Free single crashes Coldplay website

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The British rockers had announced that the song would be made available free on their official website from 12.15pm today - to coincide with it being played on Radio One.

But hundreds of disgruntled fans inundated forums complaining that their computer had crashed or that they could not access the song. One fan, Jessica Lee wrote on the band's MySpace website: "Can the Coldplay site be any more annoying right now - can everyone get the hell off ?"

Another fan, Cass, followed with: "Nooo! It's crashed - I haven't heard it yet!" On a Facebook fansite, a Bulgarian fan posted: "I can't even load the site - so unfair." Their torment was worsened by the few fans who had been able to download Violet Hill gloating about how great the new song is.

As part of the promotion for their new Brian Eno-produced album Viva La Vida, Coldplay will also play two free shows in London and New York in June with a competition for tickets on the band's website in the coming weeks.

The single is intended to be available for seven days on the site. The giveaway is part of a growing trend for bands looking to promote new material at a time when illegal downloading is rife.

A free seven-inch vinyl single of Violet Hill will also be given away on the cover of music weekly NME on 7 May.

A spokesman for the band said: "At least 900 people were able to download initially, but it crashed due to the high volume of users. We are working on sorting out the problem right now."

David Smyth, Evening Standard music critic, managed to hear the single and said that while the song is a bit more experimental, as the band had hinted, it is still "recognisably Coldplay and sadly it's no classic".

He continues: "It gets remarkably loud before Martin gets the chance to do a typically teary piano solo bit at the end. With its pounding rhythm there are hints of earlier track Politik, but it doesn't have the air of a future favourite."