The legendary guitarist did not return to the stage for his encore at Movistar Arena on May 7.

Eric Clapton, 81, ends concert early after fan throws large object at his chest in Madrid

The legendary guitarist did not return to the stage for his encore at Movistar Arena on May 7.

By Kathleen Perricone

May 11, 2026 9:33 p.m. ET

Eric Clapton in 2023. Credit:

Kevin Winter/Getty

- Eric Clapton was struck in the chest by a large object towards the end of his concert in Madrid on May 7.

- Although he was uninjured, the 81-year-old musician decided not to return to the stage for his encore.

- Clapton joins a long list of artists who have been hit by objects mid-performance, including Harry Styles and Bebe Rexha.

Eric Clapton’s concert in Madrid, his first appearance in the city in 25 years, ended on a sour note.

The 81-year-old guitarist cut his set short on May 7 after he was struck in the chest by a large object thrown from the audience at Movistar Arena.

Clapton had just performed his 1977 hit, "Cocaine," and was walking towards the backstage area when someone in the audience launched what appears to be a vinyl record in his direction. A video captured by a fan shows the musician recoiling as the square-shaped item bounces off his upper torso.

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Although he wasn't injured, Clapton did not return to the stage for his encore, a cover of Bo Diddley's "Before You Accuse Me," that has been the 14th and final song on his 2026 tour.

"Eric is fine," noted a message on his official fan website, WheresEric.com. "We are fans ourselves and we understand everyone is excited to be at the show, but please do not throw anything at the stage. You can seriously injure someone in the band, the crew, venue staff or even another concertgoer."

Clapton's tour continued three nights later in Barcelona without incident.

The legendary musician and his band — which includes Renee Zellweger's former boyfriend Doyle Bramhall II on guitar and backing vocals — will wrap up the European leg of his tour May 17 in Munich, Germany.

Eric Clapton (right) onstage with Stephen Stills and Jakob Dylan at the 2023 Crossroads Guitar Festival.

Kevin Winter/Getty

This September, he'll continue across the U.S., ending in Austin for the Crossroads Guitar Festival, which Clapton founded in 1999 to benefit Crossroads Centre, his drug treatment center in Antigua.

With the Madrid incident, Clapton joins a long list of musical artists who have had objects thrown at them by fans mid-concert.

For Harry Styles, it's been a repeat performance. In August 2022, someone chucked a chicken nugget at the "Watermelon Sugar" singer at Madison Square Garden in New York. Three months later, things escalated when he was hit in the eye by a lone Skittle and forced to squint for the remainder of his performance of "Kiwi" at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles.

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In June 2023, a fan of Bebe Rexha's learned the hard way when they were arrested and charged with assault for throwing a cellphone at the singer’s face in New York, which required three stitches above her left eye.

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Source: “EW Concerts”