In his first interview since the Paris attacks, Eagles of Death Metal frontman Jesse Hughes says he wants to be the first person to perform at the Bataclan concert hall when it reopens.
Three gunmen stormed the gig they were playing at the venue in Paris on November 13, killing 89 people.
Speaking to Vice, Jesse Hughes said he “cannot wait to get back to Paris and play”.
“Our friends went to see rock and roll and died. I want to go back there and live.”
Members of the EODM rock band have described – in detail – what happened on the night of the attacks.
Jesse Hughes says he came face to face with one of the gunmen as he was trying to escape.
“I saw the shooter,” he said.
“He turned and brought the gun down on me but the barrel hit the doorframe.”
In an emotional interview, Jesse Hughes said: “I want to be the first person to play in the Bataclan when it opens up.”
All band members escaped unhurt.
Guitarist Eden Galindo said he initially thought the gunshots were the PA “cracking” but then realized “pretty quick” that it wasn’t.
“Jesse ran towards me and we went into the corner. We weren’t sure if they were targeting us.”
Bassist Matt McJunkins said he found himself trapped in a room with some fans who were also trying to get out.
“As soon as we get there [the room], there’s a few people who’ve been shot and who were bleeding.
“We had some chairs to barricade the door and a mini fridge. Someone had left a bottle of champagne bottle which we could have used… as a weapon.”
He described a woman in the room with him who had been shot.
“This guy was holding her and keeping pressure on her wound. He was trying to keep her comfortable and her blood was running out on the ground.”
Matt McJunkins said the gunfire went on for 10 to 15 minutes and was getting closer to where they were hiding.
He then described an explosion which shook the whole room. It was one of the gunmen’s suicide belts.
Julian Dorio, who was playing drums, said the initial shots were so powerful that he “bailed” off his stool almost immediately.
“The gunpowder hit my nose. I saw two guys up front and they were relentlessly shooting into the audience.
“I stayed on my chin, crawling to the side of the stage.”
Eagles of Death Metal were formed in 1998 by Jesse Hughes and Joshua Homme.
Joshua Homme wasn’t at the Paris gig but showed the interviewer, Shane Smith, one of the texts he received that night.
It said: “Everyone got shot. They took hostages. I’ve got blood all over me.”
