As far as album launch stunts go, the White Stripes playing to an audience of Chelsea Pensioners sure beats floating an over-sized sculpture of oneself down the Thames a la Michael Jackson.

With the gentle thwock of cricket being played in the background, the Detroit band played a low-key acoustic set to 25 servicemen pensioners at the Royal Hospital in Chelsea yesterday.

On a small stage in the opulent Council Chamber of the State Apartments, overlooked by enormous oils of the Hospital’s founder, King Charles II, they played five numbers that at first had a few hearing aids being adjusted, but by the end had silvery heads nodding along.

The inclusion of two traditional numbers, You Belong To Mr and Boll Weevil, combined with Jack White’s parting joke, “We don’t want to take up too much of your time, we heard it was your cocktail hour”, ensured the oddball band had their audience charmed.

Norman Mitchell, 87, of the Gernadier Guards was particularly impressed. “I love anything hillbilly like that. Down in the physio here they play Roy Rogers, we do our exercises to him. It was marvellous.”

Referring to the 3.15pm start time, Mitchell said, with a twinkle and a white wine in hand, “It’s good there was just two of them. Anything louder wouldn’t have worked. There’s still old boys asleep upstairs at this time if you know what I mean.”

Wearing the ceremonial Scarlet uniform, Mitchell joked of his glistening row of medals, “There’s only two that matter. Number two and three, the Africa Star and the Star of Italy. The rest just make up the numbers.”

The concert was initiated by the Anglophile band as part of their current campaign for new album Icky Thump, and to raise the profile of the Chelsea Pensioners’ appeal, which aims to raise £35 million by March 2008 for a new infirmary and modernisation of the Christopher Wren-designed Long Wards.

After the concert, basking in sun in the 1692-built quad, the hospital’s Lieutenant Governor, Peter Currie, had nothing but praise for the band. “They came to us. A marvellous idea. And they’ve a No 1 album this week you know.

“It’s terribly important that people are made aware of the Pensioners’ Appeal. These are Marlboroghian designs and they need care. These gentlemen gave everything for their country and everyone should do their bit to help because they did a lot more than a bit for us.”

The band, after letting a mobility mobile pass slowly by, sped off directly to the Rivoli Ballrooms in Lewisham where last night they performed a benefit in aid of another venerable British institution with great outfits, the Pearly Kings and Queens.

Click here to donate to the Chelsea Pensioners’ appeal

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