The lead single from U2's much-hyped new album last night failed to breach the UK Top Ten, with the band hitting the charts at their lowest point in over a decade.

'Get On Your Boots' was the highest new entry of the week in the UK, but fans were bitterly disappointed that it only charted at 12.

This is in contrast to the Irish charts, where the first single from album 'No Line On The Horizon' shot straight to the top spot.

Online U2 fan forums last night blamed a host of factors for the relatively low UK placing, ranging from the changed nature of the charts, to the fact that the band has suffered recent internet leaks.

Certainly the changed attitudes of the record-buying public mean that album sales will be the true barometer of the band's popularity.

But unless the single rises up the charts in the coming weeks it will mark U2's worst hit parade performance since 1997's 'If God Will Send His Angels'.

That song was the fifth single from the 'Pop' album and was not aggressively hyped or marketed in the way 'Get On Your Boots' has been.

And while number 12 is a respectable position for most bands, the world-conquering might of U2 has only failed to dent the UK top 10 four times in 25 years.

The band have enjoyed a remarkable run of success since their very first number 10 hit 'New Year's Day' in 1983.

Elsewhere in the charts, last week's Brit Awards had a huge impact on the record-buying public.

Double Brit award winners Kings of Leon knocked Lily Allen off the top of the album charts with 'Only By The Night', which won the group the best international album prize.

'The Fear' kept Allen at the top of the singles chart for the fourth week running although Kings of Leon, who also won best international group, moved up from 12 to three with the single 'Use Somebody'.

But the Brits effect did not have quite the same impact on U2, despite the band opening last Wednesday's ceremony with a rendition of, you guessed it, 'Get On Your Boots'.