In The Wake Of Paris Attacks, Foo Fighters And U2 Cancel European Tour Dates
The people of France are now feeling the aftereffects of the unprecedented wave of terror attacks that struck the capitol city of Paris on Friday. On Saturday, platinum-selling artists the Foo Fighters cancelled the remainder of their European tour due to the string of terrorist bombings and shootings that have left almost 130 Parisians dead. One of the attacks occurred inside a concert venue in which an American act known as the Eagles of Death Metal were performing. The members of that band are reported safe, but an estimated 100 concertgoers were killed in the attack.
Out of concern for the safety and security of fans, the Foo Fighters scrubbed a show set for November 16 at the 20,000-seat AccorHotels Arena (formerly known as Bercy Arena), which is just three miles from the venue attacked by terrorists on Friday. A report by The Mirror noted that the band was also set to play in the east-central city of Lyon on November 17 and in Barcelona, Spain later the same week.
“It is with profound sadness and heartfelt concern for everyone in Paris that we have been forced to announce the cancellation of the rest of our tour. In light of this senseless violence, the closing of borders, and international mourning, we can’t continue right now. There is no other way to say it. This is crazy and it sucks. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who was hurt or who lost a loved one.”
Fox News indicated that the iconic band U2 also canceled a Saturday, November 14, show via a statement on their official website.
“As a result of the ongoing state of emergency across France, the U2 Paris concert scheduled for 14th November will not be going ahead as planned… Live Nation, along with HBO who were due to live broadcast the Saturday concert, are fully resolved to go ahead with this show at an appropriate time.”
Just hours after the terrorist attacks, France’s president François Hollande declared a state of emergency, which is roughly equivalent to martial law. Public events and travel are restricted during this time.
The members of U2 were in Paris on Friday night, rehearsing for their big Saturday show as the drama unfolded across the city. They had already performed in paris earlier the same week, according to a report by The Los Angeles Times. Their Saturday show wold have been recorded for an HBO special. Late Friday, U2 appeared briefly in public to pay tribute to those hurt and killed in the attacks.
“We watched in disbelief and shock at the unfolding events in Paris and our hearts go out to all the victims and their families across the city tonight,” the members of U2 said in a public statement. “We are devastated at the loss of life at the Eagles of Death Metal concert and our thoughts and prayers are with the band and their fans. And we hope and pray that all of our fans in Paris are safe.”
According to the Huffington Post, the above-mentioned emergency measures ordered by the French President are the most restrictive conditions since World War II. A mandatory curfew has been imposed and the country’s national borders are presently closed. Thus, even if the Foo Fighters and U2 had not taken the understandable steps to cancel their concerts on their own, it is unlikely that authorities in France would have allowed the events to go on as scheduled.
As reported by a number of media outlets, Simone Rivera, the 24-year-old daughter of Fox News journalist Geraldo Rivera, was present in the stadium where a number of terrorists detonated suicide bombs. During a live broadcast on Fox, the reporter received a firsthand account of the situation from his daughter. After learning that he would be unable to travel to France to bring her home because of emergency restrictions on travel, Geraldo Rivera became visibly emotional while on the air. Given the present situation in France, it is not known when the members of U2 will depart the country for further performances abroad.
Dave Grohl and his bandmates were in the midst of a European tour prior to the Paris attacks. The Foo Fighters recently played shows in Germany and the Netherlands. On the day of the terror attacks, the Foo Fighters performed in Casalecchio, Italy.
[Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images]
