PARIS — Eagles of Death Metal took the stage in Paris Monday for the first time since terrorists killed 90 people at the rock band’s last concert in the French capital.
U2 frontman Bono gave the band an emotional introduction.
“They were robbed of their stage. … Tonight, we give them ours,” he told the crowd.
Fans sang along, waved their arms in the air and recorded cell phone videos as Eagles of Death Metal sang a cover of Patti Smith’s “People Have the Power.”
Rock’s ‘healing power’
The U2 concert, which is airing on HBO Monday night, was postponed in the wake of the Paris attacks. HBO and CNN are both owned by Time Warner.
On their Facebook page, Eagles of Death Metal thanked U2 for the chance to perform Monday.
“We want to offer our heartfelt thanks and appreciation for everything our brothers in U2 did for us in the aftermath of the November 13 attacks. They reminded us that the bad guys never take a day off, and therefore we rock ‘n’ rollers cannot either … and we never will,” the band said. “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.”
In a message to Eagles of Death Metal after the show, U2 said the feeling of thanks was mutual.
“We lent you our stage,” a tweet from U2 said, “but you owned it.”
‘Fighting the good fight’
In an interview with Vice last month, Eagles of Death Metal lead singer Jesse Hughes vowed the band would continue to make music.
“I cannot wait to get to Paris,” he said. “I cannot wait to play.”
On Monday, the band played alongside U2 at the AccorHotels Arena.
But Hughes told Vice the band also hopes to play again at the Bataclan theater, where they were performing when attackers stormed in last month.
“I want to be the first band to play in the Bataclan when it opens back up,” he said, “because I was there when it went silent for a minute.”
It’s a sentiment the band echoed in its Facebook post after Monday’s show, pledging 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.”
