Volbeat walk off stage during first song in Belfast
Danish rockers Volbeat have apologised to their fans after they walked off stage during their opening number at Belfast Ulster Hall last night (3rd October).
Shortly after launching into their recent single ‘Pelvis On Fire’ at the Belfast venue, frontman Michael Poulsen stopped singing, lifted off his guitar and exited the stage, with the band soon following.
Watch the moment here:
> Pelvis of Fire? Apparently not tonight folks... @volbeat #volbeat #belfast #youdontknowwhatyouredoing pic.twitter.com/Q9ekIsAMqN > > — Dave Newman (@davenewmandave) October 3, 2019
According to fans in attendance, there was a 10-minute interval where they received no information before the band returned and had a second crack at performing ‘Pelvis On Fire’.
However, just moments after launching into the track, the band walked off again and abandoned the show altogether.
Volbeat issued a statement on social media shortly before midnight explaining their actions. They wrote: "As many of you know, Michael has been having some throat issues and we ran into multiple technical issues on stage that prevented the band from being able to hear each other play.
“While he has mostly recovered his voice at this point, it was decided that had he continued to play the show this way he would have risked blowing out his voice again and having to cancel even more shows. We're gutted that we weren't able to perform for you tonight, but we will be back to reschedule the show as soon as we possibly can.”
> Belfast update. pic.twitter.com/ngLBKTc38O > > — Volbeat (@VOLBEAT) October 3, 2019
A number of fans voiced their disappointment on social media, with one writing: "How did the two bands (Baroness and Danko Jones) play before ok but Volbeat couldn't? So disappointing!”
Another said: "Well flying over from Newcastle for Volbeat turned out to be a disaster - half of one song and it gets cancelled due to technical issues.”
Despite last night’s cancellation, tonight’s show at Olympia Theatre in Dublin is scheduled to go ahead as normal.
Volbeat postponed their concert at the O2 Academy in Bristol last Saturday (28th September) due to illness and vowed to reschedule for another date. Baroness and Danko Jones stepped up to perform that night.
> Absolutely disgusted at the actions of @VOLBEAT tonight in @UlsterHall. 30 seconds into first song and the singer walls off stage. Wait 10 mins, gives us another 10 seconds then they're off again. No apologies, nothing!! Apparently the primadonna hadn't the right sound in his ear > > — Gareth Leslie (@starsky74) October 3, 2019
> @VOLBEAT cancelled in Belfast after half a song due to technical issues with the sound! Band just walked off stage and left everyone looking at this for 15mins with no updates. Incredibly poor. Fans deserve more than just a refund, be interesting to see if there's a statement. pic.twitter.com/n6ZTOYUoA3 > > — Ryan Denney (@ryandenney6) October 3, 2019
> How did the two bands play before ok but Volbeat couldn't? So disappointing! > > — Rachel🏳🌈 (@alwaysrachel934) October 3, 2019
> Well flying over from Newcastle for @VOLBEAT turned out to be a disaster - half of one song & it gets cancelled due to technical issues > > — Paul 'The View' Carver (@tenaka66) October 3, 2019