Brum do: Lauryn Hill disappoints

We're a little surprised at the clamour of disapproval from so many Lauren Hill fans at her ropey performance in Birmingham yesterday evening:

“I witnessed and experienced a first last night – the complete and utter demise of a personal hero and the worst gig of my life.

“Not only did the woman not grace the stage until 10.30 - the venue to close at 11.00 – providing the good value of about £5 per 5 minutes of music! But she looked like a cracked out, mad old bag lady that you make considerable efforts to cross the street to avoid. We are trying to get our money back for this complete and utter farce.”

but, if Lauryn Hill is your hero, surely you'd be aware that buying tickets for one of her gigs isn't even a lottery. You know she'll turn up late, looking like Pete Doherty dressed as Kate Moss, sing terribly and wobble off after ten minutes or so. It's a little like complaining that Mark E Smith has turned up drunk.