MGMT Drummer Exits Stage During Manchester Show

MGMT's headlining Manchester Apollo show ended on a sour note on Sunday, Sept. 27 as drummer Will Berman stormed off the stage after being hit with an object from the crowd, with just two songs left to play of their set.

While the group -- beefed up live to a five-piece -- drifted into an extended jam on 'Oracular Spectacular' track 'The Handshake,' a pint of liquid was thrown from a spectator at Berman, hitting him on the torso. Understandably enraged, Berman stopped playing and threw his sticks into the audience before walking off; the rest of the group however were initially unaware of his departure, and it was only after the proceeding 'Kids' that they realised what had happened, asking the crowd "Where's Will gone?"

Despite their pleas for his return, they were forced to play out the last song of their set, 'Congratulations,' without percussion.

If Berman's reaction to the incident was understandable then the band's continued decision to sing over a backing track of the aforementioned 'Kids' did much to undermine the set's overall musical progression.

The band had showcased a real advancement of their sound in tracks from this year's 'Congratulations,' many meandering off into krautrock-indebted leanings that outstripped their studio counterparts; in comparison a karaoke version of 'Kids' smacked of a laziness that they'd seemed to have moved on from. Depressingly, an easily pleased crowd minded little and the song garnered the biggest response of the night.