Johnny Marr joined The The onstage for first time since 1990 at UK’s Forever Now fest (video, setlist)

Sunday was the inaugural Forever Now festival, the UK sister festival to the US’ Cruel World, where a lot of classic alternative/new wave/punk acts played, including Kraftwerk, The The, Billy Idol, Johnny Marr, The Damned, The Jesus & Mary Chain, The Psychedelic Furs, The Chameleons, and more.

Johnny Marr was a member of The The from 1988 – 1993, and with both artists on the bill, a reunion seemed likely and in fact did happen. It was the first time Marr had been onstage with the band since 1990 and he came out to play guitar and sing backup on “The Beaten Generation” from 1989’s Mind Bomb and “Dogs of Lust” from 1993’s Dusk. You can watch video of both below. The The’s Forever Now set also included “Uncertain Smile,” “This is the Day,” “Slow Emotion Replay,” “Infected” and more.

Johnny Marr’s Forever Now set included The Smiths songs “Panic,” “This Charming Man,” “How Soon is Now?,” “Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want,” and “There is Light That Never Goes Out,” Electronic’s “Getting Away With It,” a cover of Iggy Pop’s “The Passenger” and a few of his solo songs. Video from his set is below as well.

SETLIST: The The @ Forever Now Festival 6/22/2025
Cognitive Dissident
Sweet Bird of Truth
Armageddon Days Are Here (Again)
The Beat(en) Generation (with Johnny Marr)
Dogs of Lust (with Johnny Marr)
Icing Up
Slow Emotion Replay
(Slow version ‘Slow Emotion Replayed’)
This Is the Day
I’ve Been Waitin’ for Tomorrow (All of My Life)
Infected
Uncertain Smile
GIANT

SETLIST: Johnny Marr @ Forever Now Festival 6/22/2025
Armatopia
Panic
Generate! Generate!
Spirit Power and Soul
This Charming Man
Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want
How Soon Is Now?
Easy Money
Getting Away With It
The Passenger
There Is a Light That Never Goes Out