Mick Hucknall, the charismatic frontman of Simply Red, surprised concertgoers with a fiery moment during the band’s 40th anniversary tour.
The 65-year-old singer was performing at the OVO Arena in Wembley on Saturday when a noisy fan in the crowd caught his attention — and not in a good way.
Pointing directly at the audience member, Hucknall didn’t hold back, telling them to “shut it” and adding, “put a sock in it! I’m sick of hearing it.”
Turning to the rest of the crowd, he offered a sheepish apology: “I’m sorry about that, but you know, I can’t concentrate — he’s yelling so loud.
You’ve come to hear me sing, not him, with the greatest respect.”
Celebrating 40 Years of Simply Red
This year marks a milestone for Simply Red, who are celebrating four decades of music with a series of European gigs.
Fans can also enjoy the band’s latest cinematic offering: Holding Back The Years: 40 Years of Simply Red.
Released in May, the film captures a spectacular performance from their tour stop in Santiago, Chile.
The movie highlights five sold-out nights at the Movistar Arena, where more than 140,000 fans flocked to see the band perform.
Alongside their classic hits like Fairground and If You Don’t Know Me By Now, the film has also made headlines for its candid take on the band’s legendary frontman.
Mick Hucknall’s Colorful Romantic History
Hucknall’s love life has often been just as headline-grabbing as his music.
Over the years, his romantic escapades have included high-profile relationships with Catherine Zeta-Jones in 1998, Ulrika Jonsson, and even tennis legend Steffi Graf.
Models and socialites like Helena Christensen, Melanie Sykes, and Lady Victoria Hervey have also been linked to him.
One particularly infamous story involves former EastEnders actress Martine McCutcheon, who claims a disastrous 1996 date ended with her vomiting in Hucknall’s dreadlocks — a tale the singer vehemently denies as a “sad little fantasy.”
Others, like Brigitte Nilsen, described him as “not a very good-looking guy” but praised his charm, calling him “outrageous, friendly and really cool.”
Controversial Lyrics and Wild Years
Given his colorful past, it’s no surprise that Holding Back The Years comes with a trigger warning for sexual content, featuring lyrics about sex and drinking.
Hucknall himself has been open about his indulgent years, once admitting that between 1985 and 1987 he would sleep with roughly three women a day.
In a 2006 interview, he reflected on those times, saying: “It’s life’s experience.
I think it’s searching for approval. Love me, admire me — something like that.”
He admitted that alcohol often played a role in his escapades, adding that fame amplified what was, in reality, a fairly common lifestyle for young people in nightlife hubs worldwide.
Life Today: Reformed and Focused on Family
These days, Mick Hucknall has traded the wild nights for a quieter, family-focused life.
He’s been married to Gabriella Wesberry since 2005, following a ceremony at Forter Castle in Perthshire, Scotland.
The couple shares a daughter, Romy True, who is now 17.
The singer’s journey from notorious lothario to devoted husband and father shows a man who has embraced his past while focusing on the present — both on stage and at home.