Ian McNabb's upcoming Newcastle gig has been cancelled after promoter Ewan McNaught pulled the plug over what he called the singer's 'disgraceful' social media comments about Russell Brand following Brand's sentencing on Monday. McNaught said he 'can't work with' McNabb moving forward.
Comments on Brand's sentencing
Brand, 51, was jailed for 10 years and six months after being found guilty of rape and sexual assault. He was convicted of raping a woman in 2009 and sexually assaulting female TV and radio workers between 2004 and 2009. A four-week trial heard how Brand targeted women he met during his prominent TV and radio career. Brand, who was briefly married to pop star Katy Perry, maintained he had only ever engaged in consensual sex during a 'promiscuous' life.
In the wake of the sentencing, McNabb, who was due to play The Cluny 2 in Newcastle on November 25, made comments on social media. McNaught confirmed the cancellation on Facebook on Tuesday, writing: 'I hate cancelling gigs, and it's one of the few times in my career that I've had to do it, but not only can I not defend Ian McNabb's disgraceful social media comments in support of Russell Brand, as a husband and a father of a young daughter, I simply can't work with him moving forward.'
Tour dates cancelled
McNaught added: 'I've spoken to his agent and to the venues, and we're all on the same page on this, and these won't be the only shows on his tour that are cancelled. I'm told another five were cancelled today.'
Confirming which tour dates have been cancelled so far, McNaught said: 'As a result, Ian McNabb's shows later this month at The Cluny 2 in Newcastle (25.11.26), Cottiers, Glasgow (26.11.26) and The Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh (27.11.26) have all been cancelled. Refunds available from point of purchase.' He also emphasised that the decision was not unilateral, stating there was 'broad consensus between agent, promoter and venues' that the shows could not go ahead.
McNabb's response
McNaught attached a screenshot from McNabb's social media, in which McNabb declared that Brand had been 'stitched up,' adding: 'I know girls who were in his orbit and girls were throwing themselves at him every night. If that happened to me I know what I'd do...yer pay your money you takes yer chance..'
McNabb, former frontman of the Icicle Works, has since addressed the cancellation, telling a fan on X he'd been 'cancelled..' and adding to a wider audience: 'Tour is cancelled.'
