German techno DJ Paul Kalkbrenner attacked mid-set during Madrid show
German techno DJ Paul Kalkbrenner was attacked by a crowd member during his set at Elrow Town, Madrid, on May 1st.
A fan from the front row of the large crowd can be seen in footage of the incident launching themselves over the DJ booth. He can then be seen attempting to put the 47-year-old musician in a headlock, before being restrained by Kalkbrenner’s entourage.
Security quickly removed the individual from the stage, while a dozen or so people behind the DJ booth watched and filmed incredulously. Kalkbrenner was not injured in the attack, according to Ibiza 1 Radio 94.1 FM. He then appears in online footage to nonchalantly continue his performance.
The event, Elrow Town Madrid, took place at Recinto Ferial Tres Cantos on Thursday, May 1st. Other artists on the lineup included East End Dubs, Funk Tribu and Ilario Alicante. Elrow and Kalkbrenner have yet to address the situation on social media.
This news comes as other festivals worldwide heighten their security measures. The Riverbeat Music Festival in Memphis, Tennessee, has made headlines as it will employ extreme security measures to ensure the safety of attendees.
Security measures will include uniformed and plain-clothes officers, airport-style screenings with pat downs and metal detectors, surveillance drones and mounted closed-circuit cameras, and a new street barricade system. Festival headliners include Missy Elliott, The Killers, and Anderson .Paak and the Free Nationals.
Heightened security measures are also expected at Glastonbury this year, as the festival faced criticism last year from overcrowding at certain stages, which can put festival-goers in serious danger.
Kalkbrenner is not the only artist who has been attacked on stage. Following a concert in Antwerp, Belgium, in 2018, a fan leapt on top of Lana Del Rey as she left the stage. As in this case, security was able to get the assailant off the musician quickly and successfully.
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