On May 2 the Pet Shop Boys appear at Heaven nightclub in London, playing a four song set as part of Can You Bear It?, a benefit for Dainton Connell’s family. For the final song they are joined by Suggs and Carl from Madness, in rambunctious high spirits, to perform a dance version of Madness’s “My Girl”: “It was a very emotional night”.
On October 27 a Pet Shop Boys-produced single by the British artist Sam Taylor-Wood, “I’m in love with a German film star”, is released on the cult German dance label Kompakt. It is the Pet Shop Boys’ third collaboration with Sam Taylor-Wood though the previous one was released under the pseudonym Kiki Kokova. The song is an electronic reinterpretation of the 1981 single by the Passions, a suggestion of Neil’s.
This year’s annual Christmas single from the Killers — “Joseph (Better You Than Me)” — is originally planned as a collaboration between The Killers and Elton John. Neil gets involved after Brandon Flowers asks for help with the lyric; in the end Neil’s short section of guide vocal for the lyric he contributes will remain in the final song when it is made available for download.
Neil Francis Tennant is born in North Shields, Northumberland, U.K.
They celebrate Neil’s 35th birthday as airline passengers flying over Siberia on the way home from tour dates in Japan. Not only do they have champagne, but the stewardess presents Neil with two birthday cakes.
After working on ‘Se A Vida E,’ the Boys celebrate Neil’s birthday with a barbeque.
In the wee morning hours shortly after midnight, following the earlier (July 9) PSB performance at the Exit Festival in Novi Sad, Serbia, the Scissor Sisters sing ‘Happy Birthday’ for Neil, who briefly reappears onstage with them mid-song.
The Boys spend much of the day in their studio working with Pete Gleadall. Meanwhile, the Interactive Media Council awards the web development firm Airside an Interactive Media Award for Outstanding Achievement for their work on the official PSB website.
The Pet Shop Boys are the headline act at a special concert at London’s O2 Arena complex titled ‘Smirnoff Experience: U.R. The Night.’ Their performance—a greatly abbreviated form of their Pandemonium Tour setlist—lasts about a half-hour.
Neil spends his birthday in Munich, Germany, where the Boys perform this evening at the Tollwood Festival.
The PSB Electric Tour comes to Munich.
The Boys top off Neil’s 60th birthday with their appearance at the Exit Festival in Novi Sad, Serbia.
They perform at the Teatro Real (Royal Theatre) in Madrid.
In the Canary Islands for their upcoming shows there, Neil celebrates his birthday by having dinner and drinks in Tenerife with Chris, Pete Gleadall, and their touring band.