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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Entertainment
Dianne Bourne

Ian Brown fans fuming at paying £40 to see star turn up without a band on opening night of tour

Stone Roses frontman Ian Brown stunned fans when he went out on stage for his first solo tour in 10 years without a live band. The Manchester music icon performed the first night of his new tour in Leeds on Sunday.

But fans were left open-mouthed when he came onto stage alone without the support of a live band, and sang to a backing track instead at the 02 Academy. The opening night show in Leeds had sold out after the singer had announced his new tour earlier this year.

Ian is due to perform in Glasgow tonight, before heading for a huge homecoming show at the 02 Victoria Warehouse on Friday night. But some fans felt the show was so bad they walked OUT of the Leeds concert.

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Steven Latham posted a video on Twitter of Ian singing without a band. He said: "Gutted to see @ianbrown turn up to his £40 a ticket, sold out gig at Leeds tonight WITH NO BAND. I’m a life long fan but it was bad.

" #ianbrown does karaoke and butchers his own tunes. Most were too p***ed to care but I had to get out after this one. Longsight M13 was a highlight."

The tweet swiftly went viral, watched by some 250,000 people by Monday morning. Steven later added: "Feel a bit bad about this now, I was just so disappointed. We all know Ian can’t sing but there’s always a band to bring it together.

"Some onstage chemistry, the drummer’s energy, the guitarist’s musicianship. I think if there’s no band you should tell people up front."

Kaden added another video of the show on Twitter. Adding with it the message: "Funniest gig I've ever been to."

Soon everyone was chipping in with their thoughts on Ian's legendary vocals on Twitter. Craig Scrogie said: "The last person you’d want to hear sing Ian Brown karaoke is Ian Brown."

Former Northside frontman Dermo is the support act for the new tour. Fans confirmed that he DID perform on stage with a live band.

Some fans defended the gig, with one tweeting: "It’s Ian Brown solo artist - the clue’s in the title! Thought he was brilliant and so was Dermo - absolute bonus to hear Northside tunes!"

The tour continues tonight at Glasgow's 02 Academy, and heads to Edinburgh on Tuesday, Newcastle's City Hall on Thursday and then the huge Manchester 02 Victoria Warehouse gig on Friday night.

Ian, 59, will continue his solo tour with a sold out gig at Liverpool's Mountford Hall on Saturday before on to Birmingham, Bournemouth, Nottingham and London next week.

We have asked concert promoter SJM for further comment on the fan complaints.

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