S Club CANCEL their show at the last minute after performing just one gig of their reunion tour – as fans fume they were only given two hours notice
S Club have been forced to cancel their gig just hours ahead of the performance due an unforeseen technical issue at the venue.
The 90s pop band are just one show into their highly-anticipated Good Times reunion tour and performed last night at the AO Arena in Manchester.
Bradley McIntosh, Rachel Stevens, Jo O’Meara, Tina Barrett and Jon Lee were expected to perform again in Merseyside on Friday night.
However, due to the issue they have had to reschedule the show until Monday October 30 at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool.
The band said in a statement: ‘S Clubbers, we are beyond devastated to announce that tonight’s show in Liverpool has had to be postponed by the venue, due to them having an unforeseen technical issue impacting their power supply and therefore your safety. We can’t begin to express how sorry we are.
Oh no! S Club 7 have been forced to cancel their gig just hours ahead of the performance due an unforeseen technical issue at the venue
‘Especially as we know so many of you have travelled great distances to join us tonight. But your safety is our priority always. We’re rescheduling tonight’s performance in Liverpool to Monday 30th October and all tickets remain valid.
‘If you cannot make the new date, refunds are available from your original point of purchase. We’re absolutely heartbroken, but really hope we will see you then.
‘Thank you for continuing to always support us. Sending you much love. Brad, Jo, Jon, Rachel, and Tina x.’
Fans took to social media to share their disappointment after the show was cancelled just two hours before it was set to begin.
One person revealed they had travelled from the U.S. for the gig, writing: ‘Flew here from the States for this. Obviously won’t be able to make a rescheduled date. This is devastating.’
Others also complained that they had travelled to Liverpool for the tour date and would not be able to make the slated rescheduled date.
One wrote: ‘Gutted, I’ve come all of the way from Swindon, I can’t make Monday.’
Another wrote: ‘When you spend FIVE hours travelling, spend over £250 on a hotel and fuel.. to be told two hours before the gig it’s postponed… now to spend another £250 or get a refund’
Others complained that the rescheduled date is now on a Monday rather than a weekend night, meaning that they are unable to let their hair down due to having work the next day.
Postponed: The 90s pop band are just one show into their highly-anticipated Good Times reunion tour and performed last night at the AO Arena in Manchester
One fan said: ‘Rearranging for a Monday night at such short notice? The friends I was meant to be going with all work Monday nights and I’m not gonna go along to the rescheduled date on my own…’
A statement from the arena, read: ‘Due to an unforeseen technical issue which is beyond our control and is impacting the power supply, we have sadly been forced to take the decision – with the event promoter – to postpone tonight’s performance by S Club.
‘We understand that S Club fans and the band will be very disappointed but as the safety and comfort of our visitors is our utmost priority, the show cannot proceed as planned.
‘Happily the band are able to reschedule the show to Monday 30th October 2023 and all tickets remain valid. If you are unable to make the new date refunds are available from the point of purchase but we all hope you can make the rescheduled date.’
‘We apologise for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience and understanding.
One person revealed they had travelled from the U.S. for the gig, writing: ‘Flew here from the States for this. Obviously won’t be able to make a rescheduled date. This is devastating’
Another wrote: ‘When you spend FIVE hours travelling, spend over £250 on a hotel and fuel.. to be told two hours before the gig it’s postponed… now to spend another £250 or get a refund’
‘As the technical issue is in an isolated area of the campus, we are not anticipating that any other events will be affected.’
On Thursday night as the band kicked off their tour, S Club paid tribute to late band member Paul Cattermole, who passed away earlier this week.
After classics Don’t Stop Moving and You’re My Number One the band left the stage and the lights dipped.
A video montage of Paul appeared on the big screens at the venue in honour of the singer who died of natural causes at the age of 46 in April this year.
Nostalgic footage of him performing his favourite song The Good Times sent the crowd silent as they became overwhelmed with emotion.
Running back onto the stage after the tribute, an out of breath Jon, 41, shouted: ‘Manchester, let me hear you raise the roof one last time for Paul!’
As the group walked down the stairs Bradley, 42, said as his voice trembled: ‘Wow that’s our brother right there man.
