Madonna Performs In Front of 90,000 At Wembley Stadium

See Gigwise's exclusive shots of the show...

Friday, September 12, 2008
filed in: Indie

More Madonna

Tuesday September 11, 2008 – Madonna takes her Sticky & Sweet tour to the 90,000 capacity Wembley Stadium in North London. As well as the fans, celebs including Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Hudson and Fergie from Black Eyed Peas were in attendance
Credit:
1-4: Daniel Deme / wenn
5 onwards: Carsten Windhorst

Previous Next

1 of 20

Kate Hudson, Gwyneth Paltrow and Princess Mette-Marit of Norway

Previous Next

12 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

« Prev

Bands and Music Acts from Cardiff... Next »

(63)

Last nights concert was appalling. Sound quality in the upper tiers at the back of the stadium was atrocious. We left after 55 minutes and we were not alone. Thousands must have walked out. The poor staff at the venue were getting loads of complaints. I really feel as though I was robbed of my ticket money. Legalised Robbery...was Guy Ritchie behind this as another gangster movie plot..RocknRolla, part two..?
~ by derdle 9/12/2008
- The sound was laughable in the upper tiers. At the very least when you go and see an artist perform you expect to be able to hear what they are playing!!!! There wasn’t a particularly good atmosphere and the fact she kept everyone waiting was very rude. I am no longer a fan.
  ~ by Lisa Morris 9/12/2008
- you get what you pay for. Go for the cheap option then don’t expect a front row experience!!!!
  ~ by Paul UK 9/14/2008
- I’ve been a fan since 1984 was looking forward to the gig. It was the worst concert I’’ve been to. There was no atmosphere, the sound was terrible, the setlist was poor, there was no real stand-out point and asides from the brilliant Like A Prayer, it was a real let down. I’’ll never go to a gig at the Stadium again and probably won’’t pay to see her live again. I think her management need to apologise, or she’
  ~ by Mark 9/17/2008
Queen of Pop more like Queen of Flop! She made late no longer fashionable by starting almost an hour late. Once graced with her she could not even be heard, the sound quality was shocking. The middle section of the show lacked oomph and the Stadium was dead, not exactly what I expected from an Icon. The exodus of people during the concert sort of summed up the quality of the night.
~ by Fab 9/12/2008
- yeah that’s true i agree with you there
  ~ by i~cry~pain~not~tears 9/18/2008
i couldn’t agree more...i love madonna but after yesterday i could only say...shame on madonna. Sound bad, little stage in a very big stadium, corporate people who don’’t really care for madonna but got free tickets through their company and got sidefloor seats. So for the 1st time i felt she didn’’t care about the fans ..it’’s money...she comes on does her thing and leaves, she don’’t care. We also left a
~ by Guill 9/12/2008
I had the most amazing experience of my life last night!!! standing on the barrier just outside the golden circle was the most amazing feeling she was literally 15ft away and i could see her buldging fantastic muscles on show ..live! fantastic performance and a brilliant show!!! completly worth the wait and an unbeliavable experience!!
~ by Lucy Werner 9/12/2008
Yeah, can someone tell her to leave the guitar playing to the professioanls, just wanted to smash it over her head! I want my money back from last night and the last 20 years! Corportate sell out puppet.
~ by Bitter Fan 9/12/2008
I was in the Golden Circle, and there was no corpprates in there! The show was amazing. From the front the sound was great, but can’t comment on how it reflected at the back. She gave 100%, and the energy level in the golden circle was amazing. re coming on late. Every single show I have seen of hers (6 now) she has come on around 9 ish, and never at 8.30 as stated. I suspect this is to ensure that everyone is in or seated, and would blame the organizers rather than her for that.
~ by Daniel 9/12/2008
I loved the show but was very disappointed with the venue. It was too big for the stage and my seat was located exactly in the opposite of the stage which meant that I could see nothing! And I paid 100 for my ticket. Screens were too small, sound horrific.. Unfortunately I left quite disappointed :(
~ by Anneli xxx 9/12/2008
i dont think that was all down to madonna,yeah she come on late and the sound but the stage was designed like that so they coudent make it any bigger and it wasent her fault about the trains she did the best she could in wembley the crowd was dull but i think she should of done the o2 the show was amazing but it was just the stadium and stuff like that WEMBLEY STADIUM IS NOT MADE FOR CONCERTS!!!!!!!!
~ by DAVID 9/12/2008
- totally agree wembley is TOO big for concerts!
  ~ by Steve 9/16/2008
