Buskers sue music bosses for 'denying chance of stardom'

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Bongo Mike and Extremely Frank - real names Michael Kay and Jeremy Helm - were performing on the District line when they were spotted by Philip Chadwick, a director of TRC Management, which represents Mercury winners Elbow.

They were signed up as support act for another band, My Vitriol, at a London Astoria concert in front of 5,000 fans. The duo were hailed as "the best support band ever" as fans deluged online magazines sites. They claim the 2002 success would have transformed their careers, but they only discovered the reviews a year later.

In a High Court writ against TRC, they claim they had an agreement with Philip Chadwick to be told of reviews. By not being told of any, the buskers, who are both in their fifties and live in Brixton, say they were denied the chance to earn up to £40,000.

Bongo Mike said: "They cheated us. If we had known we could have gone to important record agents - it was a chance at the big time. Now we are back to being treated like criminals on the Tube - it has been hell."

Mr Chadwick and TRC Management were unavailable for comment.