Eagles Of Death Metal Band Members Describe Bataclan Massacre, Hiding Fans Killed In Band Dressing Room
The Eagles of Death Metal band members are speaking out about the horrific Bataclan terrorist attack for the first time. The band describes the horrific moment that gunfire erupted at their show in Paris and the aftermath that followed. The band says that numerous fans were killed as they attempted to hide in the band’s dressing room but were soon found by the gunmen. The only survivor in the dressing room was a “kid” that hid underneath lead singer Jesse Hughes’ leather jacket and was unseen.
The Daily Mail reports that members from the Eagles of Death Metal band members are speaking out for the first time since the Paris terror attacks. The band was playing in the Bataclan theater when gunmen entered the theater and began shooting. The Bataclan massacre was the deadliest of the day’s coordinated attacks with 89 of the 130 people killed in the theater during the Eagles of Death Metal show. All members of the band were able to escape after fleeing the stage and exiting out of the back door. However, 89 people wouldn’t be so lucky.
Lead singer Jesse Hughes and band member Josh Homme say that many of the people died in the Bataclan theater attack because they refused to leave their friends or were trying to protect the ones they love. Sadly for the band members, though they all survived, many people close to the band did not. In fact, the band’s merchandise manager, Nick Alexander, was killed along with three people from their record label which includes Thomas Ayad, Marie Mosser, and Manu Perez.
The rockers sat down with VICE to discuss the horrifying events, and a full interview will be released next week. However, the short snippet released by VICE provides new details in exactly what happened in the Bataclan theater that dreadful evening. According to Jesse Hughes, many of the concert-goers fled backstage following the attack. Some entered the band’s dressing room and attempted to hide from the gunmen. However, according to Hughes, they were all killed in the dressing room except for one “kid” who was able to hide under Hugh’s leather jacket.
Other survivors from the Bataclan say that band members fled the theater from the back exit and encouraged others to do the same. One British couple, Maria and Patrick Moore, noted that Hughes told them all to run as gunfire erupted inside the theater. The pair say they were at the back exit when people began fleeing from the building. During the mass chaos, one of their friends was trampled under the crowd. They noted that Hughes told them to “run baby run” as everyone fled down the street. However, the couple say they stayed momentarily to help pick up their friend from under the frenzy before fleeing down the alley.
“We could hear the gunfire getting closer and closer and we ran up the street. The lead singer ran past us with his girlfriend saying ‘Run baby run!’ There was the crackle of gunshots and people stumbling on the steps, I can’t remember hearing anyone screaming. It was all so surreal and the adrenaline took over – it was all a blur.”
The Bataclan theater massacre was part of a series of Islamic State attacks in Paris on November 13, 2015. The attacks would leave 130 people dead and over 300 others injured. The terrifying and deadly attacks took place across the city at the Bataclan theater, outside of the Stade de France, and numerous restaurants and cafes across the city.
[Photo by Kevin Winter/ Getty Images]
