Spanish musician Leiva has paid an emotional stage tribute to his late friend Robe Iniesta during a performance at the Sonorama Ribera festival.
The artist performed the track El hombre pájaro before a crowd of 50,000 people, almost eight months after the death of the legendary Extremoduro frontman on December 10.
Before beginning the song, Leiva addressed the audience to apologize in case his performance did not live up to the piece. He told the crowd that he was delivering the song with all the respect and love in the world, prompting silence across the venue before the audience erupted into a loud ovation at the end of the track.
El hombre pájaro was originally released on December 15, 2023, as part of Se nos lleva el aire, the fourth studio album by Iniesta, who was born in Plasencia. Iniesta was best known as the lead vocalist, songwriter, and founder of Spanish hard rock band Extremoduro.
Private grief and social media backlash
Video footage of the performance, shared on social media from the X account of television journalist Jordi Évole, captured the emotional reaction of the festival audience during the concert.
Leiva and Iniesta shared a close personal friendship and professional partnership, culminating in their joint collaboration Caída libre, released on February 28, 2025. Following Iniesta's death late that year, the track was remembered by fans across Spain.
Days after Iniesta passed away, Leiva broke his silence on social media after facing criticism from media outlets for not posting a public farewell. Leiva stated that despite modern expectations, he had the right to process the loss of a friend privately and express his condolences away from the public eye.
To emphasize his point, Leiva shared an image of the cover of Extremoduro's live album Iros todos a tomar por culo. His statement received support from author Defreds, who commented that in moments of heartbreak, illness, disappointment, or death, everyone should be allowed to grieve in whatever manner they choose because all forms of mourning are valid.
Family requests and musical tributes
Iniesta's death inspired numerous tributes across the music community. However, three months after his passing, Iniesta's family issued a statement following controversy surrounding a public sculpture of the singer, expressing a desire to be understood while making clear that they were not pleased with public celebrations of his memory.
Sonorama Ribera, held annually in Aranda de Duero, remains a major fixture on the Spanish summer festival circuit. Despite the family's reservations, fellow musicians have continued to pay homage to Iniesta's memory on stage.
