January 1988

'I'm Not Scared', a song the Pet Shop Boys have written and produced for Patsy Kensit, is released as a single by her group Eighth Wonder, and is their first hit.

February 1988

At the BPI Awards, the Pet Shop Boys win the Best Group award. They also mime to 'What have I done to deserve this?' on stage with Dusty Springfield. Afterwards Neil comments, "It's kind of macho nowadays to prove you can cut it live, I quite like proving that we can't cut it live. We're a pop group, not a rock 'n' roll group".

March 1988

A different mix of 'Heart' is released as a single on March 21st and reaches #1 in the UK. "It's a real disco song – the idea of 'heartbeat' the beat of the record and the beat of your heart. It's actually pretty corny, to be honest, but I think the words are quite sweet and sincere". The video, shot in Yugoslavia, is a resetting of the Dracula story with Ian McKellen in the title role.

March 1988

May 1988

For the second year running, the Pet Shop Boys win the Best International Hit award at the Ivor Novello Awards, this time for 'It's a sin'.

June 1988

Ian McKellen persuades the Pet Shop Boys to play live at an anti-Clause 28 benefit, Before The Act, at London's Piccadilly Theatre, performing 'It's a sin' and 'One more chance'. "A brilliant event", they say afterwards.

July 1988

'It couldn't happen here' is released on July 8th to mixed reviews: it wins an award at the Houston film festival.

August 1988

The Pet Shop Boys win the Berolina award in Germany for 'Group of the Year'. The award is presented to them by Miss Venezuela.

September 1988

On September 12th, 'Domino dancing' is released, a song they recorded that February in Miami with Expose producer, Lewis Martinee. They shoot a video in Puerto Rico and appeared with a full Latin band on Wogan and Top Of The Pops.

September 1988

October 1988

On October 10th, their new album 'Introspective' is released. It is so called because "all the songs, although it's a dance album, are introspective". The title was chosen after considering and dismissing 'f', 'Dogmatic', 'Bounce' and 'Hello'. They explain that 'Introspective' sounds serious, like an art exhibition: "Nick Rhodes", says Chris at the time, "will be so jealous".

October 1988

November 1988

On November 14th, 'Left to my own devices' is released: "an exaggerated autobiography". The second verse refers to a time when Neil's mother would worry about him because he'd wait in a corner of the back garden pretending to be a Roundhead soldier.

November 1988

On This Day

1985

A special 10-inch single version of 'West End Girls' is released.

1994

The Pet Shop Boys perform the first of two shows in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

2005

Neil joins Elton John's longtime domestic partner David Furnish and several friends for what's described as a 'pre-wedding dinner' at Amaya, an upscale London curry house. Elton and David are scheduled to be married later in the month.

2009

The Boys bring their Pandemonium Tour show to Vienna.

2010

They state on their official website that they've just returned from a few days in Wrocław, Poland, where they were recording the orchestral parts for their upcoming ballet The Most Incredible Thing.

2015

The Pet Shop Boys receive the 'Worldwide Inspiration Award' this evening at the MNET Asia Music Awards ceremony in Hong Kong. They also perform a medley consisting of 'Go West,' 'Always on My Mind,' 'What Have I Done to Deserve This?' and 'Vocal,' joined onstage for the latter two by the popular K-Pop girl group f(x), who provide support vocals.

2016

They perform this evening in Frankfurt, Germany.

Next (1989)