Madonna upsets German fans

BERLIN, Germany -- Madonna fans in Germany have told of their anger after the opening dates of the singer's first European tour in eight years were cancelled due to technical problems.

The tour had been due to start in Cologne on June 5, with a second concert in the city the following day.

But Marek Lieberberg, the pop star's German concert manager, said both shows had to be cancelled.

The announcement left many German fans -- who had paid prices of up to 250 marks ($110) -- infuriated.

Many fans expressed their anger on Madonna's German fan club's Web site. "Madonna has one less fan now," one fan said.

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Another asked: "Does she really think she can treat her fans like this?"

"I'm fed up with this and am going to throw my Madonna CDs in the garbage," said another.

Lieberberg gave no explanation of the nature of the technical problems that have hit the shows, but a spokesman for Lieberberg's agency said the 17,000 ticket holders would get their money back.

The European-leg of Madonna's world tour will now start in Barcelona on June 9.

However, Germany will not miss out completely, as she is scheduled to hold four concerts in Berlin between June 19 and 23.

The Drowned World Tour, Madonna's first roadshow since 1993's Girlie Show, will also make European stops in Milan, Paris and London before moving to the United States in late July.

Promoters from SFX Entertainment have promised the most extravagant stage spectacle of the singer's 17-year career.

Last year tickets changes hands for hundreds of dollars when Madonna played a one-off show at the Brixton Academy in south London, performing a handful of songs from her new album Music.

The performance attracted a record Web cast audience of nine million.

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