Amy late for post-rehab concert
Amy Winehouse gave a brief performance in front of 90,000 people in her first concert since leaving rehab – after turning up nearly an hour late.
When the troubled Grammy-winning singer finally arrived at the outdoor performance at a music festival in Lisbon, Portugal, she apologised for a sore throat and her voice cracked during the 55-minute set.
Winehouse, wearing a short dress, appeared distracted during her performance. She paused to talk to members of her band, fiddled at length with her microphone, sucked throat lozenges, and at one point dashed off stage, but quickly returned. Cuts were visible on her left arm and her right hand was bandaged.
Winehouse’s musical career has flourished despite her erratic behaviour, missed concerts and stints in drug rehab.
“Hey Lisbon,” she told the crowd after it booed when she failed to appear at her advertised time, but gave her a warm welcome. “I’m sorry I’m late.”
The sell-out crowd gathered in a park for the Rock in Rio festival warmed to Winehouse as the 24-year-old sang hits including Rehab, soul classics and reggae songs.
She mostly failed to thrill the crowd, though, and walked off stage without playing an encore. The crowd remained subdued.
Winehouse was the third act of the day on the festival’s main stage, coming on before headliner Lenny Kravitz.
Winehouse’s management told the festival organisers she would not speak to the media.
She is booked to play at a series of music festivals in Europe this summer.
Last week she won an Ivor Novello award for Love Is A Losing Game, from her Back To Black album. Her father Mitch received the prize after Winehouse arrived late to the ceremony.
Earlier this month, the singer was arrested and questioned by police about video footage that appeared to show her inhaling fumes from a crack pipe. Authorities said the singer would not be charged.
Last year she cancelled a series of British concerts and postponed a tour of the US and Canada after the media reported that she was in and out of rehab.
