Courtney Love plays surprise birthday show

Courtney Love celebrated her birthday tonight (July 9) with an intimate London show.

The former Hole singer roadtested new songs at the Bush Hall in west London for an audience of competition winners and close friends.

Love played 11 brand new songs, all slated to appear on forthcoming album 'Nobody’s Daughter', alongside a slew of Hole classics.

This week's low-key tour – which also takes in Paris, New York and Los Angeles – is a chance to break in her new band, which features former Larrikin Love guitarist Micko Larkin.

Playing the vast majority of her forthcoming Linda Perry-produced album, Love paid tribute to her collaborator, telling the crowd before 'Letter To God': "This was written by me and the genius Linda Perry. She’s done a lot of pop, but she’s doing a lot of rock right now!"

The singer also remarked on the lo-fi nature of Edwardian music hall that was playing host to her first UK gig in years, explaining: "I guess I wanted chandeliers and shit sound. And what I got was chandeliers and shit sound."

The confirmed smoker then complain about England's recently-enforced smoking ban, moaning from the stage: "The only place I can smoke in England is the Houses Of Parliament! That’s so retarded!"