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LOS ANGELES - Britney Spears performed for the first time in more than three years yesterday, making a brief, unadvertised appearance at a San Diego nightclub, local media reported (watch video on x17online.com).
The gig, which reportedly lasted between 15 and 20 minutes, was not exactly a surprise. Rumours had run rampant in the past few days that three scheduled southern California shows featuring an unknown band called The M+M's were a cover for the troubled pop princess.
A television news report said US$35 tickets for the show at the 1,000-capacity House of Blues changed hands for as much as $500. The M+M's are also scheduled to play at House of Blues outlets today near Disneyland and tomorrow on the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles.
Spears' arrival at the San Diego venue was greeted by a horde of aggressive paparazzi and excited fans.
Wearing a brunette wig, a short top and skirt and tall boots, she performed five of her songs, and barely addressed the crowd, according to fans.
"I think she worked the stage, her body looked great. So it was good to see her finally come back and prove us all wrong," a female fan told Los Angeles TV station KNBC.
Spears, 25, whose professional achievements have been overshadowed by her personal crises, has not released an album since 2003. In that time, pop rivals like Christina Aguilera and Justin Timberlake have seen their careers soar.
Shortly after her 2004 marriage to her second husband, aspiring rapper Kevin Federline, Spears announced she would take some time off "to enjoy life" and "just chill."
Spears gave birth to two children, hit the Hollywood party scene and began behaving erratically. Far from her early image as a coquettish virgin, Spears generated headlines with her antics and was photographed in December wearing no underwear under her skirt. She appeared to hit rock bottom in February when she tearfully shaved her head, and then entered rehab for undisclosed problems.
There are signs that Spears is now refocusing on her career. After leaving rehab in March, she promptly finalized a divorce agreement with Federline, and fired her manager, Larry Rudolph.
She is reportedly recording her fifth album, which she started working on last year with red-hot hitmakers like R&B singer Ne-Yo and Swedish producer Max Martin.
- REUTERS
