Maroon 5 Vina Del Mar Audience Reaction

The band says technical difficulties plagued their headlining performance.

UPDATE: After Billboard published this article, Adam Levine took to his Instagram Stories to post a two-plus-minute apology video to Maroon 5’s Chilean fans. You can watch the full video at the bottom of this article.

When tickets to day 5 of Chile’s Viña Del Mar festival featuring Maroon 5 as headliners went on sale last fall, they sold out in two hours. It was a record for the festival, whose venue, the venerable Quinta Vergara, seats 15,000. But the group’s performance on Thursday has been loudly criticized on social media and Chilean press by fans who were not happy with what they perceived as a lackluster set.

Criticism was exacerbated by a backstage cellphone video that surfaced Friday (Feb. 28) in which singer Adam Levine is seen leaving the stage saying: “That was a TV show! … That was not a concert.”

Viña Del Mar, which is celebrating its 61st anniversary, is a six-day televised music festival, the oldest and most prestigious in Latin America.

Billboard reached out to Maroon 5’s representatives, who sent this statement from the band:

“Prior to their arrival in Chile, Maroon 5 was informed by their representatives about civil unrest in the country and an incident with Ricky Martin on route to the festival grounds from his hotel. Despite this, the band insisted on going ahead and performing the show for their fans. As a result, Live Nation, the Viña del Mar Festival, and Maroon 5 made arrangements for additional private security and the welcome help of the Chilean Federal Police, PDI, as Maroon 5 wanted to perform for their Chilean fans in this time of uncertainty. Maroon 5 took the stage on schedule and on time last night. They performed 70 minutes of their greatest hits to great acclaim. Unfortunately, during the performance, the band encountered numerous technical difficulties throughout the show, including monitor issues and with both of Adam Levine’s in ears. It created a very difficult situation for the band to deliver their normal show. The band loves their Chilean fans. Maroon 5 has now moved on to Santiago de Chile for their headline show at Estadio Bicentenario de la Florida where they will play for 30,000 people, and then on to perform an additional 7 dates throughout South America. Maroon 5 thanks their fans in the country of Chile.”

Maroon 5 did indeed play a 70-minute set that had fans singing along for most of the tight, hit-packed time. However, the band reportedly refused to be presented by the show’s hosts and left before being awarded the traditional gaviotas, or seagulls, that are given — with the audience’s approval — after each show. While fans inside the venue were vocally enjoying the show, Levine was still visibly uneasy.

TV audiences took note, with the band’s performance becoming a trending topic on Twitter as users posted comments such as, “The positive takeaway from the Maroon 5 show is that they reunited the country. Now all of Chile is united in their hatred toward this band. Good.” Another post read, “Who in Chile hurt Maroon 5 so much for them to give this type of show?”

Past Viña Del Mar fest international performers include Elton John, Tom Jones, Franz Ferdinand, The Police and Backstreet Boys

Check out some of the tweets below:

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