Eagles of Death Metal Gives Emotional First Interview After Paris Attack
Eagles of Death Metal is opening up for the first time since the terrorist attack on Paris's Le Bataclan concert hall, where the California band was playing when the massacre took place on Nov. 13.
"People were playing dead and they were so scared," recalled lead singer Jesse Hughes in an emotional sit-down with VICE founder Shane Smith. "A great reason why so many were killed is because so many people wouldn't leave their friends. So many people put themselves in front of people."
In the clip, Hughes is visibly shaken as he recounts being on stage with band mate Josh Homme when gunmen invaded the well-known venue and fired at random, killing nearly 100 people.
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"Several people hid in our dressing room," Hughes said, "and the killers were able to get in and killed every one of them except for a kid that was hiding underneath my leather jacket."
Shortly after the attack, on Nov. 18, the band released a statement remembering those who perished, including their merchandise manager, Nick Alexander.
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"We are horrified and still trying to come to terms with what happened in France," the band wrote on Facebook. "Our thoughts and hearts are first and foremost with our brother Nick Alexander, our record company comrades Thomas Ayad, Marie Mosser, and Manu Perez, and all the friends and fans whose lives were taken in Paris, as well as their friends, families, and loved ones."
While the band is now home safe, we are horrified and still trying to come to terms with what happened in France. Our...
Posted by Eagles Of Death Metal on Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Le Bataclan has hosted an array of nationally known acts, including Prince, Emmylou Harris and Roseanne Cash, according to Rolling Stone. It was one of six sites attacked across the French capital. See the video below for more on the night's tragedy.