After lining up for hours outside Massey Hall, hundreds of disappointed fans disbanded Tuesday afternoon after learning that the rumoured ‘surprise’ Prince show was not going to happen.

"In response to inquiries, we can confirm that Prince will not be performing at @masseyhall tonight," a tweet from Live Nation sent out shortly before 3 p.m. said.

On Tuesday night, a man identifying himself as a 'crew member' told a CP24 reporter outside the venue that two concerts originally planned for Tuesday and Wednesday nights had been "cancelled."

The man did not provide CP24 with specific information on who he worked for, or a reason for why the shows had been called off.

Shortly after 9 p.m., Live Nation posted an apology to both Prince and his fans on Facebook.

"Live Nation wants to apologize for any inconvenience experienced by Prince and his fans in Toronto when Ticketmaster posted incorrect concert information on their website earlier today," it read. 

"The only reservation was for a production rehearsal. There was no concert scheduled for today."

A lineup started to form outside Massey Hall Tuesday morning amid rumours that the pop idol would take the stage at the historic venue for a performance tonight.

Scott Morin, who was the first in line Tuesday, said despite being a bit “bummed out” about the news, he was encouraged by rumours that Prince would perform tomorrow.

“He is the best live performer I have ever heard in my life,” Morin told CP24.

When asked if he would be waiting in line again tomorrow, Morin replied, “I feel like such a chump even saying it, but probably.”

Social media chatter began building about the possible performance after Prince’s all-female band 3rdeyegirl posted a message to Twitter overnight, hinting at a possible Toronto date.

The message, which appeared to spell the city’s name backwards, was then removed this morning.

“4th day of November, we need a purple high: OTNOROT CALLING…,” it said.

Reached by CP24 Tuesday morning, officials at Massey Hall refused to either confirm or deny whether Prince would put on a surprise show at the venue.

A Ticketmaster page, however, said that Prince is performing at Massey Hall on Nov. 4, listing the event as “no longer on sale.”

Barricades were also set up outside the venue, though it was unclear whether the measure was in any way connected to the rumoured show.

“I got up at 4:30 a.m. because I had a Twitter alert wake me up from his band with a cryptic message saying they were on their way to Toronto. That was enough for me,” one of the fans lined up outside Massey Hall Tuesday morning told CP24. “Prince has redefined popular music for 40 years. Him and Miles Davis are the two greatest artists to ever live in my opinion.”

"The drums are inside. That's what we heard," another fan in the lineup told CP24. "It's going to be good."

Prince last performed in Toronto in 2011.

 

 

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