Where we all at the same concert last night? Madonna was amazing, She was on top form, the set list was great, dancers amazing and I LOVE it when she plays the guitar, who wants to hear the same version of the songs - MIX IT UP - which she did? and to add the sound will be different on the 5th tier, its in the gods... buy pitch tickets when at wembley for the atmostphere, the seats are (and always have been) for the grannys! FANTASTIC SHOW.
~ by Where we at the same concert?? 9/12/2008
I tired so hard to enjoy myself last evening but it was the most horrible concert EVER. Couldn’t hear 75% of the vocals and the screens were way too small so I couldn’’t see properly either. We were so disappointed that we decided to leave early and I’’m glad after reading about the tube nightmares. It it not good to keep people waiting for so long, by the time the show started people lost their enthusiasm already. I feel ripped off :(
~ by christine 9/12/2008
but the only reason you couldent hear her at the higher seats of the stadium was because the ROOF WAS OFF IF IT WAS ON YOU WOULDENT OF HAD A PROBLEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!
~ by james 9/12/2008
I was amazed by the show last night, Madonna was fantastic. The only thing that did let the night down was being held back outside by the unprofessional staff, that was not down to madonna. I would be so angry if like many of you, you didnt get to hear the show properly, yet again that is not down to Madonna thats wembley fault. As for the trains, we travelled by car because I know what Londons rail service is like late at night. We had a fantastic night.WELL DONE MADONNA AN AMAZING SHOW!!!!
~ by sha40 9/12/2008
Too true, the guitar thing was b*^%$cks,she should stick to just entertaining, and was it just me or was she miming some parts of her performance, looked like someone was singing for her. mind you, her act is not half as bad as the transport crap, after the england croatia game having to wait forever to get on the train, we decided to drive, but still managed to take well over an hour just to get off wembley ind est,why was wembley park station closed?.hope olympic village is more organised.
~ by Rob colchester 9/12/2008
I THINK SHE SHOULD DO A COUPLE NIGHTS AT THE O2 ARENA FOR COMPENSATION AND HAVE HALF PRICED TICKETS AND MERCHANDICE BUT WOULD YOU WANT TO GO AGAIN?
~ by JAMES 9/12/2008
Too true, the guitar thing was b*^%$cks,she should stick to just entertaining, and was it just me or was she miming some parts of her performance, looked like someone was singing for her. mind you, her act is not half as bad as the transport crap, after the england croatia game having to wait forever to get on the train, we decided to drive, but still managed to take well over an hour just to get off wembley ind est,why was wembley park station closed?.hope olympic village is more organised.
~ by Rob colchester 9/12/2008
I too went to the Madonna concert last night, my first at that, so i was full of huge expectations, and was left totally deflated, again the sound was a big problem, from up the back it was a muffled noise, such a shame, the atmosphere was nothing like i expected. We left early as wasnt enjoying and secondly to be sure of catching the tube in time. The people on the tube all had depressing looks on them, and one guy summed the evening up, if that had been on tv, he would of turned it off
~ by Sue 9/12/2008
I was in the Golden circle and the concert was amazing madonna was superb. The venue was rubbish and the staff attitude was disgusting. Wembley is way too big now to hold concerts. The management of Wembley and Live Nation in particular was shocking. I have been to every concert since Who’s that Girl but would never attend another concert at Wembley or book V.I.P. tickets with Live Nation again. i paid 249 to be verbally abused by staff and made to feel like a nuisance by attending a c
~ by Iain McMillan 9/12/2008
I really enjoyed it, even if she was a pinprick on the horizon. Amazing dancing, incredible visuals and a show big enough (in my opinion) to fill the stadium with light. In a venue that big, you’re always going to have a lot of non-fans and corporate bores but who cares, it just makes me want to dance harder and shout louder!
~ by Jimmegee 9/12/2008
SAw her in Cardiff opening night. She was amazing. Gutted to hear about the negative comments on here but shit happens so get over it. You were in the same room as the most famous woman in the world, be grateful!!!!
~ by Defn 9/12/2008
Saw Madonna for the first time last night. I thought the show was fantastic. However, the ticket price was too high (160 per ticket) as we could not see the main stage and had to rely on the screens and I agree the stage was a little lost inside the stadium. Wembley Stadium management need to sort out their car parking issue. We sat for two and half hours waiting to get out!
~ by Denise, Kent 9/12/2008
