On April 22, the Pet Shop Boys musical Closer to Heaven is performed in London for the first time in fourteen years, in a sold-out month-long run at The Union Theatre. (It will return for a further five weeks beginning on October 21.). For this revival, at the Pet Shop Boys’ request, the musical’s original final number, “Positive role model”, is replaced by “Vocal”.
On August 15, the final date of the much-extended Electric tour – which began in March, 2013 – takes place at the Flow Festival in Helsinki. The tour has visited over forty countries.
On December 2, the Pet Shop Boys appear at MAMA – the Mnet Asian Music Awards – in Hong Kong. They are given the Worldwide Inspiration award and play a lengthy live medley, joined for their final two songs, “What have I done to deserve this?” and “Vocal”, by the K‑Pop artist f(x). At the organisers’ request, they wear the Electric tour straw jackets for, possibly, the final time.
While in Houston, Texas, on their Performance tour, Neil goes shopping and buys a Stetson hat and cowboy boots.
The Pet Shop Boys perform in Buenos Aires. Although the concert venue is ‘Luna Park,’ they resist the temptation to perform that particular song there. Afterward Neil describes the show as ‘the loudest we’ve ever had. Felt like we were playing in the Cup Final (and winning).’
The Boys release their tenth studio album, Yes.
The Pandemonium live CD/DVD set is released today in the United States, more than a month after its release in many other countries.
Their extended stay in Los Angeles complete, Neil and Chris catch a flight back to London.
The first part of a new four-part radio documentary about the Pet Shop Boys premiers on BBC Radio 2. Also, the Boys unveil ‘Happiness,’ the opening track on their soon-to-be-released album Super, on Zane Lowe’s Beats 1 radio show today. (Incidentally, the two Lowes are not related.)