U2 perform in a salute to Paris

Bono and U2 paid tribute to those who were recently killed in Paris, but also to those killed in the Troubles in Ireland. RollingNews.ie photo.

By Irish Echo Staff

The mass murder carried out by terrorists in Paris last month forced U2 to cancel the climactic performances on their European tour.

The band returned to the City of Light on Sunday and Monday nights for two emotional performances that included, at the end, an appearance on stage by the American group, Eagles of Death Metal, who were playing at the Bataclan concert venue when gunmen opened fire.

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Eighty-nine of the 130 people killed in the terrorist attacks died in the Bataclan.

Monday’s concert, held at the Accor Hotels Arena, was a sellout and was broadcast in the U.S. by HBO.

"They were robbed of their stage, so we would like to offer them ours," said U2 frontman Bono in introducing the American rockers.

U2 had been scheduled to perform in Paris on November 14 and 15 but the terrorist attacks stopped that plan in its tracks.

According to reports, U2 had reached out to Eagles of Death Metal in the aftermath of the attacks, buying them mobile phones to replace the ones they had abandoned in the Bataclan chaos, and offering them the use of their private plane as they returned to the U.S.

At the Sunday performance, Bono told the audience: "We stand together with the families of those killed in Paris," this as the names of victims were projected on a huge video screen.

Ireland also featured in the video aspect of both performances with tributes to the dead of Bloody Sunday and the Dublin/Monaghan bombings.

At one point, the screen displayed faces of the Irish dead under the banner “Justice For The Forgotten.”

The band also highlighted the destruction being caused in Syria’s civil war, the plight of refugees and the ongoing battle against AIDS, especially as it affects newborn children.

During the encore, Bono wrapped himself in a French tricolor flag and sang a verse of Jacques Brel's “Ne me quitte pas” (Don't Leave Me).

The singer spoke in French on several occasions, though not when he was saluting his fellow band members and their roots on the north side of Dublin.

 

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