Concerts are usually filled with cheers, laughter, and good vibes — but one Simply Red show took an unexpected turn when frontman Mick Hucknall lost his cool.
During the band’s 40th anniversary tour stop at the OVO Arena Wembley, the 65-year-old singer paused mid-performance to confront a disruptive fan in the audience.
Mick Hucknall’s Onstage Outburst
What started as a smooth night of nostalgia quickly changed when Mick noticed a particularly loud fan interrupting his set.
Clearly irritated, he pointed at the audience member and said sharply, “Shut it! Put a sock in it! I’m sick of hearing it.”
After the brief outburst, the singer turned to the rest of the crowd to apologize, explaining, “I’m sorry about that, but I can’t concentrate — he’s yelling so loud. You’ve come to hear me sing, not him, with the greatest respect.”
Despite the brief tension, the performance went on, and fans soon got back into the groove as Simply Red continued their anniversary celebration.
Celebrating Four Decades of Simply Red
The Wembley gig is part of Simply Red’s massive European tour marking 40 years of timeless hits.
Earlier this year, the group released a concert film titled Holding Back The Years: 40 Years of Simply Red, capturing their electrifying performance at Santiago’s Movistar Arena in Chile.
The film showcases the band playing to five sold-out audiences — a total of over 140,000 fans across their Latin American tour.
From “Fairground” to “If You Don’t Know Me By Now,” the movie reminds audiences why Mick Hucknall remains one of the most distinctive voices in British pop and soul music.
The Singer’s Colorful Love Life
While Simply Red’s music has long captured hearts, Mick Hucknall’s personal life has often made just as many headlines.
The singer once had a reputation as one of the music industry’s most notorious ladies’ men.
His romantic history reportedly includes famous names like Catherine Zeta-Jones, Ulrika Jonsson, Helena Christensen, Melanie Sykes, Lady Victoria Hervey, and even tennis legend Steffi Graf.
One of his most talked-about flings was with actress Martine McCutcheon, who once claimed their date ended disastrously when she got sick in his dreadlocks — a story Mick flatly denied, calling it “a sad little fantasy.”
Even Brigitte Nielsen, who turned him down, once described him as “not very good-looking,” yet admitted there was something magnetic about his personality — “outrageous, friendly, and really cool,” she said.
A Wild Past and a New Chapter
Given his reputation, it’s hardly surprising that his new concert film carries a mild warning for “sexual” content due to lyrics referencing sex and drinking.
Mick has always been candid about his past, admitting he had quite the hedonistic streak.
In a 2010 interview, he confessed: “Between 1985 and 1987, I would sleep with about three women a day, every day.
I never said no. I was living the dream — my only regret is that I hurt some really good girls.”
A 2004 documentary, Is She Really Going Out With Him?, fueled even more speculation, suggesting Mick had slept with over 3,000 women.
Two years later, when asked by the Daily Mail if that number was true, he admitted: “No, I’m guilty. It’s life experience — searching for approval.
Love me, admire me — something like that. But ultimately, it doesn’t make you happy.”
Settling Down and Finding Peace
After decades of fame and excess, Mick Hucknall has mellowed with age.
The once self-proclaimed wild man of pop is now a devoted husband and father.
He has been married to art dealer Gabriella Wesberry since 2005, in a private ceremony at Forter Castle in Scotland.
Together they share a daughter, Romy True, now 17, who has been credited with helping him embrace a quieter, more grounded life.
What’s Next for Simply Red?
With their milestone anniversary tour in full swing and their concert film receiving widespread attention, Simply Red is proving that four decades later, their music still resonates.
Despite a brief hiccup at Wembley, fans continue to celebrate the band’s enduring legacy — and Mick Hucknall, for all his past controversies, remains as fiery and passionate as ever.