Gerry Marsden apologises over foul-mouthed Hillsborough rant during Darlington performance (From Darlington and Stockton Times)
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Gerry Marsden apologises over foul-mouthed Hillsborough rant during Darlington performance
12:39pm Tuesday 18th September 2012 in News
Gerry Marsden
VETERAN singer Gerry Marsden has apologised after fans walked out when he “launched a foul-mouthed tirade” against police during a performance.
The Liverpudlian performer’s manager said his client had agreed to “tone it down” after a “rant” about the Hillsborough disaster during a concert at Darlington Civic Theatre on Saturday night.
But his manager denied reports that the singer had referred to police officers as “pigs” and had said they were “f****** liars” while on stage.
Robert Pratt said: “Only two people walked out.
“I never heard him call them pigs, I never heard him call them effing liars.
“He did rant about the findings but I never heard him say those things.
“He did call them ‘lying bastards’.
“Gerry is a very passionate person and is very passionate about the Hillsborough situation and he had been very much involved in it down the years.
“The (theatre) management did make us aware there was a couple who walked out on the night.
“Gerry and I spoke, and much as it is very close to his heart and he is extremely passionate about it, he agreed that he should tone it down.
“If it did offend anyone he sincerely apologises.”
The Northern Echo revealed this morning how the lead singer of Gerry and the Pacemakers upset several audience members with a five-minute outburst during the ‘60s Gold Tour 2012 concert.
One member of the audience said 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”.
The concertgoer, a retired policeman who has asked not to be named, this afternoon accepted the apology, but stood by his recollection of the languiage used by the singer.
The ex-policeman believed Marsden was criticising all police officers during the outburst, not just those who failed to keep fans safe at the 1989 disaster or who were involved in the cover-up.
But Mr Pratt insisted: “It was all about Hillsborough, nothing else.
“He has some good friends in the police, including the chief constable in Liverpool.”
Comments(15)
w1ggan
says...
3:42pm Tue 18 Sep 12
David Lacey
says...
3:50pm Tue 18 Sep 12
Daza
says...
5:28pm Tue 18 Sep 12
David Lacey wrote:Patience,
On the day when two young police women are shot dead in the course of their duties that last comment must be the most insensitive ever posted on this site. I am utterly disgusted.
The usual suspects will be along shortly!
stevegg
says...
5:50pm Tue 18 Sep 12
w1ggan wrote:Lets hope that when its you that turns to the police in a time of desperation you get the service that you seem to believe exists. But of course you will expect heavan and earth to be moved when its your problem.
Not all police, just most
maclaren
says...
5:56pm Tue 18 Sep 12
Daza wrote:Totally agree
David Lacey wrote:Patience,
On the day when two young police women are shot dead in the course of their duties that last comment must be the most insensitive ever posted on this site. I am utterly disgusted.
The usual suspects will be along shortly!
David Lacey
says...
7:42pm Tue 18 Sep 12
Spy Boy
says...
12:36am Wed 19 Sep 12
Gerry Marsden was not playing at a political rally, so he should leave the politics out of the performance. There are plenty of other places for him to get his point across. I'm not saying he doesn't have a right to be angry, but there's a time and a place.
Most of the Police officers I've met were ok, but one or two have been a bit, shall we say, over-enthusiastic.
maur1
says...
7:42pm Wed 19 Sep 12
John Justice
says...
9:38pm Wed 19 Sep 12
frankyboy
says...
10:20pm Wed 19 Sep 12
maur1
says...
4:23pm Thu 20 Sep 12
glyn
says...
9:06pm Sat 22 Sep 12
And that all scousers are work shy thieves. Which i am sure they are n`t.
John Justice
says...
9:32pm Sat 22 Sep 12
Is it possible for you to report accurately on what he actually said.?
maur1
says...
7:04pm Mon 24 Sep 12
Daza says...
1:32pm Tue 18 Sep 12
Brings him into the Public eye a bit more doesn't it? Probably get a few more bookings on the back of this.
He needs to remember though, just cos the police at Hillsborough covered things up doesn't mean all Police cover everything up!
That's like saying ALL musicians are has beens, living off past glories, one hit wonders creating spectacles of themselves. etc. etc etc. And I am sure ALL musicians are not like that