Rock legends play impromptu gig

9:30am Tuesday 9th January 2007

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One of the world's biggest bands stunned an audience by putting on an impromptu gig in Oxford on Sunday.

Two members of American rock giants REM made an unannounced appearance at the Zodiac club in Cowley Road following a show by eccentric English artist Robyn Hitchcock.

Oxford music promoter Alan Day, of TCT Music, was part of the 200-strong crowd which watched as REM frontman Michael Stipe ambled onto the stage with bassist Mike Mills.

He said: "It was amazing. REM are certainly the biggest band to ever play on stage at the Zodiac. It was a great start to the new year."

Stipe spent the early part of the show watching the set from the back of the room, along with Radiohead frontman - and Oxford resident - Thom Yorke.

But the 47-year-old, who was wearing a tweed flat cap, took to the stage with Mills to help bring the evening to a memorable close.

Robyn Hitchcock fan Phil Lamphee, from Charlbury, said: "People were stunned when REM came on - I don't think they could believe it was happening.

"The place was by no means packed because it was a Sunday night, and it's a shame there weren't more people there to see it."