Sting to Play at Bataclan Theater Re-Opening One Year After Paris Terrorist Attack
Sting is set to perform at the re-opening of the Bataclan theater in Paris, France, where terrorists killed close to 100 people during a concert last year.
The special concert is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 12, nearly one year to the day since the terrorist attack. Sting, 65, will be backed by a three-piece band as he performs songs from his new album, 57 & 9th.
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"In re-opening the Bataclan, we have two important tasks to reconcile," Sting said in a statement via his website on Thursday. "First, to remember and honor those who lost their lives in the attack a year ago, and second to celebrate the life and the music that this historic theatre represents. In doing so we hope to respect the memory as well as the life affirming spirit of those who fell. We shall not forget them."
Indie rock band, Eagles of Death Metal, were performing at Bataclan when terrorists struck the venue on Nov. 13, 2015. Among those killed was the band's merchandise manager, Nick Alexander.
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Drummer Julian Dorio, who performed with EODM the night of the terrorist attacks, reflected on the horrific experience in a Billboard piece posted on Thursday
"I went to the venue close to showtime. It was packed," recalled Dorio. "The shooting occurred out of nowhere. I’ll never forget how loud and powerful it was. It dwarfed us. I hit the deck, and the gunpowder just hit my nose. I also smelled iron, which I realized soon after was from all the blood."
As Dorio made his way to an exit door, he couldn’t help but think about who could be on the other side.
"In the billionth of a second before I pushed it open, I thought, 'There's going to be a shooter on the other side," he said, adding, "But what are you going to do? You can’t go back. I opened the door. There were people running everywhere. I took a right and ran."
In the year since the attacks sent shock waves through the city, Paris has slowly gotten back to a form of normalcy, despite a second act of terror in Nice, France, last summer
Tickets for Sting's Bataclan concert go on sale next Tuesday. All proceeds from the show will benefit the charity organization, Life For Paris.