Eagles of Death Metal Return to Bataclan, Thank U2
Eagles of Death Metal returned to Bataclan in Paris less than one month after gunmen interrupted the band’s show at the venue as part of a series of terrorist attacks around the French capital, The New York Times reports.
Frontman and co-founder Jesse Hughes did not offer a comment to reporters gathered outside the venue, though he and his bandmates added flowers to the makeshift memorial site and read their own tributes. Eighty-nine people were killed in the attack at Bataclan, including the band’s merch manager, Nick Alexander.
On Facebook, Eagles of Death Metal addressed their poignant return to Paris, which was prompted by an invitation to join U2 onstage at the end of their Monday gig at the AccorHotels Arena.
“The bad guys never take a day off, and therefore we rock ‘n rollers cannot either … and we never will,” the band wrote. “We are incredibly grateful to U2 for providing us the opportunity to return to Paris so quickly, and to share in the healing power of rock ‘n roll with so many of the beautiful people — nos amis — of this great city.”
At the show, Eagles of Death Metal and U2 performed a rendition of Patti Smith’s “People Have the Power,” after which the Irish rockers left the stage and allowed the group to play their Zipper Down cut, “I Love You All the Time.”
The band has been asking other groups to cover “I Love You All the Time” as both a show of solidarity and a way to raise money for victims of the attack. So far, My Morning Jacket, the Dean Ween Group and Savages have all covered the tune.
Eagles of Death Metal closed out their Facebook note thanking the members of U2, the people of France and “everyone in the world who continues to prove that love, joy, and music will always overcome terror and evil. We look forward to fighting the good fight on many more fronts very soon, especially when we pick up our tour in 2016.
“See you again in February, Paris,” the note concluded.