Crowds force Radiohead to abandon shop gig

Rock band Radiohead were forced to abandon plans for a gig in a tiny record shop after more than a thousand fans turned up.

The five-piece band announced a surprise gig at Rough Trade East records in Spitalfields, east London, at 9am yesterday.

The first 200 fans were promised prized tickets to an intimate gig with a band more used to playing sell-out arena tours.

The band website promised anyone missing out on tickets could watch the gig on giant plasma screens erected outside the shop.

But after nearly 1,500 fans deluged the small store off Brick Lane, police and local authorities raised safety fears and the gig was moved to nearby small nightclub 93 Feet East and the outdoor screening abandoned.

Those who managed to get tickets were treated to a full set from a band that reached number one in the UK and US with their album In Rainbows despite giving it away on line before the CD release.

After queuing for more than seven hours, then waiting a further two and a half hours for the band to come on stage, fans heard the band play their seventh studio album in full and a six-song encore including favourites 'The Bends' and 'My Iron Lung'.

Lead singer Thom Yorke told an excited audience: “As you know, this was supposed to be in a shop. I’m glad it’s not, actually. Fair play to Rough Trade for putting up with this.”

DVD producer Ama Chana, 22, from Ealing, west London, said he was given the day off to queue for tickets.

He said: “I found out about it and I was going to lie to my boss and take a sickie, but I told her and she was really understanding. I came here straightaway and we’ve been here for nine hours.”