The American rock band Eagles of Death Metal have spoken up for the first time since 89 people were massacred at their show in Paris’ Bataclan Theater by three men brandishing semi-automatic weapons.
According to the New York Times, among those dead were Nick Alexander, a 36-year-old from England, who was selling band merchandise and was well known among the touring musicians, and Thomas Ayad, Marie Mosser and Manu Perez, who worked for the band’s record company.
The Palm Desert, California rooted band posted a tribute on their Facebook and Twitter accounts Wednesday, honoring the victims they knew personally and impersonally. The homage was posted with an image from the group’s first album, Peace, Love, Death Metal, superimposed over a French flag.
— EaglesOfDeathMetal (@EODMofficial) November 18, 2015
While the band is now home safe, we are horrified and still trying to come to terms with what happened in France. Our thoughts and hearts are first and foremost with out brother Nick Alexander, our record company comrades Thomas Ayad, Marie Mosser and Manu Perez, and all the friends and fans whose lives were taken in Paris, as well as their friends, families and loved ones.
Although bonded in grief with the victims, the fans, the families, the citizens of Paris, and all those affected by terrorism, we are proud to stand together with our new family, now united by a common goal of love and compassion.
We would like to thank the French police, the FBI, the U.S. and French State Departments, and especially all those at ground zero with us who helped each other as best they could during this unimaginable ordeal, proving once again that love overshadows evil.
The band announced that all EODM shows are on hold until further notice but that they planned to dedicate a concert in Innsbruck, Austria, on Dec. 17 to Nick Alexander.
[h/t New York Times]