Madonna sings for 500 fans

Pop superstar Madonna performed an exclusive London gig for 500 fans yesterday to publicise her latest and much-criticised album American Life.

News of the one-off live performance at the HMV store in Oxford Street sparked a mad scramble for tickets.

Watched from the wings by her husband Guy Ritchie, Madonna sang live in an acoustic set with a five-piece band including producer Mirwais.

She opened with the title track to her new album and went on to perform four more songs from it.

"I hope you take that determination, devotion and passion and put it somewhere else in your life. If you want to pay tribute to me then do something important with your life," she told her audience.

Sales of her new album are down on her previous release, Music. Yesterday's performance was her only scheduled live event in the UK until next year.