Rock supergroup play first UK gig

Them Crooked Vultures came on stage to ear-splitting screams

A new supergroup featuring three rock heavyweights have played their first UK gig, supporting the Arctic Monkeys.

Them Crooked Vultures features Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters and Nirvana, John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin and Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age.

They made a surprise appearance at Brixton Academy in London.

The Arctic Monkeys gave the first UK airing of their new material as a warm-up for their headline slots at the Reading and Leeds festivals.

Before they came on, Them Crooked Vultures appeared to ear-splitting screams and played a pounding set of new hard rock songs.

Homme was the frontman, singing and playing guitar, with Jones on bass and keyboards and Grohl on drums and backing vocals.

It was only their fifth gig, after making their debut earlier this month in Chicago and following up with shows in the Netherlands and Belgium. They are also expected to release an album.

Homme co-produced the Arctics Monkeys' third album Humbug and one of his bands, the Eagles of Death Metal, are to support the Sheffield group on European dates in November.