Skip to navigation Skip to content

History

August 1983

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.

On this day

1991

‘How Can You Expect to Be Taken Seriously?’ debuts on the U.S. singles chart, where it will peak at #93.

1992

The Pet Shop Boys are profiled on the British television series The South Bank Show.

2006

Neil presents Madonna with the award for ‘Best International Female Artist’ at this year’s BRITS Awards.

2010

The recent PSB ‘living room gig’ sponsored by Mastercard airs this evening during the BRITS Awards telecast and also debuts online.

2011

The Boys start writing a new song titled ‘Heads Will Roll.’

2012

Chris and Neil are still in Los Angeles, having been there now for more than a month working on their next album. Today, as they listen to playbacks of music they’ve recently recorded, they enjoy watching Elizabeth Taylor’s 1963 film Cleopatra on a television in the studio. Neil also records additional vocals for ‘Memory of the Future.’ On this same day, a ‘Singbox’ app featuring music of the Pet Shop Boys is released for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. It permits users to sing along, karaoke-like, to tracks and to compete with other users.

2016

The new PSB single ‘The Pop Kids’ has its official world premiere today on Ken Bruce’s BBC Radio 2 show. It also becomes available on iTunes to those who have pre-ordered the still-unreleased new album Super. Meanwhile, Chris and Neil are in the studio completing work on a track titled ‘The White Dress.’

2023

Neil and Chris attend a performance of the new musical ‘Standing at the Sky’s Edge’ at London’s National Theatre. (The following day they note on their website that the show’s choreography is by Lynne Page, with whom they’ve worked on some of their own stage shows and videos.)