Eagles of Death Metal were performing at the Bataclan in Paris on November 13, 2015, when terrorists entered the concert hall and opened fire. Ninety people were killed at the venue. The attack was part of coordinated violence across Paris and Saint-Denis that killed 130 people that night.
The band members escaped, but their merchandise manager, Nick Alexander, was among those killed. He was 35. Five days later, the group issued a statement putting all scheduled shows on hold. They mourned their colleague, the fans and friends who had died, and offered condolences to their families. They also thanked the French police and the people who had helped one another during the attack.
In an interview with VICE released on November 25, guitarist Eden Galindo recalled initially mistaking the gunfire for a problem with the PA system. He and others eventually reached a side exit and got outside. Bassist Matt McJunkins described sheltering in a room with fans, where chairs were used to barricade the door. Galindo also described residents coming out of their homes to help people who had escaped.
Co-founder Josh Homme had been in the United States when the attack happened. Speaking in the same interview, he explained the responsibility the band felt toward those who had died: “We represent the fans that did not make it, the people that did not make it, whose stories may never get told.”
For their rescheduled Paris concert, Eagles of Death Metal offered free tickets to fans who had been at the Bataclan. The European dates announced in December 2015 included a show at the Olympia, since the Bataclan would not be open in time. Frontman Jesse Hughes said in the announcement that hearing from survivors, injured fans and bereaved families had reinforced the band’s determination to return and finish their set.
Before the Olympia show on February 16, 2016, survivor Cedric Rizzo told Reuters that preparing to attend had brought a mixture of worry, happiness and grief for those who would not be there. He described going to the concert as an important part of rebuilding his life. Rizzo also spoke about the pressure on the musicians: audience members could break down in the crowd, he said, while the band would have to face the room from the stage. His account made clear how much more than a routine night out the performance represented for him.
Inside the Olympia, counselors and psychologists were available to attendees, ABC News reported. Security involved several checks before entry. Hughes greeted fans before the performance, and Homme joined the band on drums. During the first song, the musicians and audience observed a moment of silence.
The Nick Alexander Music Trust was established in the merchandise manager’s memory to help community groups and small charities across the UK obtain musical equipment. Its grants were intended for organizations working with people affected by poverty, illness, disability and other barriers to participation.
