Rock star walks out on Fibbers gig ‘because stage was too dark’

It’s not every day that a shades-wearing rock star shuns a stage – because it’s too dark for his liking.

But that’s what happened on Wednesday night (May 20) when Julian Cope refused to play at Fibbers in York.

Disappointed music fans were turned away at the door after Cope, 57, left the venue without a note played in anger. Fans were told that the songwriter had found the stage too dark to play.

The man who came to prominence with Liverpool post-punk band The Teardrop Explodes was expected to draw a large crowd to the Toft Green venue.

Many had travelled a long way to see the musician, who scored a top 20 hit in 1986 with World Shut Your Mouth. One party had come all the way from Milton Keynes, while others had travelled from Sheffield and booked an overnight hotel stay.

‘It wasn’t right for Julian’

Fibbers’ Tim Hornsby, who has been bringing great bands to York for more than 20 years, said that Julian has an eye condition, which he hadn’t brought to the venue’s attention beforehand.

“We were unable to get the lights on stage to his satisfaction, so he’s gone,” Tim said.

“We were given a lighting spec, which we were able to satisfy. But it wasn’t right for Julian.”

The spec asked for a spotlight and ambient light on stage, “which we’ve got” Tim said. “But it wasn’t good enough for Julian to see properly on stage.

“The lighting wasn’t right for Julian.”

One dismayed fan took to Twitter to ask him to return to play York in future.