Arctic Monkeys' Alex Turner turned the air blue when he said “fuck” twice live on air on Radio 1 yesterday evening.

The band performed a blistering 10-song live set at Maida Vale's Studio 4 for Zane Lowe's show in front of a small specially invited crowd.

After his first “fuck”, Turner joked to the audience on the balcony “I've used up my first swearing token!”, before later saying the word again.

At the end of the 40-minute set, Zane Lowe duly apologised to listeners for the swearing ahead of the 9pm watershed.

The fervently-received set predominately showcased tracks from new album 'Humbug', released next Monday, bracketed by 'View From The Afternoon' from their debut and '505' from 'Favourite Worst Nightmare'.

They also aired a cover of Nick Cave's 'Red Right Hand', a live track that's quick becoming a fans' favourite.

Earlier on, shortly after rattling through 'My Propeller', Turner jokingly booed and hissed in the kind of self-deprecating manner Morrissey would be proud of. He then added “It is a grower, honestly.”

Despite the odd sound hitch and a false start, the set was emphatically received by Radio 1 listeners and on fan forums.

The full set-list was as follows:

1. View From The Afternoon
2. Potion Approaching
3. Pretty Visitors
4. Crying Lightning
5. Dangerous Animals
6. My Propeller
7. Red Right Hand
8. Cornerstone
9. Secret Door
10. 505

As reported earlier today, Arctic Monkeys have just confirmed a one-off album launch show at Brixton Academy next Wednesday (August 27).

(by Scott Colothan)