A Rare Collaboration at the Electric Ballroom

Pet Shop Boys brought out legendary guitarist Johnny Marr to perform a selection of rarities and deep cuts during their recent residency at London’s Electric Ballroom. The performance, which took place on Wednesday, March 8, served as a highlight of the duo’s ongoing ‘Obscure’ live series—a five-night residency dedicated exclusively to lesser-played tracks from their extensive back catalogue.

The gig continued the momentum of the residency, which has already seen Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe revive long-dormant tracks such as ‘Jack The Lad’, ‘After The Event’, and ‘King Of Rome’. However, the inclusion of Marr added a special layer of musical history to the evening.

Live Debuts and Rarities

Marr joined the stage early in the set, contributing to the first live rendition of ‘The Truck Driver and His Mate’ since 2002. The collaboration deepened as the band performed ‘Up Against It’—a track from their 1996 album Bilingual—marking its first-ever live performance. The trio also delivered the live debut of ‘I Didn’t Get Where I Am Today’, a track originally featured on the 2012 compilation Format.

Following the show, Marr expressed his gratitude on social media, sharing images from the stage and reflecting on the collaborative spirit of the night. The setlist for the evening was a masterclass in deep-cut curation, featuring tracks like ‘King’s Cross’, ‘Sexy Northerner’, and ‘Young Offender’.

A Long-Standing Musical Partnership

The connection between Marr and Pet Shop Boys is well-documented, dating back to the late 1980s when they formed the new wave supergroup Electronic. Their partnership has spanned decades, with Marr contributing guitar work to numerous Pet Shop Boys albums, including Behaviour, Release, and Yes.

This recent appearance follows a history of mutual support, including Marr’s 2017 speech at the NME Awards where he honored the duo for bringing “romance, glamour, style, and high art” to pop music. With both acts continuing to push their creative boundaries—Pet Shop Boys with their recent Nonetheless album and Marr preparing for his largest solo show at Manchester’s Castlefield Bowl this July—this Electric Ballroom performance stands as a testament to their enduring influence.

Pet Shop Boys’ Setlist: London, April 8, 2026

• ‘Through You’
• ‘Will‐o‐the‐wisp’
• ‘Two Divided by Zero’
• ‘Jack the Lad’
• ‘The Truck Driver and His Mate’ (with Johnny Marr)
• ‘I Didn’t Get Where I Am Today’ (with Johnny Marr)
• ‘Up Against It’ (with Johnny Marr)
• ‘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’