May 2008

On May 2 the Pet Shop Boys appear at Heaven nightclub in London, playing a four song set as part of Can You Bear It?, a benefit for Dainton Connell’s family. For the final song they are joined by Suggs and Carl from Madness, in rambunctious high spirits, to perform a dance version of Madness’s “My Girl”: “It was a very emotional night”.

October 2008

On October 27 a Pet Shop Boys-produced single by the British artist Sam Taylor-Wood, “I’m in love with a German film star”, is released on the cult German dance label Kompakt. It is the Pet Shop Boys’ third collaboration with Sam Taylor-Wood though the previous one was released under the pseudonym Kiki Kokova. The song is an electronic reinterpretation of the 1981 single by the Passions, a suggestion of Neil’s.

December 2008

This year’s annual Christmas single from the Killers — “Joseph (Better You Than Me)” — is originally planned as a collaboration between The Killers and Elton John. Neil gets involved after Brandon Flowers asks for help with the lyric; in the end Neil’s short section of guide vocal for the lyric he contributes will remain in the final song when it is made available for download.

On This Day

1986

The Pet Shop Boys appear on the U.K. children's morning TV show Saturday Superstore.

1989

Neil and Chris are at CBS Studios in London supervising the recording of 'Tonight Is Forever' with Liza Minnelli and 46 orchestral musicians conducted by Anne Dudley.

1991

The Pet Shop Boys perform in Los Angeles. Much of Chris's family attend this particular concert. After the show, Guns N' Roses lead singer Axl Rose meets them, says that he's a big fan, and asks why they didn't play his favorite song of theirs, 'Being Boring.'

2002

They perform 'Home and Dry' on Top of the Pops.

2004

Chris and Neil appear on the U.K. TV show Richard and Judy. On the same day, 'Flamboyant' is released as a single.

2007

The Boys perform their first-ever concert in New Zealand—in Auckland, to be precise.

2011

With the debut run of their ballet now behind them, Neil and Chris return to Berlin to resume work on new music.

2012

Neil re-records his lead vocal for 'Give It a Go' in Pete Gleadall's London studio.

2017

The 2017 edition of the Pet Shop Boys' new yearly fan publication Annually—'revived' after one previous edition back in 1989—begins shipping today to those who had pre-ordered a copy before its scheduled print run had sold out.

Next (2009)