Foul-mouthed Gerry Marsden offends concertgoers with anti-police rant (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Liverpool legend's rant at Darlington theatre following Hillsborough revelations

8:30am Tuesday 18th September 2012 in News Exclusive By Joe Willis, Regional Chief Reporter

Gerry Marsden

ANGRY concertgoers walked out after Liverpudlian singer Gerry Marsden launched a “foulmouthed tirade” against the police during a performance in the region.

The lead singer of Gerry and the Pacemakers upset several audience members with a five minute “rant” about the Hillsborough disaster while performing at Darlington Civic Theatre on Saturday night.

The singer, whose Liverpool FC anthem You’ll Never Walk Alone has re-entered the top 40 this week after the publication of a damning report into the 1989 tragedy, referred to police as “pigs” and “f****** liars” during the outburst.

One member of the audience, a former policeman who has asked not to be named, said: “It was a foul-mouthed tirade and it spoilt our night.

“He said it in a way that suggested he was talking about all police – not just those who did something wrong.”

Another audience member, originally from Liverpool, said: “It wasn’t the time or the place – he was very offensive.”

At one point, the singer got into an argument with a woman sitting near the front of the ‘60s Gold Tour 2012 concert, which also featured The Animals and US singer PJ Proby.

According to witnesses, he asked the woman if she was a member of the police, before continuing the argument.

The woman and a friend then got up and left.

A spokeswoman for the theatre confirmed that two members of the audience walked out of the show and two other comments were made about the singer’s behaviour, although no official complaints were received.

The Northern Echo spoke to Mr Marsden’s management company yesterday, but nobody was available to comment.

Supporters launched a campaign to get You’ll Never Walk Alone back in the chart this week, helping it to number 12 in the Official Chart.

Mr Marsden has said he would donate the proceeds to charity.

The incident occurred only days after the damning Hillsborough Independent Panel report revealed a cover-up took place to shift the blame onto the victims and that 41 of the 96 lives lost could have been saved.

Home Secretary Theresa May said yesterday that anyone who broke the law in the wake of the Hillsborough disaster should be pursued and prosecuted.