agree, acoustics were terrible and very often terribly distorted. It could be 2 minutes into a song before you could figure out what song it was. We drove up from sussex and then used the train and were really disappointed that she arrived on set so late as we had to leave early too. Very expensive tickets for a not very good show though visually Madonna was amazing.
~ by jjay 9/12/2008
didn’t enjoy it - she mimed throughout and when she did sing live you could tell she was because it was flat. there were some great moments like get into the groove.. fantastic mix and she gave it her all, and the visuals were very very good.. but Madonna... nah, she needs to quit the entertainment business
~ by Janet Street Porter 9/12/2008
i agree to all it was shocking,the sound was crap from the upper tier and could not see a thing even the screens were too small, she was late, the support act was only on for about 15min it was a hugh dissapointment!!! was ripped off!!
~ by Ryan 9/12/2008
Amazing stadium but very disappointed with the atmosphere and concert. Background was so impressive that Madonna and the dancers were lost from where we were sitting. 100 ticket, 25 programme etc very expensive night out which ended in a scrum to leave the stadium. However we were on the last tube home which was a bonus. Its my last big stadium visit!
~ by karen 9/12/2008
The concert was amazing, saw no ’mass exodus’’ or people moaning. Pure brilliance Madonna, thank you again!
~ by Paul Megson 9/12/2008
I feel sorry for all the people who couldn’t hear or see - the same thing happened to me years ago when The Girlie Show toured Australia, the seats on the pitch and at back were awful, stadiums are not good for concerts. I travelled from Sydney to see this show and wasn’’t dissapointed, but I was at the front. I’’ve never been to a stadium gig that doesn’’t draw the same criticisms, but if you were in my shoes you would have
~ by mobes 9/12/2008
I was there, upper section. Being late, its Madonna, thats not a problem, but yes a bit inconsiderate when the trains revert to normal at 11pm. The ound however was terrible. It sounded as though I was outside the stadium listening in. There was a delay on the video screen to sound, as the speakers attached to the roof section were not turned on. I could here the people next to me talking over the music, thats a first for a concert. It ruined any chance of an atmosphere
~ by Phil 9/12/2008
From where i was stood (in with the crowd on the floor) the sound was Amazing. She lit up the stage with her dancing and beautiful voice which boomed around the stadium. I had the night of my life seeing her in all her glory. Amazing time of my life money well spent!! will do this again if i can...... the only thing i would suggest would be a supporting act at the beginning to keep us entertained before the grand show .... and the managment of the stadium could of announced her late arrival ....
~ by Footychamp 9/12/2008
I feel I need to but the DVD to see and hear what the concert was like. For her publicist to state, they were there and the sound was fine is insulting. Im pretty dam sure her publicist wasnt in the upper tiers where the problem appears to have been. She would have gained a lot more respect if she had apologised today for the sound. You expect for that money and the star she is that the sound quality would of been checked in the venue! An absolute waste of a night, and im the biggest Madonna fan
~ by Penfold 9/12/2008
I had a brilliant time, song after song she performed to a high standard! If the sound was poor that isnt her fault but that of the stadium!
~ by Johnny Ward 9/12/2008
The people sending in negative comments about last night must have been at a different concert to us - Madonna was fantastic - as usual, everything was great, the play list, the sound, the singing everything! Madonna never lets her TRUE fans down!! As for the trains - has Madonna got anything to do with the public transport system in this country? NO. Have people forgotten how to enjoy themselves? Madonna still the QUEEN of pop and long may she reign!
~ by CalnSi Merseyside 9/12/2008
I was very disappointed the show was far to small for a huge venue or was it the venue to big for the show I don’t know! All i do know is I hope it was Madonna because all I saw was a tiny blonde spec rolling around the floor at times that I couldn’’t hear and at times when I did it was shocking. I have never been to a concert that just totally lacked any atmosphere. I would have left after an hour had I not been with other people. Really, really,really, disappoint
~ by Disapointed fan from Thurs eve 9/12/2008
Last night concert was disgrace.I was robbed of my ticket money.Sound was appalling as her singing,shame on you Madonna...
~ by zorran 9/12/2008
The late start didn’t particularly bother me. Her performance and the stage layout however did. We had top price seated tickets at the side of the stage and couldnt see her when she was on the main stage at all other than when she was at the very front. All the effects at the back of the stage were lost on us. Not only did we have a restricted view but her vocals were appalling. The one song she sang well was the Evita ballad. When her voice was going she would shout the lyrics at the
