U2 Dedicates Songs to San Bernardino and Paris Victims at Paris Concert
The group performed in Paris Sunday night.
— -- While thousands of Parisians gathered to see U2 perform live in Paris on Sunday, lines of police cars outside the AccorHotels Arena were a stark reminder of what happened at another concert hall just three weeks ago.
The venue was packed and fans cheered when Bono kicked off the concert saying, "Vive la France."
U2 had to postpone its Nov. 14 and Nov. 15 concerts after terrorist attacks killed at least 130 and injured hundreds more in the French capital. The band dedicated songs to Paris, saying "We are all Parisians," and "If you love liberty, Paris is your hometown" but also to victims of the San Bernardino, California, shooting, attacks in Beirut and to "all those hostage of an ideology."
There was also a song about refugees, with Bono saying, "What do you want? A Europe closed on its heart or open to compassion and mercy?"
Earlier in the day, there was a rumor that the American rock band, Eagles of Death Metal, who were playing at the Bataclan in Paris on Nov. 13, was going to join U2 on stage. U2 quickly debunked the rumors on its site.
"We're back in Paris and it's great to be here. Some people have been saying that Eagles of Death Metal will appear on stage with U2 tonight. This is not the case. We have another surprise guest planned for tonight's show," the group said.
Members of Eagles of Death Metal watched the U2 show from the front row. According to other rumors, the group could be joining U2 for one song at Monday night's concert.
Names of Paris attack victims were projected onto a video screen in the arena and at the end of the concert, Bono sang a few words from Jacques Brel's "Ne me quitte pas.”