February 1986
On February 24th, ‘Love comes quickly’, which will remain one of their favourite songs, is released, reaching a disappointing #19 in the UK.
History
March 1986
On March 24th, their first LP ‘Please’ is released. “It’s so people can go into the record shop and say can I have the Pet Shop Boys album, please?”.
April 1986
‘West End girls’ reaches #1 in USA.
May 1986
On May 19th a new version of ‘Opportunities’ is released. “The point of that song is that the humour is black, it’s like a joke. The impression is that the people in it are not going to make any money”.
June 1986
The Pet Shop Boys announce, then cancel, a tour of Europe and America; the cost of using a theatre designer and playing fairly small venues proves prohibitive.
September 1986
On September 22nd, a re-recorded version of ‘Suburbia’, a song inspired by the Penelope Spheeris film of the same name about a group of disenchanted rebellious youths in suburban Los Angeles, is released. “It’s about a riot happening in some decaying suburb. It’s just the description of the riot happening and then the aftermath”. On the B‑side is the first version of ‘Paninaro’, named after an Italian youth cult and featuring a quote they both liked that Chris had said on a TV show: “I don’t like country and western, I don’t like rock music, I don’t like rockabilly… I don’t like much really, do I? But what I do like, I love passionately”.
November 1986
On November 17th ‘Disco’, an LP of disco remixes, is released.
On this day
1986
‘West End Girls’ hits #1 in the U.S.
2006
Chris and Neil are interviewed live on BBC1 Breakfast TV.
2012
The Pet Shop Boys make a surprise appearance performing at London’s Kensington Palace Gardens at a gala for the Absolute Return for Kids charity. Also performing are the band Mumford & Sons.
2015
Neil attends the Sunday matinee performance of the Closer to Heaven revival at London’s Union Theatre.
2016
A big day in the ‘PSB world.’ Their official website unveils a substantial redesign, along with several major announcements, including the premiere of the new music video ‘Twenty-something,’ the long-rumored but now officially confirmed second single from Super. It’s also announced that the Super Tour will begin in the autumn, including a first round of dates and news that tickets will begin going on sale later in the week.
2022
The Dreamworld ‘Greatest Hits’ Tour, delayed for two years on account of the COVID pandemic, finally begins with its first show in Milan.
2024
Annually 2024 is published and begins shipping today.
- Facts collated by geowayne.com