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.
Neil and Chris have lunch at London’s Royal Garden Hotel with Larry Blackmon of the band Cameo. They discuss with him the possibility of his producing their new song ‘Shopping,’ but nothing comes of that idea.
Chris and Neil are in the studio working on ‘For Your Own Good.’
They perform the second of their two Pandemonium Tour concerts in San Francisco.
The 12-inch vinyl edition of ‘Say It to Me’ is released today, featuring four remixes of the single.
The Pet Shop Boys conclude their five-date series of Super Tour concerts in Brazil with a show this evening in Porto Alegre.
They perform at Brooklyn’s famed Barclays Center.