Michael stipe, frontman of the world's biggest band REM, wasn't even recognized by door staff when he turned up at the River Club last night.
Stipe, with a grunge-style hat covering his famous shaved head, was momentarily stopped.
The REM singer looked a bit puzzled before his chauffeur intervened and the problem was cleared up.
His arrival was the worst kept secret of the year - with the crowd eagerly awaiting the band, who are set to rock Slane this weekend in Ireland's biggest gig of the year.
Other band members turned up too, but kept a low profile at MCD promoter Denis Desmond's birthday bash.
The Cork man was tight-lipped about which birthday he was celebrating, with rock insiders were taking bets. Forty was the hottest bet, they claimed.
The entertainment was provided by Scottish stadium rockers Big Country, who provided a blistering unplugged set.
Frontman Stuart Adamson apologized to the crowd for the absence of drummer Mark Brezezicki, who collapsed on stage from a stomach bug while the band were supporting Plant and Page at the Point on Wednesday night.
We later bumped into manager Ian Grant who said: "You know what is the worst thing was about Mark falling ill?" he asked. "He got sick all over Jimmy Page's amp. They had to take it apart and clean it out," he said.
But veteran rockers Jimmy Page and Robert Plant weren't making a drama out of a crisis, he added.
"The entire crew was so f..ing understanding," said Ian, adding that they were true professionals.
Meanwhile, Stipe, who arrived in the club at 12.50 left only a few minutes before the end, apparently enjoying the Big Country noise.
He was accompanied by his sister and her boyfriend as well as his rock entourage.
Media-shy Michael shunned photographers on the way in and out of the gig, pulling his hat down to his eyebrows.
Insiders said he came straight to the gig in a 92D Mercedes and hadn't visited clubs beforehand. Stipe then headed off to Lillie's Bordello to meet up with Rockers Plant and Page in the library.
Also spotted at the River Club were Irish racing hero Eddie Irvine and Gerry Ryan
REM'S main support band this weekend, Oasis, were also spotted on a major pub crawl.
All four members of Britain's top band and darlings of the music press, were spotted early in the night in the Chocolate Bar.
The hard men of rock were then spotted around the Temple Bar, before heading into Bad Bobs for a few quick drinks.
They stayed three-quarters of an hour, but regulars "didn't really know who they were", said a club insider.
"They were having a good time, and had two or three drinks," he added.
Brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher were last seen heading towards The Kitchen.
