US Band Caught up in Paris Attacks
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Promised land? Rastafaris struggle in Ethiopia SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2015 39 American rock group Eagles of Death Metal performs onstage late Friday at the Bataclan concert hall in Paris, few moments before four men armed with assault rifles stormed into the venue. — AFP photos US band caught up in Paris attacks he California-based rock band Eagles of Death Metal was in the midst of a European tour, promoting its fourth Talbum release, when the musicians found themselves caught up in a terror attack at the Paris concert hall where they had begun to perform on Friday. The Bataclan music hall was one of several entertainment sites around Paris targeted by gunmen and bombers in a coordinated assault that killed 127 people. Islamic State claimed responsibility yesterday for the attacks. A Paris city hall official said at least 87 young people were slaughtered at the Bataclan concert hall before anti-terrorist commandos launched an assault on the building. Early indica- tions were that members of the band, which also goes by the acronym EODM, were all safe. The group was formed in the late 1990s by lifelong friends Jesse Hughes and Josh Homme, the group’s only two permanent members. Hughes’ mother, Jo Ellen Hughes, told a Reuters correspon- dent outside her home in Palm Desert, California, 125 miles east of Los Angeles, that she had spoken to her son by tele- phone and that he was unhurt but “very upset and shaken”. “From my understanding, I think the whole band’s been accounted for,” she said, adding that she was not sure about Joshua Homme the whereabouts or wellbeing of the rest of the entourage because the band and crew became separated in the pande- monium. Hughes’ mother also said she believed the band had just gone on stage when the attack began, but she had no other details, except that the musicians were taken into protective custody at a police station afterward. A person close to the band confirmed that the group was onstage performing when the deadly assault began. The Washington Post interviewed A man plays the piano near the cordoned off area around the Bataclan theatre yesterday. Mary Lou Dorio, mother of one member of the band, who said her son and the other members of the group escaped the Hughes’s fiancee, porn star Tuesday Cross, was with Hughes lyricism - and shows - are often known for lasciviousness, with concert hall as the attack began. “It was awful,” she told The and unharmed, too, saying: “We were with your mates Jesse, the two men seeing themselves in the tradition of sex, drugs Post, adding that her son, drummer Julian Dorio, had been Tuesday, the other musicians outside, they’re safe, too, they and rock and roll. able to phone his wife from a local police station after the took a cab.” A statement posted on the band’s Facebook page According to band lore, the group took its name from ordeal. attributed to EODM, said: “We are still currently trying to Homme’s joking description of the Polish band Vader as “the determine the safety and whereabouts of all our band and Eagles of Death Metal”, a reference he and Hughes ultimately Co-Founder Absent From Show crew. Our thoughts are with all of the people involved in this adopted for their own musical collaboration that critics say is The group’s US-based publicist, Jennifer Ballantyne of tragic situation.” more in keeping with garage band rock than death metal Universal Music Enterprises, told Reuters by email that The bloodshed came about a month after the release of rock. Homme also founded the band Queens of the Stone Homme was not in Paris with the band on Friday. His absence EODM’s fourth album, “Unzipped”, which was followed by the Age. EODM had last performed Wednesday in Glasgow and was not unusual as Homme is known for sitting out many of group’s appearance and performance on the late-night ABC was due to play next in Tourcoing, France yesterday. A Paris the group’s live shows due to multiple commitments to other television show “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” Homme, 42, and concert scheduled for yesterday night by Irish band U2 was projects. Ballantyne said another EODM member, guitarist- Hughes, 43, both from Palm Desert, met as teenagers. They canceled due to the state of emergency across France, accord- vocalist Eden Galindo, was reportedly safe and not inside the perform with a wide range of others who play under the ing to a statement from HBO, which had planned to broadcast venue, citing a Facebook post by yet another associate that EODM banner, both in the studio and in live concerts, includ- the show. — Agencies said: “Hey everyone. I just spoke with Eden. He is fine.” ing actor-musician Jack Black and Dave Grohl, the Foo The French band Red Lemons appeared to indicate Fighters frontman and former Nirvana drummer. The band’s Jesse Hughes A woman looks at flowers laid close to the Bataclan theatre yesterday. A note reading ‘Your wars our deads’ lies on the pavement near what appears to be bloodstains near the Bataclan the- atre yesterday. .