MUSIC fans are blaming failing ticket sale systems for not getting tickets for an intimate Rod Stewart gig.

The singer, 74, will use the stripped back, close-up show tomorrow night, at Cliffs Pavilion in Westcliff, as a warm-up for his UK tour.

But furious fans say they are feeling cheated by Ticketmaster after failing to secure tickets.

Fans from all over the country claim a system glitch has cost them the chance to see their hero.

Carl Murrey, 67, who lives in Hull, said he’s seen the singer perform 67 times throughout his life - but not this intimately.

He said: “I had a notification about the show and a chance to sign up for fan club tickets.

“I had a message stating I had been successful and would get a code to enter.

“I did this and it said it was securing the tickets for about seven hours.

“It stinks to me and something’s not right at all.

“I am so disappointed as it would have been a wonderful concert to experience.”

Emma Child, 46, who lives in Watford, said she visits the popular theatre often.

And just doesn’t understand how this happened.

She experienced something similar to Mr Murrey.

The fan said: “I don’t understand how all the tickets were gone so quick.

“I was just on time for the release.

“It feels like the only people who had tickets were those who know someone.

“The theatre said it was out of its control.”

A spokesman for Cliffs Pavilion said: “Part of the conditions of getting the concert were that Ticketmaster would sell all of the tickets

“It’s important to realise that the Cliffs Pavilion only has 1,657 seats compared to the many thousands of seats in the arenas where Rod Stewart usually performs.

“Clearly there was a much slimmer chance of being able to get tickets to this particular concert since interest would be just as great as when he plays major arenas.”

Ticketmaster was contacted for comment by the Echo.