Photo: Still
Eagles Of Death Metal have spoken out in their first interview since their Zipper Down tour was hit by ISIS terrorists, killing 89 people at The Bataclan as part of a wave of killings across Paris. Watch it in full below.
Speaking to Vice, the band and crew relive the true horror of the night step by step, as well as paying tribute to those who lost their lives, honouring their murdered merch seller Nick Alexander, discussing the 'Save A Prayer' campaign and speaking out about what the future holds.
"The one thing that all of the guys in the band kept sharing, was like a shared heroism that people came ouf of their homes to help the fans that were in there - even when the injured were attempting to help each other and the band," said an emotional Josh Homme, who founded the band but was not in Paris at the time. "I think about Nick who protected a friend of his..."
Frontman Jesse Hughes tearfully continued: "He stayed quiet and didn't call out for help until he bled out because he didn't want anyone else to get hurt."
Homme added: "That's just us, we have a podium right now because we're in the frigging band, right? But we represent the fans that did not make it, the people who did not make it - whose stories may never get told."
Watch the interview below
"You're stuck writing down names and you don't know why," admits a heartbroken Homme, handling a long list of the 89 who died. "For God's sakes, their parents, I wish I could talk to their parents.
"I don't know the right thing to say, I'm sorry. I think this is such a delicate situation, it's so unfortunate. I sort of just want to get down on my knees and just say 'whatever you need' - because there's nothing I can really say. Words just fail to grasp the thing - and that's OK too, it's OK that there aren't words for that. Maybe there shouldn't be."
Jesse Hughes went on: "I pledge to every person who loves rock n' roll that I may be scared and maybe I went through some bad shit, but I'm breathing, I get to talk to my son tonight and I have a house because rock n' roll has blessed me and been good to me. I've been blessed with good friends and feel like I have a life of blessings and I'm not going to go around acting like it sucks."
The band then vowed to return to Paris, to honour the fallen by celebrating life and the spirit of rock n' roll.
"My mother and my grandmother raised me to never give a shit what an asshole thinks," said Hughes. "If Adolf Hitler hates you, that's awesome - you want everyone to know that that asshole hates you. I don't want to spend my life trying to appease or not appease assholes. I want to spend my life smiling with my friends and entertaining them. I can not wait to get back to Paris, I can not wait to play. I want to come back. I want to be the first band to play the Bataclan when it re-opens. I was there when it went silent for a minute. Our friends went there to see rock n' roll and died. I want to go back there and live."
You can make donations to help the victims of the attacks through Josh Homme's Sweet Stuff Foundation.
