Amy Winehouse cancels entire European tour after shambolic Serbia gig: will not perform “for years”

(Reuters)

Amy Winehouse, the British R&B, soul and jazz singer, has been forced to cancel her entire European tour following a disastrous concert in Serbia at the weekend, reports Reuters. Winehouse, who career has been blighted by alcohol and drugs, cancelled all of her scheduled performances after being jeered by fans in Belgrade.

The singer struggled to keep her balance at the concert and often failed to sing the lyrics correctly. The audience reportedly did most of the singing on some of her biggest hits. A spokesman for Winehouse said on Tuesday (21st June 2011), “Amy Winehouse is withdrawing from all scheduled performances. Everyone involved wishes to do everything they can to help her return to her best and she will be given as long as it takes for this to happen”. The multi-million selling singer was due to perform a string of European dates including a show in Athens on Wednesday (22nd June 2011) and in Bilbao on 8th July 2011. Her tour was scheduled to wind up at the Iolanda Balas Soter Stadium in Bucharest on 15th August 2011. The cancellation comes just three weeks after Winehouse checked out of rehabilitation.

Amy Winehouse won four Grammy Awards in 2008 including ‘Best New Artist’ and ‘Album of the Year’ but failed to turn up at the ceremony in Los Angeles because of legal problems. She is yet to release the follow-up to her 2006 record ‘Back To Black’.

The troubled singer – who was booed during a shambolic European comeback performance at the weekend in Belgrade – has reportedly been retired “indefinitely” by her manager Raye Cosbert so she can concentrate on her health and well-being.

A source close to Amy – who checked out of rehab three weeks ago after being treated for drink problems, and has battled drug addiction in the past – told the Sun newspaper: “It has been hard for Raye to watch her get into trouble over the years. There’s only so much he can do – but enough’s enough. She’s going away and this time it could be for years.”

Amy has so far cancelled the next two shows of her 12 date tour – in Greece and Turkey – but the source said Raye is likely to make her cancel all of the shows and head back to rehab.

Following the ‘Back to Black’ hitmaker’s Serbian show – in which she looked wild-eyed and confused, missed her cues, slurred her words and even threw one of shoes into the crowd – the star will not take her fee, so disgruntled fans may get their money back, even though she is entitled to payment.

A promoter told the Metro newspaper: “She did it all according to the agreement. She arrived in Belgrade on time and stayed on stage for 70 minutes, so we can’t do anything.”
However, Amy agreed her performance was below par and will not take any money for the show.

Another source added: “The fact is that Amy won’t be taking her payment for the gig.”