Morrissey storms off stage and scraps show at Echo Arena Liverpool

by Angela Johnson. Published Sat 07 Nov 2009 23:43, Last updated: 2009-11-10

(Updated - thanks to reader eye-witnesses).

Pop star Morrissey stormed off stage during a live concert in Liverpool after a member of the audience threw a plastic cup or bottle at him.

What was supposed to be the last gig of his 2009 tour on Saturday came to an abrupt halt after just nine minutes when the missile whizzed towards the singer and hit his face.

The object glanced the former Smiths front man and some of the liquid splattered over his face as he was performing his second song after taking to the stage the city's Echo Arena.

Master of Melancholy Morrissey immediately halted his performance, turned round to look at the time on the ground then turned on his heels and left the stage saying simply "Goodnight".

Members of the stunned audience started jeering at the person who had thrown the glass while other sections of the 8,000-plus crowd chanted "Morrissey!.... Morrissey...! Morrissey...!"

Managers, stage staff and musicians tried to persuade the the 50 year old Mancunian - full name Steven Patrick Morrissey - to resume his performance but it was to no avail.

The crowd who had paid between £32.50p and £60 for a seat became more restless and there was booing and hissing and catcalls including - mainly directed at the glass thrower - like "You f**king wanker" "Bloody disgrace!"

After a period of more than ten minutes the house lights were turned back on and a member of the Arena management appeared at stage to explain the concert had been stopped and would not resume.

The man said: "Morrissey has been hit in the face with a bottle. The show will not go on."

There was some confusion over whether there would be refunds but it is thought those who have retained their tickets will be able to get their money back.

Members of the 8,000-strong aundeince had travelled from as far away as London, Glasgow and Bristol to see the show.

Office worker Tony Green, 32, had travelled with his girlfriend, from Finchley.He said: "We came up to make a weekend of it in Liverpool and seeing Morrissey was the highlight of it.

"Now it's been ruined because one goon threw a bottle of water at him. Everyone knows he is sensitve about that kind of stuff. I can understand it - he does not see why he should stay there and take it if people are going to have a go at him.

"But he could have sound the guy who tossed the bottle and had him thrown out. I don't see why we all had to suffer just because of the actions of one idiot. I'm gutted."

Morrissey's decision to abandon the show comes as a finale to a controversial tour.

On October 25th Morrissey collapsed on stage during a gig in Swindon and spent a night at the Great Western Hospital.

And in June Morrissey has stormed off staged when he was sprayed with boozed as he was singing at the Sentrum Scene auditorium in Oslo.

On that occasion the man who threw a plastic glass containing beer was pushed forward to the stage by the rest of the audience and the show continued after he was ejected.

At other venues fans complained that Morrissey produced no introduction or banter prior to or during his performance but "merely" appeared on stage and sang.

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