It's understandable that Bono would be a little shaken up by the Eagles of Death Metal concert assault that occurred this in Paris past Friday night (November 13). The band had been rehearsing for their own HBO live-stream concert the next day at AccorHotels Arena, only a few miles away from the scene of the tragedy. They were only three miles away when news began to filter in about terrorist attacks in the city and the number of victims. When giving interviews on the massacre after the fact Bono acknowledged that "these are our people," in regards to the fans of live music slaughtered during the terrorist attack.
The U2 frontman later expressed to Irish radio DJ, Dave Fanning, in an interview the following day that the band's security were very on top of their game that night and handled the situation well, sweeping them to safety before they were even in danger. The band was then left with nothing they could do other than to watch the horror show in disbelief on TV with everyone else.
U2 had been touring Europe for a few months prior to the attacks, all of which lead up to their live broadcast HBO show that was scheduled for last Saturday (November 14). That performance has now been postponed indefinitely as well as one that had been slated for the next night. The band and Live Nation decided that it was not an appropriate time to proceed for obvious reasons.
They were not the only band to cancel performances with the state of emergency in Paris, as well as closed city borders, also leading Foo Fighters to cancel their remaining tour dates in Europe. Coldplay also postponed a Tidal live-stream show.
"If you think about it, the majority of victims last night are music fans," Bono said in an interview with Rolling Stone, "This is the first direct hit on music that we've had in this so-called War on Terror or whatever it's called. It's very upsetting. These are our people."
He further elaborated with, "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 coldblooded aspect of this slaughter is deeply disturbing and that's what I can't get out of my head."
