Eminem rocks London

America's latest gangsta rap sensation delivered the authentic Eminem experience on his three-date UK tour, replete with trademark cussing, pill-popping, rum-swigging and chainsaw-wielding.

BBC News Online's Max Gadney found himself "putting his hands in the air" with the rest of the crowd at London's Docklands Arena.

It was an evening that left Eminem's young audience ecstatic.

As widely anticipated, the latest US gangsta rapper sensation began his set with footage of zealous fans breaking into his house.

The rapper has been condemned for his lyrics

The star came out to meet them, and the delighted crowd, in now infamous Texas Chainsaw Massacre mode - replete with chainsaw, dungarees and Friday the Thirteenth hockey mask.

The battered house from the cover of the second album made a dramatic stage set, later changing into a haunted castle.

We cheered as Eminem bounded through his set aided by computer-animated videos, cartoon capsules and old family slideshow snaps.

Crowd screamed

When he drank rum and swallowed pills the crowd screamed. He encouraged us to do the same.

Quite a few of the younger ones obviously did and sat the evening out.

We were told to put our hands in the air a fair amount - while a basic light show illuminated fake US gangster hand signs.

Dido, whose voice was sampled for Eminem's recent hit Stan, came on stage for the track to rapturous applause.

The crowd was as proud of her for being British as it loved the song - the mobile phone ring of choice for those on the way to the venue.

Audience sing-along

Kill You, Criminal and Real Slim Shady satisfied our need for a sing-along, while The Way I Am drove the audience wild with excitement.

Eminem on stage in Manchester

And it wasn't just Eminem that got them going - a crossed forearm salute for support band Xibit was as powerful as any later bonding with Mr Mathers.

Minutes before the end of the show, DJ Tim Westwood encouraged the by-now rampant crowd to scream insults at the press boxes.

Last year Eminem played the smaller London Astoria. Now a global phenomenon, he is delivering all his young public expects.