BBC News Online: Entertainment: Music

REM rock streets of Toronto

REM were promoting their new album Reveal

Around 20,000 fans converged on the Canadian city for the free lunchtime gig which took place in the longest street in the world.

Lead singer Michael Stipe joked with the crowd that they would "get what they paid for".

He said: "This is a free concert. I'll cough my through it."

Music-lovers lined the main route into the city, Yonge Street, to hear their heroes, while others took to the roofs to get a better look.

Fruit

The Grammy Award-winners, fresh from their appearance at the Celebrate South Africa concert in London, did not disappoint those who braved the rain.

REM played a 70 minute set, squeezing a mixture of 16 old and new songs.

Stipe threw fruit out into the audience during the set.

The show was organised to promote their new album Reveal.

Some devoted fans spent hours travelling to the gig.

College student Sam Malone drove from Ottawa for six hours to hear the band, and was rewarded with "an awesome show."

He added: "It's well worth the trip."

Guitarist Peter Buck is due to return to the UK on 18 June to face charges at Uxbridge Magistrates Court, west London, following an alleged incident on a British Airways flight.