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In the early morning hours over Madrid, Francesco Puddu secured a perfect position in front of the the grand arena. He joined the first Radiohead fans to arrive at the location, filled with expectations for the group's return to the stage in an extended period, launching a extensive tour across Europe.

"My excitement is through the roof. It's hard to believe it's real," shared the young man, who had journeyed from Italy. "Given the extended wait, even should they sing a single tune repeatedly, I'll be content."

The hours passed quickly as concertgoers discussed their ideal spots in front of the round platform, and enjoyed the fact that they were among the lucky ones who had obtained tickets for a event that had sold out in record time.

Debate and Supporters' Views

The conflict in Gaza was another topic that had come up throughout the day, considering a pro-Palestinian campaign group had urged on people to boycott the performances, referencing band member a member's appearance in Israel.

The matter continues as delicate for the band; subsequent to news stories about the protest appeal, media representatives were blocked from receiving tickets to report on the Madrid concert. On the day of the show, the musicians did not respond to a request for comment regarding the action.

Across the nation, where hundreds of thousands have taken to the streets in solidarity with Palestine, the group's decisions had left some fans conflicted. "It would have been nice if they had expressed their views about it much earlier," said Lola, in her twenties, who preferred that her last name not be revealed. "Being a supporter, I was a little bit disappointed. But fortunately I think they learned their lesson."

She referenced the incident earlier in Melbourne, when the lead singer, the musician, briefly walked off stage during a solo gig after a pro-Palestinian heckler called out: "How many more children killed will it take for you to denounce the atrocities in Gaza?"

This wasn't the appropriate approach to answer, said the attendee. "I was unhappy with his response." Finally, however, the melodies had swayed her. "Naturally can't control my reactions when I listen to the sound ... I truly desired to attend and hear the music and vocals that I've been following since I was a young teen."

Band's Response

Subsequently, issued a comment saying the situation in Melbourne left him "stunned that my perceived quiet was somehow being taken as complicity," describing the leader, the Israeli leader, and his administration as "extremists" who "need to be stopped."

Ahead of the performances, the singer commented that he would "absolutely not" perform in the country. "I have no desire to be 5,000 miles close to the Netanyahu regime," he continued.

Longtime Supporters Share Their Thoughts

Some stood by the group, referencing their extensive background of activism. "They have long advocated for peace, they wouldn't shift now," said Alessandra Fossati. "I believe the those familiar with them, know that they are on the correct side."

The opening show was to be the 50th time she had seen the group play, after falling in love when she originally attended them in concert in decades ago.

This time she had tickets for several concerts: opening night in the Spanish city and every single performance in her nation of Italy. "They continually transform from one record, they don't replicate the same thing," she said as she showed off her couple of band-inspired tattoos. "Basically, I formerly was a supporter of another band but they repeated identical actions. And over time you lose interest."

Younger Fans Discovers the Fandom

With several fans, the fact that the band had remained seven years without appearing as a group had injected a awareness of rarity into the latest concerts. "There might not be another opportunity, Radiohead is pretty old at this point," said a young fan, 20, causing amusement from those waiting in line beside him. "So it was really worth it to attend and experience this event."

Nearby waited another fan, who had arrived carrying his things after riding a morning train from Valencia.

The most recent instance the 53-year-old had seen the band was over two decades past. This time, he had reached at the site many hours before the show was set to open, convinced that he would be the first in line.

However he discovered the fact that a younger crowd – one that seemingly did not mind morning queues or lines – had developed a passion for the group's "evolved, elaborate, soul-touching" music. "It amazed me to see all these young people here," he said with a smile. "What a nuisance, I believed I would be the initial person because mature individuals skip these events. But now I'm 25th."

Subsequent to multiple shows in Madrid, the group's series will travel to Bologna, London, the Danish city and the European nation, finishing on mid-December.