They sign to Parlophone Records after long negotiations with Bobby O', who relinquished his contractual rights over them in return for a substantial royalty on future record sales.
April 1985
On April 5th, Neil leaves Smash Hits. In the next issue an 'obituary' is written, bidding him a sad adieu and predicting that in a matter of weeks Neil's pop duo, the Pet Shop Boys "will be down the dumper and he'll come crawling back on bended knees, ha ha ha". "I spoke to my mum on the telephone and said how we'd signed with EMI and she said "But you're not going to give up your job, are you?" and I said, actually I did last week".
July 1985
On July 1st, the first version of 'Opportunities' is released. It reached #116 in the UK.
August 1985
They play a short set as part of the ICA Rock Week in London, Chris showing off his skills on the trombone. Neil and Chris are interviewed on stage by Max Headroom. They re-record 'West End girls' with producer Stephen Hague the same month.
October 1985
'West End girls' is released on October 28th and goes to #1 in the UK in January. It is subsequently #1 in USA, Canada, Finland, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, New Zealand and Norway, selling 1.5 million copies. "People endlessly ask us what it's like having a #1" says Neil at the time. "But what it feels like is vaguely nothing. It feels like having a cup of tea".
On This Day
1991
The Pet Shop Boys are scheduled to begin the U.S. leg of their Performance tour this night in Miami, but the show is postponed one day because of technical difficulties.
2004
In a double-barreled promotional move, the Boys are interviewed on BBC Radio 2 and perform 'Flamboyant' on the Top of the Pops TV show.
2013
This morning Neil attends an exhibition celebrating the career and cultural contributions of David Bowie at London's Victoria and Albert Museum.
2015
The Desired Effect, the second solo album by The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers, is released today in the U.S. (having been released a few days before in Ireland and the U.K.). It includes the track 'I Can Change,' which boasts a brief guest 'spoken vocal' appearance by Neil Tennant.
2016
Chris and Neil appear as guests on Graham Norton's BBC Radio 2 show.
2019
Together with the same three support musicians they've had throughout their Super Tour, the Boys have now begun rehearsals for their upcoming five-date tour of East Asia.
- Facts collated by geowayne.com