Placebo Postpones Shows After Molko’s Onstage Phone Scolding

During Placebo’s 30th anniversary tour stop at Milan’s Unipol Forum, Brian Molko criticized audience members who continued filming despite the band’s request that fans put away their phones. The singer first thanked those who had complied, then warned that people who kept recording could be removed from the venue.

Molko said he was performing while ill with COVID-19 and told the crowd he had been sick for two weeks without canceling a show. Video of his angry exchange with fans circulated online. The band has used pre-show messages to urge concertgoers to focus on the live performance rather than record it.

On November 9, Placebo announced that Molko had acute laryngitis and that its Munich show that evening and Vienna performance on November 10 would be postponed. The band said he had been experiencing severe flu symptoms but continued performing because he did not want to disappoint fans; his condition worsened after the Milan concert, and a doctor was called.

Molko and bandmate Stefan Olsdal apologized to ticket holders and said they would try to reschedule the performances as soon as possible. Fans were told to keep their tickets while awaiting information about new dates or refunds.