Tribute: S Club paid tribute to late band member Paul Cattermole as they kicked off their Good Times Tour in Manchester on Thursday (L-R: Jon Lee, Bradley McIntosh, Jo O’Meara, Rachel Stevens and Tina Barrett)
Late star: Paul died suddenly of natural causes aged 46 and was found dead on April 6 this year – just two months after he and the band announced they were due to go on a reunion tour (Paul pictured in February this year)
Doing their thing: The now five-piece all wore colourful ensembles for their comeback – without Paul’s ex Hannah, who has quit the band
‘Gone but you will never be forgotten. We miss you every single day.’
Each member took a moment to dedicate the show to Paul.
Jo, 44, said: ‘Thank you all so much. All the messages and love and support that you’ve all showed of us and Paul’s family – we are so grateful to every single one of you.
‘I would just love to see every single one of you in here right now to show us your hearts for our Paul!’
Jon said: ‘Thank you so much. It’s very special for us this evening obviously. we dedicate this performance to Paul and The British Heart Foundation.’
Tina, 47, said: ‘Tonight is a celebration, so let’s Bring It On Back for Paul!’
In concert: Pop stars (L-R) Jo O’Meara, Jon Lee, Rachel Stevens, Bradley McIntosh , and Tina Barrett took to the stage at the AO Arena for their 25th-anniversary tour
As a further tribute to Paul, S Club performed the song they wrote in memory of the star – These Are The Days.
Tina introduced the track by saying: ‘For twenty years now people have been asking me – when are you guys going to release new music? So we thought this year, let’s do it.’
Bradley added: ‘And we did. We dedicated this song to Paul and all of the memories we shared.’
Paul died suddenly of natural causes aged 46 and was found dead on April 6 this year – just two months after he and the band announced they were due to go on a reunion tour.
His body was discovered in his ground floor flat in Wareham, Dorset, devastating his bandmates and fans.
Paul, who made a living as a tarot card reader after quitting S Club 7 in 2002, was said to have been in ‘good spirits’ when he was seen at a park close to his home days earlier.
Memories: Nostalgic footage of him performing his favourite song The Good Times sent the crowd silent as they became overwhelmed with emotion (Tina, left, and Jo, right, pictured on stage)
Entertainers: S Club began their tour Manchester on Thursday and they will perform at a number of different venues around the UK until their last gig in Birmingham on 29 October (Rachel pictured on stage)
Performance: They are then due to fly out to America next month for six gigs before taking to the stage for one in Canada (Jon pictured on stage)
His ex-girlfriend and fellow S Club 7 star Hannah Spearritt was said to be ‘in bits’ after she was told the news.
Following his death, the band rebranded as S Club and vowed to go on with the reunion tour.
Hannah, 42, pulled out of the tour and she has since admitted she doesn’t know if she will ever sing with S Club again.
She told how ‘everything’ changed for her after Paul’s death and gave her time to reflect on whether rejoining the band was the right thing to do.
Hannah told The Sun: ‘Will I ever perform with them again? I just don’t know, I’m glad that the tour is still going ahead and the songs will live on, but now I’m looking forward, not backwards.’
She explained that after Paul’s death, she realised she couldn’t rejoin S Club for the tour, admitting ‘it just didn’t feel right’.
Hannah apologised to S Club’s fans for not deciding to leave but said she had to do what was best for herself and her family.
Devastating: Paul was found dead just two months after he and the band announced they were due to go on a reunion tour (clockwise from top left: Paul, Jon, Bradley, Tina, Hannah Spearritt, Jo and Rachel pictured as they announced their tour in February)
Heyday: (L-R) Paul, Tina, Bradley, Jo, Rachel, Jon and Hannah are seen in Los Angeles, California in 1999, with the band filming their BBC television series in the US
Actress Hannah claimed she hasn’t been in touch with her former bandmates since she left the band, admitting she is sad not to be but insisted she wishes them ‘all the best’.
Hannah and Paul dated from 2001 before splitting in 2006, with the pair rekindling their romance in 2015 before finally going their separate ways just months later.
S Club began their tour at the AO Arena in Manchester on Thursday and they will perform at a number of different venues around the UK until their last gig in Birmingham on 29 October.
They are then due to fly out to America next month for six gigs before taking to the stage for one in Canada.
