Crowds gather outside Movistar Arena in Madrid for first concert of European tour that sold out in minutes
An hour or so before the sun rose over Madrid, Francesco Puddu staked out a prime spot in front of the city’s hulking Movistar Arena. He was among the first Radiohead fans to arrive at the venue, buzzing with expectations for the British band’s first live show in seven years, kicking off a 20-date European tour.
“I’m incredibly excited. Like, I don’t think it’s real,” said the 27-year-old, who had travelled from Italy. “It’s been so long that even if they play the same song 20 times in a row, I’ll be happy.”
The hours passed quickly as fans plotted where to position themselves in front of the circular stage, and revelled in the fact that they were among the privileged ones who had scored tickets for a tour that had sold out in minutes.
The war in Gaza was another topic that had come up throughout the day, given that the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel had called on people to boycott the tour, citing band member Jonny Greenwood’s 2024 performance in Tel Aviv.
