Arctic Monkeys' birthday gig for pal in pub

Happy birthday: The Arctic Monkeys thrill regulars at the Old Harrow with a birthday concert for former barman Chris McClure, who appeared on the cover of their debut album THEY might have been too busy to make British music's biggest night of the year - but there was no way the Arctic Monkeys were going to miss playing at a mate's birthday bash in a Sheffield pub.
The Arctics played at the Old Harrow in Main Street, Grenoside, on Friday night - two days after missing the Brits award ceremony on Wednesday due to their hectic diary.
Alex and the boys joined fellow local bands The Reverend and Milburn at the 21st birthday bash of Chris McClure - a former barman at the pub whose face was made famous when he appeared on the album sleeve of the Monkeys' album Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not which was voted best British album of the year.
Chris, who is studying sociology at Manchester University, admitted he was still a little hungover when he spoke to The Star yesterday.
He said: "It was a night I will never forget. I've known the lads for years but nobody let on what they were planning to do. It was a complete surprise.
"My mum Cheryl organised it with them and I can't thank everyone enough who turned up for making it a top, top night.
"Everybody had such a great time - even I had a go at singing.
"I got up and gave it my best Dusty Springfield - I guess I had a few too many."
Landlord Matt Platts said: "It was a fantastic night. The Monkeys, Milburn and The Reverend were brilliant.
"And it wasn't just thrown together on the night they had been practicing together for weeks. The bands performed a set of songs together
including covers of Oasis, Bob Marley and the Libertines mixed with a sprinkling of their own stuff.
"It was a fantastic night and one I don't think anyone who was there will ever forget."
Matt said he had to restrict the numbers of partygoers to around 120.
"We kept the party very hush hush for safety reasons as we didn't want thousands of fans descending on the pub."
Thats pretty damn cool of them 