Muse delighted fans with an intimate live charity gig, during which they played songs specially requested by ticket holders at The O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire.

The “By Request” event saw the rock band play a selection of their earlier, rarely-played tracks such as Muscle Museum, Citizen Erased, Sing For Absolution and Showbiz, much to the delight of the crowd.

They also rocked out with hits Plug In Baby, Dead Star, New Born and ended on Knights of Cydonia.

The gig at the 2,000-capacity venue came one week before Muse are set to headline the Reading and Leeds festivals for the third time.

More than 8,000 Muse fans from around the world also logged on to watch the live Instagram stream of the 90-minute set, which nearly overran past its 11pm curfew.

All profits made from ticket sales of the one-off gig have gone to The Passage, London’s largest voluntary sector resource centre for homeless and vulnerable people.

Frontman Matt Bellamy thanks the crowd for coming to support the gig and the “amazing” organisation.

He added: “It’s a real pleasure to come and play for you guys tonight in a small venue. We must have played here about four years ago and it was so good, we had to come back.”

Bellamy previously said: “We have admired The Passage’s work for a while now.

“Their work is vital to the community in London. We are looking forward to doing our bit to help the amazing staff and volunteers and the homeless people who benefit from their tireless hard work.”

Mick Clarke, CEO of The Passage said: “The Passage is really grateful that Muse are doing a doing a concert to raise money for, and awareness of, the vital work we do to end homelessness for those who come to our doors.

“It is frighteningly easy to end up on the street and this concert helps ensure that The Passage will be there for those who have nowhere else to turn to.”

@muse – absolute madness! 💜 #muse #o2shepherdsbushempire #o2sbe

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The Passage, which largely relies on fundraising for the £4.5 million a year it costs to run, provides resources to homeless people to encourage, inspire and challenge them to transform their lives.

As well as a resource centre that provides employment help, medical care and other vital advice, the charity runs hostels for the most vulnerable of homeless people who are otherwise sleeping on the streets.