~ by Musicnut 9/12/2008
kjhi
~ by leigh 9/12/2008
It was simply awful, the worst concert ever for me. The sound technicians should be sacked for incompetance: most of the time all we got in the upper tier was a low frequency rumble. The singing (if you can call it that) was v poor. As for the late start and the ensuing transport fiasco: I just hope that Madonna’s limo wasn’’t slowed down by any of the 1000’’s of lost souls blocking the way as they desperately trying to find a way home as a resul
~ by Wolf 9/12/2008
I think the show is more suited to an arena rather than a huge stadium like Wembley. I feel sorry for those in the upper tiers who can’’’t see or hear a thing. To be fair the poor sound quality is partly due to one of the speakers got blown during the Paul Okenfold pre show. I saw the smoke coming off.... The performance itself was amazing....you can’’’’t find anyone her age or younger packed so much energy and dancing in a
~ by KT 9/12/2008
Love the woman, but come on Thursday night was not great. The Stage was small, sound was poor , two screens??? What was that!!!and don’t get me started on leaving Wembley NIGHTMARE or what.....
~ by Mark 9/12/2008
I felt that there were some good tracks especially when the music didn’t drown her voice. She then showed that she can truly sing but other than that it was a little disappointing, but I’’m glad I have seen her before I die! This venue was just too big!
~ by Tracy 9/13/2008
I was in the block 552 in the upper tiers and although there was sound problems, I had a great night. Although, next time I would like to see her in a smaller venue and do more dates in it instead of one night in a massive venue!
~ by Jam 9/13/2008
Um.... what about the fact she just can’t sing!!! She sung over backing tracks the whole night and I could hear her struggling over the top of them.
~ by Not Impressed 9/13/2008
Fail to see how publicists can deny there was a sound problem. We paid 185 and could hardly hear a thing. Been to all her gigs and have never witnessed such a poor show. Wembley and the Madonna camp need to sort something out about this as this arrogant attitude will not endear her loyal fans....SHOCKING!!!
~ by let down 9/13/2008
I’ve been going to stadium gigs for 12 years and can safely say that they are not designed for concert sound systems. If you want the best sound you need to be closest to the floor i.e the pitch where I was and the sound was among the best I’’ve ever heard at a stadium. Saw Bon Jovi at Manchester City Stadium and everyone in the top tiers said the same thing that the sound was crap but again the pitch sound was awsome. Top tip for the future, dont bother with seats.
~ by Ben 9/13/2008
- perfect comment ben, who want to seat on Madonna concert?
  ~ by Mira 9/16/2008
I also went to the concert at Wembley, thought Madonna’s perfomance was brilliant and would love to have her energy and dancing ability, unfortunately i was up On the 5th Level and thought the sound was distorted due to the roof being opened.When the songs started It took a while for me to realise which song she was singing.I also think the Venue was too big but i still had a FANTASTIC night and would go again! I would be pleased if she done a concert at the 02 arena To Compensate the
~ by Madonna Fan 9/13/2008
Do we really think and blame Madonna herself for what happened in Wembley. Why don’t you all start looking at Ticketmaster as the main problem! I bought two golden circle tickets at 350 each because Ticketmaster has its own bussiness of giving out tickets to agencies for them to rip us off. Then these touts make fortunes out of this. Sound is not Madonna’’s crew responsability, it is the venue itself, not good for concerts. If you think you can dance, be fit and hav
~ by Luis 9/13/2008
I must whole heartedly agree with the previous comments. The shows sound was terrible, and how much did she actually sing??? You could tell from Paul Oakenfolds set that the baseline was too much, a problem that was not rectified before Madonna started. On top of the dissapointment of the show, we then had to get home using the recommended public transport. They want people to use public transport, so we did, with the Wembley parking costing 25 being too expensive, how we regretted that
~ by Wayne 9/13/2008
I must whole heartedly agree with the previous comments. The shows sound was terrible, and how much did she actually sing??? You could tell from Paul Oakenfolds set that the baseline was too much, a problem that was not rectified before Madonna started. On top of the dissapointment of the show, we then had to get home using the recommended public transport. They want people to use public transport, so we did, with the Wembley parking costing 25 being too expensive, how we regretted that
