Keep calm and carry on: British pianist Peter Geddes plays ‘Eternal Flame’ amid Barcelona street riot

Major anti-lockdown riots erupted in Barcelona on Friday night

Credit: AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti

A video of an English street musician calmly playing his keyboard in a square in central Barcelona as a riot goes on behind him has gone viral, with many viewers likening the situation to the orchestra sticking to their score as the Titanic sank.

Peter Geddes is a familiar figure to Barcelona dwellers, having played in the streets of the city for more than two decades, but his tinkling piano version of The Bangles’ song Eternal Flame as chaos erupts around him has brought the musician a greater slice of fame.

“I was aware of what was going on with the police and demonstrators, but there were people bravely listening,” Mr Geddes told the newspaper La Vanguardia.

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“If people are showing the courage and willingness to listen, then I have to play,” the 65-year-old said, adding that he was quite happy to be compared to the musicians playing out the sinking of the Titanic.

“The artist has a destiny from which he cannot escape and must continue to offer music whether the ship is sinking or there is a demonstration.”

The video, taken during major anti-lockdown riots in Barcelona on Friday night, when 23 police officers were injured, has been viewed more than 200,000 times on Mr Geddes’ Instagram page after he asked the unnamed woman who filmed it to send it him a clip.

British pianist Peter Geddes has lived in Barcelona since 1994

“The person who filmed this should have an Oscar,” Mr Geddes said, noting that the composition was “dynamic” and “beautiful” thanks to the flickering flame from a burning recycling container behind him and “police vans that almost seem to be dancing”.

In the clip, a rioter throws a missile towards the police from just a few feet behind Mr Geddes before running off as several police vans approach near Plaça Nova near Barcelona’s cathedral, where the musician often plays.

Mr Geddes moved to Barcelona from London in 1994 and has lived in the city’s old quarter ever since.

“I survive playing piano in the street; it’s my only job and I think I’m going to die playing, and I certainly won’t be retiring,” he said.