Coldplay’s Chris Martin plays surprise George Michael tribute at homeless shelter

The pop superstar shocked residents and volunteers when he dropped into the London Crisis centre 
Impromptu: Chris Martin played a surprise gig at a homeless shelter
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Jennifer Ruby29 December 2016
The Weekender

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The Coldplay frontman dropped into a Crisis Centre in west London on Wednesday to play a special version of Wham!’s Last Christmas.

According to the volunteers, the 39-year-old arrived with ‘no fanfare’ and dedicated the set to Michael, who passed away on Christmas Day.

As well as performing some of his own hits, Martin reportedly asked member of the crowd to join him for duets and later made cups of tea.

Despite wanting to keep the performance under the radar, a number of Crisis volunteers tweeted their thanks.

“Huge shout out to the amazing @coldplay #chrismartin for dropping by to our @crisis_uk West London shelter to play for guests. What a legend,” wrote Nish Manek on Twitter.

Diana Gornall added: “Wonderful day volunteering for @crisis_uk. Massive thanks to #chrismartin of @coldplay for helping out and entertaining us all!”

Penny White, who was on her first shift, wrote: “@crisis_uk loved first shift at #crisisxmas at West London centre. Brilliant guests & volunteers Cool duet by one guest & Chris Martin .”

Another volunteer posted a selfie with Martin, writing: “That moment when Coldplay's Chris Martin drops into the Crisis at Christmas shelter, with no fuss, no fanfare and no press, to help make tea and coffee and also play guitar so the guests can have a sing song.

“Thank you for coming down and getting stuck in. #crisis #christmas #chrismartin #coldplay.”

Since Michael’s tragic death at the age of 54 on Sunday, fans have been sharing stories of his charitable nature.

George Michael - In pictures

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TV host Richard Osman recalled a time when Michael anonymously donated money to a woman who couldn’t afford IVF.

“A woman on 'Deal Or No Deal' told us she needed £15k for IVF treatment. George Michael secretly phoned the next day and gave her the £15k,” he wrote on Twitter.

Dame Esther Rantzen revealed that Michael had given all the royalties from his 1996 number one single Jesus To A Child to Childline.

“For years now he has been the most extraordinarily generous philanthropist, giving money to Childline, but he was determined not to make his generosity public so no-one outside the charity knew how much he gave to the nation's most vulnerable children,” she said.

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