Coldplay thrill New York with Madison Square Garden gig

Actresses Charlize Theron and Kirsten Dunst joined supermodel Helena Christensen in the 10,000-strong audience.

The New York event was the band's third free show, following gigs in London and Barcelona, to promote new album Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends.

They gave away thousands of tickets through their website - although some were said to be changing hands for up to $800 a pair on eBay.

The title track, Viva La Vida, has given the band their first ever number one single in both the US and the UK.

Its popularity has been boosted by its use as the soundtrack to an iTunes advert.

Launching into the song, frontman Chris Martin joked: "Somehow it's made it to number one in your country. It just goes to show that with good marketing and a handsome bass player you can achieve anything."

The set opened with Life In Technicolor and included old favourites such as Clocks, In My Place and Fix You.

This is the band's fourth studio album and is their fastest seller to date.

It has already gone double platinum in the UK, selling over 300,000 copies in its first three days on sale.

The three free shows were a warm-up for the tour proper, which kicks off in Los Angeles on July 14. The European leg begins in September.

"We can't wait to get on the road. It just feels like a great big challenge," Martin said. "The time I feel most alive is when we're playing. It's the only time that my head makes any sense."

Via telegraph.co.uk