~ by Wayne 9/14/2008
i attended the Madonna concert on Thursday and yes the sound was awful much to much base and the seats were crap but Madonna is not to blame the main culprits are the money grabbing live nation and Wembley and they refuse to comment on the problem .i have been to numerous concerts and this is the first time that i have come away dissapointed wembley are the biggest rip off merchants asking 6.50 for a hot dog .come on Wembley admit there was a sound problem and do the right thing
~ by dave1712 9/14/2008
The concert was terrible. We travelled from Scotland to see her but left very disappointed!! We couldn’t see what was going on stage as there were no screens for people at the far sides to see and the sound quality was shocking! There was no atmosphere what’’s so ever, even those standing weren’’t moving. We left under an hour after she came on stage joining the crowd outside registering thier complaints. Told we would recieve a phone call...will
~ by claire2008 9/15/2008
the concert was amazing, sound was fine, madonna performed fabulously and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. she has far more energy than i do and shes 50 and im 18, fab!! some people need to get a life and love good music and performance.
~ by rachael falkingham 9/15/2008
We had a fantastic time on the pitch, sound was good, atmosphere was good, performance was great. There was a warm-up act so not sure about some of those comments. My only annoyance was Wembley and the state of Londons public transport system. The venue advertises itself as a public transport venue but then you find the trains stop running early after the show starts later. As for Wembley’s organisation and stewards...... Madonna was great though!!
~ by Paul 9/15/2008
Madonna is not to blame, blame LiveNation, TicketMaster and other money grabbers who exploit fans. An affiliate of TicketMaster’s sold us FAKE GOLDEN CIRCLE TICKETS and we could not even get in! Disgusting or what?! Friends who got in said that the pushing and showing among people standing in the pitch was terrible and the rush in and out of Wembley caused people to faint and be walked on by an angry agitated crowd. Get rid of the middle men & make reselling illegal!
~ by Stephanie 9/16/2008
I really think that she is unique and a fantastic entertainer...but we paid 400.00 trough Ticketmaster to have 2 tickets for a side view of the show and when we reached our seating we were devastated! We had no view at all of the stage. The Wembley staff was awful when we asked to try to accomodate us somewhere else. They told us that Wembley did not sold the tickets to us and that was it! Live Nation has been greedy and disonest! I am disgusted by the experience.
~ by Carlo Licheri 9/16/2008
I was standing about half way from the front and couldn’t see anything all the way through the concert, the stages wasn’’t sloped and the small tv screen were too far down so I couldn’’t even see them. I would have been better putting the album on in my bedroom would have had the same experience but be 85 richer!
~ by Dan Carr 9/17/2008
I blame all of them! Madonna, Live Nation and Ticketmaster! Madonna knows very well if her stage and sound system is going to work in a place like Wembley. Her stage was far too small for that venue. She is been greedy, that’s all. Is time for her to take the issue on her hands and give a full apology and the money back for people like me who paid a small fortune to have no view af the stage at all. I am furious with the all thing...not so much of a perfectionist this time Miss M
~ by Carlo Licheri 9/21/2008
Her music is such garbage
~ by Joe 10/12/2008
i was at the madonna concert and what an amazing show!!! i was at the front against the barrier and despite bruised elbows and skin missing it was truly the best night of my life!!! i couldnt believe i got so close to her . all those that are moaning about the concert want to shut up and appreciate her fantastic music. what a show, what a night. bloody brill x
~ by massive madonna fan 3/13/2009

Most Viewed
Most Comments
Just Added

Buy This...

BuyMadonna T Shirts now!All the latest designs available!
More Madonna articles »

RT: @Gigwise: Dave Grohl: 'Kurt Cobain's Reputation Has Created False Image Of Nirvana': Former drummer claims... http://bit.ly/8epc4W
zmemusic on Tue Nov 24 17:19:05 via Echofon
@Gigwise Was just about to go Buy! Cheers Dude(tte?) fmy pal is scared of my music taste so might be a good thing slayer aren't on!
planetvicky on Tue Nov 24 15:47:18 via web
IN! Love that band... RT @Gigwise: Mumford & Sons To Play Festive Outdoor Winter Fair Gig In London: Next month... http://bit.ly/5jJ7yu
thejonford on Tue Nov 24 15:40:33 via Echofon
@Gigwise Thanks! Good Suggestions! Will Buy Beer in your honour :-D
planetvicky on Tue Nov 24 15:35:36 via web
@Gigwise haha now that you posted that she is going to get it so much more from people
christog on Tue Nov 24 12:17:47 via Tweetie