Ian Brown walks offstage in Ireland

Ian Brown walked off during his show in Belfast on Friday (December 9) after fans pelted the stage with plastic cups and bottles.

The show at Ulster Hall had started well with the former frontman paying tribute to the late footballing hero, George Best.

He walked onstage as ‘Georgie, They Call Him The Belfast Boy’ played, but the atmosphere soon turned.

During ‘Dolphins Were Monkeys’, Brown wrestled with sound problems and stopped and started the song.

One irate fan then threw a bottle, which then prompted a hail of bottles and plastic cups from the audience and Brown stormed off.

Crew fought to fix the problems and covered up the instruments with towels to save them from damage. Brown came back some time later and continued the show.

An official statement issued to NME.COM from Brown’s record label read: “On Friday night in Belfast, a number of people in the audience at the Ian Brown show acted disgracefully by throwing glasses and bottles at the stage following some technical problems which meant the band had to restart a song several times.

“No artist should have to put up with actions like this, and Ian and his band left the stage twice as a result. Despite the actions of a few threatening the fun and safety of many, Ian did continue the show, and played a full set.

“Ian Brown does not believe that these people represent his fans in Northern Ireland."

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