On November 13, 2015 a terrorist gunman killed 89 people during an Eagles of Death Metal show at Paris' Bataclan, including beloved merch manager Nick Alexander. Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme is part of the band but was not in Paris that night.
To mark the fifth anniversary of the harrowing attack, QOTSA announced they'll be broadcasting previously unreleased live footage from a show at MONA (Museum of Old and New Art) in Tasmania this Friday (November 13). The stream will benefit the Nick Alexander Memorial Trust and Life For Paris — a charity to support families affected by the numerous attacks on the city that night, taking the lives of 130 people.
“This show was originally to benefit the Children’s Hospital of Hobart, Tasmania, and we’re pleased it has a second chance to do some good,” Homme said in a statement. “2020 is a really messed up year, and people in need need you more than ever. Donate what you can, if you can.”
“The Nick Alexander Memorial Trust is dedicated to connecting communities through music and this year more people than ever have needed the collective expressive experience that music brings," Nick's sister Zoe added. “We’re hugely grateful to Queens of the Stone Age for supporting our work by providing this incredible footage to raise funds for NAMT and Life for Paris and giving us all a much-needed sense of rock & roll connection as we navigate through these times.”
Arthur Denouveaux, President of Life for Paris, reiterated the importance of the stream on the community: “Due to the current lockdown, victims and their families won’t be able to stand together in Paris during commemorations this year. This show premiering on November 13 means our community will be together sharing the same music at the same time. This is the best testimony to the importance of the arts in challenging times.”
The show will be available for a limited time on QOTSA’s YouTube channel and premieres at 12pm ET/ 9am PT on Friday (November 13). You can donate to NAMT and Life for Paris here and see QOTSA's announcement below.
Photo: Getty Images