Adele Tells Brisbane Mayor: ‘Stop Bloody Moaning!’

Word got to Adele before her arrival in Brisbane, Australia, for two shows at the Gabba – with each drawing 60,000 people – that City Hall had expressed disapproval with the choice of venue because of the transport snarl it would create. 

instagram.com/thegabbabrisbane/ – Adele Gabba
In the round at the Gabba in Brisbane. Shared via the venue’s Instagram page

Deputy Mayor and public transport chairman Adrian Schrinner complained the shows should have been at Suncorp Stadium, which is well served by bus and rail. He warned fans to give themselves a three-hour window to get to the venue by the 7 p.m. opening.

Promoter Live Nation responded the Gabba was needed to accommodate the singer’s in-the-round production, leading to 400 buses being rostered to take patrons to the venue from nearby rail stations.

At the March 4-5 shows, the city’s biggest-ever music event and estimated to inject A$40 million ($30.4 million) into the Queensland economy – Adele told the crowd, “I think they (City Hall) should shut up with their bloody moaning, fucking hell. Shut up! I’ve come from fucking London. I’m happy to be in Brisbane!,” as reported by the West Australian.

At the second show, she added, “But I’ve got to say I am absolutely loving playing this venue.”

Schrinner told the Brisbane Courier Mail that City Hall’s warnings had been effective.

“If we hadn’t explained to people the importance of planning ahead and travelling early, there would have been a lot of people who would’ve arrived late and missed the start of the show,” he said. “That didn’t happen. We got everyone there on time.”

The second Brisbane show stood out for another reason. After merely hinting at the exact status of her relationship with longtime partner Simon Konecki, she revealed to the crowd that they had tied the knot.

While intro-ing “Somebody To Love,” the 28-year-old diva said, “That feeling when you first fall for someone is the best feeling on earth, and I am addicted to that feeling. Obviously, I can’t go through with those feelings because I’m married now. I’ve found my next person.”