Them Crooked Vultures Play Surprise Shows at Reading and Leeds

As supergroups go, one with the likes of Dave Grohl on drums, John Paul Jones on bass and Josh Homme on guitar and vocals "wouldn't suck" -- Grohl said as much in a 2005 interview with Mojo. Them Crooked Vultures are the band, and they played their first UK festival shows this weekend, first at Leeds and then at Reading.

Probably the worst-kept secret on the bill, the Vultures rumour mill had the band due to perform a "surprise" slot on Saturday at Reading. Having played Leeds the day before (in similarly hushed circumstances), and spotting an hour-sized gap in the lineup, the throngs were heading to the NME/Radio1 tent at full throttle.

And what a roar when the band came on stage, bringing grins to the faces of the trio (with live support from Queens of the Stone Age's Alain Johannes) was clearly having a ball throughout the show. Josh Homme repeatedly told the crowd, "You're f---ing beautiful." Dave Grohl took breaks in between songs to ham it up for the cameras, pouring water over his head while the amassed crowd chanted his name.

The crowd wasn't well-versed on any of the songs, which included 'Gunman,' 'Elephants' and 'Mind Eraser, No Chaser,' but the tight, frenetic intensity of the playing, the foreboding, sexy grooves and sheer joy of those on stage drew cheers and applause as if the songs were old favourites.

Dave Grohl was right. They didn't suck.