The first British person to be confirmed among the dead at the tragic ISIS attack last night (13 November) has been named as Eagles Of Death Metal's merchandise stall worker, Nick Alexander. Fall Out Boy, The Black Keys and other friends that he worked with in the music industry have paid loving tribute.
Terrorists struck The Bataclan during an Eagles Of Death Metal concert, when 120 people were killed. Attacks also took place at the Stade De France and a local restaurant. ISIS have since taken responsibility for the atrocities, describing the gig as a 'party of perversion'.
Now, the first dead Briton among those tragically lost has been confirmed:
First Briton confirmed killed in the #ParisAttacks has been named as Nick Alexander pic.twitter.com/wolgQnxQ3x
— Sky News (@SkyNews) November 14, 2015
His family have paid tribute:
Here is Nick Alexander, a British man killed at the Bataclan last night. And a statement from his family. pic.twitter.com/OmzsXk7Eea
— Callum May (@callummay) November 14, 2015
Nick, a 36-year-old from Colchester in Essex, was working selling merchandise for the band. He also toured with The Black Keys, Sum 41 and Fall Out Boy.
"I spent a lot of time with Nick, but the thing about the touring merch job, it’s one of the more thankless jobs," Black Keys drummer Patrick Carney tells Rolling Stone.
"You do it because you just want to travel and you're interested in meeting new people and it's really hard work. It's not the job you take if you’re into partying. So he was a really organized, super hard worker, really funny. I remember him always very content with being on tour. It was what seems to make him the happiest. After shows, when everyone would go wild or whatever, he would also be really reserved. He was just a sweetheart, that guy. "
Friend and former partner Helen Wilson, 49, from New Orleans, was with him when he died.
“We heard a couple of noises outside and people started running into the club," she told The Telegraph. "We didn’t know what was going on.
“Then maybe five, six guys came in with machine guns and shotguns and just started shooting people. It was mayhem."
She continued: “Nick was in front of me when we were lying on the ground and somebody moved and they just turned round and started shooting us.
“His back was to me and I couldn’t see what happened and I tried to keep him talking and then I tried to give him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and they [the gunmen] were just sort of in the shadows and they would shoot if anyone said anything...I held him in my arms and told him I loved him. He was the love of my life.”
Friends, bands and other loved ones have also spoken out in tribute:
Woke up this morning and found out that my dear friend Nick Alexander was working at the Bataclan. #PrayForParis
— Pottina (@Pottina) November 14, 2015
@callummay I loved him. He was such a joy to be with. I can't believe he's gone.
— Jo Macauley-Weeks (@LastWaltz) November 14, 2015
Just found out Nick Alexander was one of the people murdered last night in Paris. Great guy. I'm horrified. #RIPNickAlexander
— _ (@trohman) November 14, 2015
Nick Alexander was our @madinalake merch guy. Lived w us on & off the bus, through innumerable experiences. A treasured part of our family
— Matthew Leone (@Madinafire) November 14, 2015
Nick Alexander was our @madinalake merch guy. Lived w us on & off the bus, through innumerable experiences. A treasured part of our family
— Matthew Leone (@Madinafire) November 14, 2015
Nick Alexander was our @madinalake merch guy. Lived w us on & off the bus, through innumerable experiences. A treasured part of our family
— Matthew Leone (@Madinafire) November 14, 2015
I had the pleasure of touring with Nick Alexander. My deepest condolences to his family and friends. https://t.co/cASjvMWV3B RIP sweet soul.
— Matthew Kiichi Heafy (@matthewkheafy) November 14, 2015
RIP Handsome Nick! Our merch guy! T^T @Sum41 @Cone41 @stevo32 @TomThacker41 https://t.co/Wtc1On28NO pic.twitter.com/oOBT8uGyCH
— Sum 41 Thailand (@Sum41Thailand) November 14, 2015
Others confirmed dead include 26-year-old French law graduate Valentin Ribet, French nationals Djamila Houd, aged 41, and 34-year-old Thomas Ayad, as well as 29-year-old Alberto González from Madrid.
A state of emergency has been issued across France, with U2 and Deftones among those to cancel shows, while Foo Fighters have pulled their entire tour.