Pet Shop Boys Reunite with Johnny Marr for Rare Tracks and Live Debuts at Electric Ballroom
Pet Shop Boys brought out Johnny Marr at London’s Electric Ballroom to perform rarities and deep cuts at a recent show. The show featured the first live rendition of ‘The Truck Driver and His Mate’ since 2002, along with other surprises.
The Pet Shop Boys surprised fans at London’s Electric Ballroom last night, bringing out Johnny Marr for a performance of rare tracks and deep cuts. This special gig was part of their 'Obscure' live shows, a five-night residency at the intimate venue dedicated to showcasing the band's lesser-known material.
The shows, which kicked off earlier in the week, have already seen Chris Lowe and Neil Tennant debut several songs live for the first time, including ‘Jack The Lad’ (1986), ‘After The Event’ (2012), and ‘Hit And Miss’ (1996).
Other notable inclusions in the setlist were ‘To Face The Truth’ and ‘One in a Million / Mr. Vain,’ not performed since 1994, ‘Your Funny Uncle’ (last played in 1991), and ‘The Theatre,’ making its first appearance since 1997.
Marr's appearance added an extra layer of excitement. He joined the Pet Shop Boys after the opening trio of ‘Through You’, ‘Will‐o‐the‐wisp’, and ‘Two Divided by Zero’, contributing to the first live performance of ‘The Truck Driver and His Mate’ since 2002. The song originally appeared on their 1996 album, ‘Bilingual’.
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He also lent his talents to ‘Up Against It’ (also from ‘Bilingual’), marking its live debut, and ‘I Didn’t Get Where I Am Today’ from their 2012 album ‘Format’, which also received its live premiere.
"Love and thanks to Pet Shop Boys for inviting me to play last night," Marr shared on Instagram, posting a photo with Tennant and Lowe.
The rest of the show featured a mix of deep cuts such as ‘King’s Cross’, ‘Sexy Northerner’, and ‘Young Offender’.
Check out more footage from the night and the full setlist below.
Fantastic PSB ‘Obscure’ gig at the Electric Ballroom last night. Johnny Marr turning up for a bit was a bonus as well. pic.twitter.com/bf7xftJfPQ
— Mick (@nalaknip) April 9, 2026
Pet Shop Boys’ setlist was:
‘Through You’
‘Will‐o‐the‐wisp’
‘Two Divided by Zero’
‘Jack the Lad’
‘The Truck Driver and His Mate’ (with Johnny Marr) (First time since 2002)
‘I Didn’t Get Where I Am Today’ (with Johnny Marr) (Live debut)
‘Up Against It’ (with Johnny Marr) (Live debut)
‘Hit and Miss’
‘Always’
‘One in a Million / Mr. Vain’
‘Sexy Northerner’
‘Young Offender’
‘It Couldn’t Happen Here’
‘New Boy’
‘King of Rome’
‘King’s Cross’
‘Love Is the Law’
‘Why Don’t We Live Together?’
‘The Performance of My Life’
Encore:
‘Your Funny Uncle’
‘The Way It Used to Be’
‘Later Tonight’
‘I Dream of a Better Tomorrow’
This isn't the first time Marr has collaborated with the Pet Shop Boys. In the late '80s, they formed the supergroup Electronic, releasing 'Getting Away With It' in 1989 and a self-titled debut album in 1991.
Marr has also contributed to several Pet Shop Boys releases, including guitar work on tracks from ‘Behaviour’ (1990), ‘Release’ (2002), and ‘Yes’ (2009).
Marr previously joined the band at Royal Albert Hall in 2017 and introduced them at the NME Awards that same year, praising their impact on pop music.
In 2024, Marr brought out Neil Tennant at London’s Eventim Apollo, covering David Bowie’s ‘Rebel Rebel’ and Electronic’s ‘Getting Away With It’.
The Pet Shop Boys released their 15th album, ‘Nonetheless’, in April 2024, receiving a four-star review from NME.
Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe described the album as their “queer album” and followed it with a remix album, ‘Disco 5’, featuring Noel Gallagher, Sleaford Mods, Paul Weller, and Primal Scream.
Johnny Marr recently announced his biggest solo show at Manchester’s Castlefield Bowl on July 9.
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