Rod Stewart fans were left fuming after the singer 'stormed off stage' during a gig. The 78-year-old was playing in Plymouth last night ahead of a series of summer shows across the UK.
But the music legend's set at Home Park stadium appeared to be cut short when the stage turned to darkness at 10.30pm. It is said to be down to a strict curfew at the venue, but shocked fans were quick to complain.
As reported by our sister title, The Mirror, one fan said: “After attending the Rod Stewart concert yesterday evening, he finished his second to last song – the finale being We Are Sailing – to be told it was 10.30pm and he couldn’t continue.
“With this Rod stormed off the stage and the concert was left without light, only to be told the Lord Mayor had put a stop to it. Hundreds of fans like myself were left in shock.”
Another said: “It was a fabulous night, but what an abrupt end. A guy dressed in black came onto the stage and ordered Rod off because of a curfew.
"Rod, of course, immediately left and the lights came on. No goodbye to fans, no encore. Everyone was stunned at the rude and abrupt ending to what was an amazing concert.
"Who was the guy in black who asked Rod to leave the stage? Why did Rod end the concert so abruptly? We were at the front and poor Rod looked stunned.
"For an artist to have his performance cut short so rudely and abruptly at the finale is awful. We came out saying that he was amazing but we would never attend a concert at Home Park again because performers are dragged off stage because of a curfew.
"Another few minutes to finish and say goodbye is all it would have taken. He had not even reached the end of the song before he was asked to leave the stage. They should have started earlier if they had such a strict policy."
Others took to social media to vent their anger. One fan said said on Facebook: "At 10.29pm he [Rod] is called to the side of the stage, was told 'the mayor says you have gone over your curfew.
"Rod shouts, 'tell the mayor to f*** off!', and then boom, stage in darkness and that's that. Everyone was waiting for an encore but spotlights came on and cleaners start moving in.
"So no We Are Sailing which would have been the encore. For Plymouth that was a must, a Naval town that was home to The Ark Royal that is so poignant to anyone here with that connection.”
On Twitter, one fan wrote: “What an utter t*** to have @PlymLordMayor and @plymouthcc to abruptly end @rodstewart concert at @homeparkstadium last night just because of a curfew is totally rude and disrespectful.
“I sincerely hope Sir Rod takes this further and those responsible are dealt with accordingly!” Another wrote: “This will make other big name bands think twice about coming to Plymouth. What an utter embarrassment.”
Others pointed out they had been to gigs at the same Plymouth venue where the acts hadn’t been taken off stage early. One said: “Interesting as the Muse gig finished at 10.40pm at the same venue".
Not everyone was as sympathetic and blasted Da Ya Think I’m Sexy singer Rod for "poor time management". One person said: “Rod Stewart would have known the curfew times and he would have known his set time.
“He would have chosen the songs he was going to perform and how much time he would have needed between songs to chat to the crowd. Seems to me this is down to poor time management.” Neither Rod nor the venue have commented publicly.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
