Britain's biggest band Coldplay made their long-awaited comeback to the London stage last night after a two-year absence.

The group, fronted by Chris Martin, played tracks from their new album Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends, at an hour-long free gig at the Brixton Academy in south London.

Among the 5,000 screaming fans were celebrity guests Kelly Osbourne, Stella McCartney, Jemima Khan and Noel Gallagher's girlfriend Sara MacDonald.

Back on stage: Chris Martin performs a track from the group's new album at Brixton Academy in south London last night

As expected, Martin's wife Gwyneth Paltrow was nowhere to be seen.

The couple go to great pains to avoid being photographed together, with Martin being a noticeable absence at Paltrow's recent film premieres for her latest movie Iron Man.

The group's gig last night comes after Martin hit the headlines for his reluctant promotion of the band's new album.

He stormed out of interviews with BBC Radio 4 and the Guardian in recent weeks after taking exception to the questions.

Bringing back the old tracks: Chris Martin performed an acoustic version of Yellow

Despite his recent prickly behaviour, Martin humoured the crowd with a series of jokes, including 'I know there’s been complaints about the ticket price'.

Coldplay played mostly tracks from their new album, but also Fix You from their last LP X&Y and an acoustic version of one of their biggest hits Yellow.

Critics were mostly impressed by last night's gig, describing the band as going through an 'experimental phase'.

The Times' Pete Paphides said: 'Three years on, Coldplay sounded like a band who may have finally found an acre of sonic terrain to call their own.'

The Independent's Elisa Bray said: 'Fix You is flawlessly performed, and is the best example of the band's ability to manipulate the strings of their audience's heart.

Star guests: Fashion designer Stella McCartney and socialite Jemima Khan leave through the Brixton Academy's back door

'This they follow up with the solid new track Lovers in Japan as colourful confetti butterflies start showering the crowd. It's a tasteful way to end the night and shows that Coldplay continue to do what they do predictably brilliantly.'

However, the Telegraph's Neil McCormick wrote: 'He forgets lyrics, tells jokes punchline first, hits bum notes and makes the cardinal showbiz sin of drawing attention to mistakes by apologising for them. Even when he does pull off a seamless segue into Trouble, he is so pleased he interrupts the song to boast about it, thus ruining its seamlesness.

'All of this is to their benefit. Coldplay have a strength of character – friendly, excitable, charming and passionate – that success cannot erase.'

Coldplay's new album went straight to the top of the UK charts on Sunday after only being on sale for four days, becoming one of the fastest selling albums of all time.

Rock chicks: Radio host Kelly Osbourne and Noel Gallagher's PR girlfriend Sara MacDonald leave the Coldplay gig