s performance by The Who at London’s Royal Albert Hall, where the Pet Shop Boys are scheduled to perform three nights later. (Both shows are to benefit the Teenage Cancer Trust.)

2023

Their official website announces the pending June release of Smash, the Pet Shop Boys’ fourth hits collection, which will be available in several formats, including a three-CD/two-Blu-ray set.