Sir Paul McCartney to play 100 Club gig in London

Sir Paul McCartney performed at Harlem's famous Apollo Theater on Monday

Sir Paul McCartney is to play his smallest gig for a decade as part of a campaign to save London's 100 Club.

The Beatles legend will play at the 300-capacity venue, which is under threat of closure, on Friday lunchtime.

He joked that one reason for the gig, which is sold out, was to "help the venue stay open for a new generation of up-and-coming artists, like myself!"

A campaign to save the club has gained support from Rolling Stones star Ronnie Wood and Oasis singer Liam Gallagher.

During its 70-year history, the intimate venue has hosted concerts by Louis Armstrong, The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Sex Pistols, Oasis and Metallica.

Sir Paul said: "I've never played at The 100 Club before and it's great to be playing at a venue with so much great history that has seen so many brilliant gigs over the years."

It will be Sir Paul's smallest gig since he played at the Cavern Club in Liverpool in 1999, his representatives said.

The "stripped down" show will be a warm-up for two further gigs - in London on Saturday and in his home city of Liverpool on Monday.

Meanwhile, the campaign to save the 100 Club received a boost recently when Ronnie Wood performed on its stage as part of a benefit concert.