Honoring those gone. Bono and his U2 bandmates placed bouquets of flowers at a candlelight memorial on Saturday, Nov. 14, honoring the victims of the Paris terror attacks.
“This is the first direct hit on music that we’ve had in this so-called ‘War on Terror’ or whatever it’s called,” the singer, 55, said in an interview with Irish radio station RTe2fm on Saturday as he referenced the attack on the Bataclan concert hall where more than 100 people were killed during a show by U.S. band Eagles of Death Metal. “If you think about it, the majority of victims last night are music fans. Our first thoughts at this point are with the Eagles of Death Metal fans. These are our people. This could be me at a show. You at a show, in that venue. It’s a very recognizable situation for you and for me and the cold-blooded aspect of this slaughter is deeply disturbing and that’s what I can’t get out of my head.”
In a video shared on YouTube, the philanthropic singer and his fellow bandmates are seen placing bouquets of flowers at a makeshift candlelight memorial outside the Bataclan at dusk, looking somber.
Bono also recalled coming to New York City a month after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
“We played Madison Square Garden and it was just unbelievable,” he said. “The feeling was, ‘This is who we are, you can’t change us, you’re not going to turn us into haters.’ I hope that’s the feeling [this time].”
On Friday, Nov. 13 — after the six attacks across Paris that have so far claimed the lives of at least 150 people — the band announced they’d be canceling their Paris concert scheduled for Saturday at the Bercy Arena.
“We watched in disbelief and shock at the unfolding events in Paris and our hearts go out to all of the victims and their families across the city tonight,” the Grammy-winning rock group wrote in a statement on their website. “We hope and pray that all of our fans in Paris are safe.”
