I had mentioned to my partner that I wanted to see Amy Live, and as a surprise I was taken to her gig at Hammersmith Apollo (24th Nov). The surprise, which could have been sooo great, was a real letdown. Amy arrived on stage to a chorus of boos at 10.15pm, the doors had opened at 7pm, after listening to 2 support acts and over an hours worth of disco, she fianlly turned up. She was all over the place, slurring her words, were they even the right words? Who knew? Not speaking at all, until after 40 mins (apart from pleading with the audience 'to give her a chance').

She gave up singing lines to the songs as they progressed. She even smoked. Lots of people left, there were more boos. People were more concerned with getting home.

Amy has to sort herself out. She can do so much better. It could have been brilliant, but all were disappointed. She is obviously a troubled soul and is going through a bad time, but she will lose her career and maybe even her life, if she doesn't get help.

Neil, Stevenage, Herts

Why does everyone see this as an opportunity to jump in and attack her? There's a constant media presence around this girl, not to mention her husband being locked up and facing, what is likely to be, a very long period in jail. Christ I'd be taking drugs in her position.... she's showing an enormous amount of strength and determination as it is by continuing with this tour. £1million is probably nothing to her at this stage - she must be loaded.

People have got to start cutting her slack, it's serious. Do you really care more about her singing Back to Black than you do about her own well being? The more aggravation there is from the public the more excuse there is for her to take more booze. Support Amy Winehouse, don't make her out to be some demon that's trying to make the country buy drugs.

Good luck, Amy.

Lloyd, Swansea, Wales

Another waste of talent as the drug dealers got there first and Amy self-destructs. Sad for her family and sad for her fans. Sue her for breach of contract if you were at the concerts - this abuse of 'celebrity' status has got to stop. How any kids are there out there who are more deserving of a chance?

hughie, Horsham , UK

For god's sake cut the girl some slack - her husband has been arrested and thrown in nick, its the first night of her UK tour, and the media and fans think it is time to 'have a go'!!

Live performance can be an uplifting and life affirming event, it can also show the dark side of personalities and their cultural reflections - but to claim, as some here, that just because Amy was not what they thought she should be she should be ashamed of herself and give up is just too self-centred for words. Get over yourselves, and loosen up.

If we are not careful, we, in the UK, will lose our great and musical 'industry' - we will lose the great singers and performers, due to their being unable to live upto the punters dreams. Yes they are flawed - isn't that what we like about them - their humaness? Of do people like them because they think they are gods? Gods, adulation, priests, sacrifices, dogma, its all a recipe for disaster (in my humble,,,,,,)

Chris, Crawley, UK

I heard someone else say that if everytime a football fans team underperformed, they asked for their money back, many clubs would be broke.
If you didn't realise that Amy wasn't going to turn up on stage like a pop idol winner, then yes you are a bit of a mug.
She may have blown the performance but I'm sure it was worth the £20 just to see it. If you want a perfect, stage show, go the theatre.
Good luck Amy.

Aimee Wood, London, UK

On the same path to self destruction as Janis Joplin

bill, hook,

To all you moaning Minnies ... she is, as I understand it, a celebrity ... the whole purpose of celebrity is to make non-celebrities part with their money (£1 million plus in this case) so she's really not doing too badly?

Minna, London,

The pix we see of her here in the US are almost always laughable. She might be very talented but many think she needs to clean herself up...on the outside and inside as well. Best of luck to you Amy.

Mark, Cumming, GA. USA

Who on earth is Amy Winehouse and why, with a 1million pound tour on contract and presumably thus somewhat aflluent, does she have dentistry from an Austin Powers movie? Scary. Just scary.

Nigel Roberts, New York, USA

i went to the gig in birmingham, she didnt walk off stage the papers seem to be making a lot of stories up!!! i think the papers should leave her alone, after all she is only human. 10/10 amy!!!

Helen, west midlands,

Hearing the about the regular shambolic concerts by Amy, and regular no shows reminds me of another talented young singer who went down a similar route - Cerys Matthews. As the lead singer of Catatonia, she had an amazing voice, but the band also had to regularly cancel gigs as she had gone off the rails because of alcohol. Although she disappeared off the musical radar for some years, fortunately it didn't signal her demise...although why she now thinks appearing on "I'm a Celebrity" is a good thing is a total mystery!

Sue, London,

Shes just as worse as anyone taken off the road to sing terrible!! I would not be very happy if I went to this gig, shes been going down hill for 6 months now and since she changed her image. I think she looked much better when she had some weight on her, she seemed to think she didnt look good or was being put on too many tabloid papers, she looked really nice and now she is in the papers for other reasons. Terrible!! what a waste of talent.

Indy, Hornchurch, Uk

there is very little to like about miss winehouse,some waywood stars in the past have relied on their talent to see them through
bad times miss winehouse does not have that advantage.

C.T.Perry, Hatfield, hertfordshire

Amy Winehouse is hideously overrated. It's completely disrespectful to treat her fans like this.

Lilly Allen is much better and, whilst no angel, seems able to handle her ale and still be a fantastic singer / song writer.

Anyway, what's wrong with her? In the old days didn't Clapton, Stones, Jim Morrison etc... regularly play when they were completely "smashed"?

Kevin, Croydon,

Who Amy Winehouse and why important? Every day the Times is filled with reports and gossip about the doings and undoings of socalled celebrities, persons of no importaance and significance whatsoever. Their inchoate jowling may be of interest to readers of the Mail or Mirror but are surely of no concern to readers of The Times. To describe their monotonous and beastly howling as music and their incomprehensible jabbering as lyrics is absurd in the extreme.Panis and circenses by all means for those for whom they are meant but surely not in The Times

George Herbert, Bournemouth,

As long as she turns up / plays in London on the 24th I'll be content...

Adam, Southampton,

I find it interesting how much sympathy Amy Winehouse receives following her drink and drug related escapades as opposed to say Pete Doherty.

Pete Doherty has recently been praised by a judge for his positive progress towards giving up drugs, and has cancelled gigs in order to attend rehab, meanwhile Amy staggers into gigs proclaiming "They tried to make me go to rehab, but I said no"

How long until fans lose faith in poor old Amy?

John, Birmingham, England

Limited talent, and obviously no self control. She will be used by the promoters and other people who can make money out of her until it all horribly crashes and then they will move on to the next wannabe. It's happened so many times that I'm surprised it makes headlines any more.

Oxford Don, Oxford, UK

She s just another singer for god s sake. I f she wants to destroy herself, let her get on with it. Make sure you get a refund for any tickets you buy.

dhrowlands, cardiff,

unlike britney spears, amy winehouse has actual talent, which makes it such a waste.

ravva, london,

THIS GIRL HAS CLEARLY GOT TALENT, SHE JUST NEEDS SOME SERIOUS HELP AT THE MOMENT....

SAM, TAMWORTH, STAFFORDSHIRE

I feel sorry for this girl. What will life bring to her in later years?
Doesn't anyone tell her that her lifestyle is destroying her.... I have just watched a documentary on the life of Hedy Lamarr who once was a celebrity and it is so sad to see what comes once the years of fame are over ...

annette peter, schwalmstadt, germany

we dont get to go out very often as we have two young children under two years of age so i was very pleased when my wife said she had bought tickets to amy winehouse. ten minutes into the show i could not believe what i was watching, disgraceful. whoever let her go on stage in that condition was doing it because if she hadnt have gone on they would have lost their money. £47 for our family is a lot of money to lose. the company responsible for this should be on crimewatch. in my opinion i have paid for something and not received the goods.thanks for nothing.

ian, darlaston, west midlands, england