On August 19th, Neil and Chris meet by chance in an electronics shop on the Kings Road. Realizing they have a common interest in dance music, they begin to write together. Initially they call themselves West End; later they come up with the name Pet Shop Boys, a name derived from some friends who work in a pet shop in Ealing. “We thought it sounded like an English rap group”.
Neil is sent to New York by Smash Hits to interview The Police. By this time the Pet Shop Boys are obsessed by a stream of hi energy records made by New York producer Bobby Orlando, known as Bobby O’. “I thought well, if I’ve got to go and see The Police play then I’m also going to have lunch with Bobby O’ ”. Neil and Bobby O share a cheeseburger and carrot cake at a restaurant called The Apple Jack on August 19th (two years to the day since Neil and Chris met) and Bobby O’, flatered by Neil’s compliments, suggests making a record with the Pet Shop Boys.
The first version of ‘West End girls’ is released. It is a club hit in Los Angeles and San Francisco and a small hit in France and Belgium.
They make their first ever stage appearance at the Fridge Nightclub in Brixton, singing and playing over tapes.
Neil Francis Tennant is born on July 10th in North Shields, Northumberland.
A special 10-inch single version of ‘West End Girls’ is released.
The Pet Shop Boys perform the first of two shows in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Neil joins Elton John’s longtime domestic partner David Furnish and several friends for what’s described as a ‘pre-wedding dinner’ at Amaya, an upscale London curry house. Elton and David are scheduled to be married later in the month.
The Boys bring their Pandemonium Tour show to Vienna.
They state on their official website that they’ve just returned from a few days in Wrocław, Poland, where they were recording the orchestral parts for their upcoming ballet The Most Incredible Thing.
The Pet Shop Boys receive the ‘Worldwide Inspiration Award’ this evening at the MNET Asia Music Awards ceremony in Hong Kong. They also perform a medley consisting of ‘Go West,’ ‘Always on My Mind,’ ‘What Have I Done to Deserve This?’ and ‘Vocal,’ joined onstage for the latter two by the popular K‑Pop girl group f(x), who provide support vocals.
They perform this evening in Frankfurt, Germany.
They bring their Dreamworld Tour to the Autódromo de Interlagos for the first of two shows in São Paulo, Brazil.