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Radiohead forced to abandon record store gig

17.01.08

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Radiohead were due play at Rough Trade East records in Spitalfields, east London

The band were forced to switch venues when hundreds of fans turned up

The band played their seventh studio album in full

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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 Oxford five-piece 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 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."

Claire Roberts, 18, from Bethnal Green, said it had been a "gig of a lifetime".

She said: "It was the single greatest experience of my life. Even though we had to wait for three hours longer, the set was amazing. We were right at the front and could almost touch the band."

Radiohead's new single Jigsaw Falling Into Place is out this week. The band tour Europe and America later this year.