Eric Clapton Leaves Madrid Concert Early After Fan Throws Object at Him

Eric Clapton ended his concert early after a fan threw an object that hit him in the chest.

The 81-year-old guitarist was playing in Madrid, Spain, on May 7 when he was struck by what appeared to be a vinyl record. Video captured by a fan showed Clapton walking along the stage amid crowd applause before the object hit him.

According to Guitar World, Clapton had left the stage and returned for an encore. He skipped the encore after the incident.

Clapton did not appear injured or shaken by the object. He went on with his May 10 show in Barcelona as planned.

He is in the middle of his European tour and heads to the United States in September for six shows.

Fans throwing objects at concerts has become a problem for artists in different genres. In 2025, country star Luke Bryan took an object to the face during a show at the North Dakota State Fair.

Billie Eilish, Nick Jonas, Kelsea Ballerini and Bebe Rexha have faced similar incidents. Bebe Rexha suffered a black eye after a phone hit her during a performance. Many artists have spoken out against the practice, calling it a real safety risk rather than harmless fan fun.