Madonna fans leave 'worst ever' gig thirty minutes early
Star finishes first England show in four years 90 seconds before curfew
Fans complain at lack of hits played at show which failed to sell out
Angry Madonna fans branded her Hyde Park gig “the worst ever” as they left the venue early in their droves last night.
Hundreds of fans walked out of the London leg of the singer’s MDNA tour with more than half an hour remaining.
The 53-year-old, playing her first concert in England in four years, finished 90 seconds before the 10.30pm curfew that would have seen her unplugged like Bruce Springsteen three days earlier.
But many fans, frustrated by a lack of hits, low volume, and a number of “gothy” reworkings of songs, chose not to stay for the finale.
High ticket prices appeared to keep some fans away altogether. The show failed to sell out and as the show began touts were hawking tickets for less than half their £77 face value.
On eBay some tickets failed to sell despite starting prices as low as £10. One entrepreneur’s attempt to cash in by selling two Golden Triangle passes for £850 attracted zero bids.
Rick Salthouse, 46, a gym owner from Manchester, said: “It was the worst gig I have ever been to. I've been a big Madonna fan all my life but I will never buy one of her records again.”
Alex Tobin, 35, a bank worker from Beckenham, said: “It was a huge disappointment. I didn’t recognise 95 per cent of the songs. Most people were bored.”
His wife Sinead Tobin, 35, a doctor, said: “It was OK to begin with but the rain didn’t help. It changed the mood of the crowd.”
However Adam Cook, 28, from Milton Keynes, said: “She was brilliant but for the casual fan there was not a lot. We went to see her show in Berlin and they went mental, it was the same show.”
TV presenter Toby Anstis wrote on Twitter: “I can definitely say, that was THE best live show i have ever seen! Mesmerising from start to finish! Amaaaazin!”
Kylie Mingoue, George Michael, Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell and U2 rocker Adam Clayton were spotted in the golden circle at the front of the stage at the gig.
Among fans who stayed for the whole concert, reaction was mixed. And Springsteen had a dig at the officials who pulled the plug on him in London. Playing in Dublin last night The Boss told the crowd: “Before we were so rudely interrupted..” before playing the lost final chords of Twist and Shout.
His band then tore into The Clash’s protest song ‘I Fought The Law’, while during ‘Dancing in the Dark’ video screens showed only a generator battery switched firmly “on”.
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