U2 cancel Paris concert after attacks

LOS ANGELES, USA (UPDATED) – U2 has canceled two sold-out concerts in Paris, including one to be broadcast live Saturday, and Foo Fighters cut short their tour after attacks that killed more than 120 people. (READ: More on Paris attacks) 

“As a result of the ongoing state of emergency across France, the U2 Paris concert scheduled for 14th November will not be going ahead as planned,” the group wrote on their website late Friday, November 13.

The band, one of the world’s most celebrated music groups, added they were “fully resolved to go ahead with this show at an appropriate time,” along with the promoters and the HBO television network which had planned a live broadcast of the concert. 

The statement was posted on the U2.com website.

The AccorHotels Arena, the venue formerly known as Bercy Arena where the broadcast would take place, later announced that U2 was also calling off another show on Sunday.

U2 already had performed in Paris on Tuesday and Wednesday.

France imposed a state of emergency after the wave of coordinated attacks Friday, including a massacre at another concert venue where US band Eagles of Death Metal was headlining.

Foo Fighters – whose frontman Dave Grohl has collaborated with Eagles of Death Metal – separately announced that the band was cutting short its tour.

“In light of this senseless violence, the closing of borders, and international mourning, we can’t continue right now. There is no other way to say it. This is crazy and it sucks,” the band said in a statement Saturday on social media.

 

Foo Fighters had been due to play the AccorHotels Arena a day after U2.

Despite the national mourning and U2’s cancelation, another veteran rock group, Motorhead, plans to go ahead with a concert Sunday in Paris.

The Zenith, a major music venue in Paris, said it would step up security for the Motorhead show.

Among other artists, Coldplay postponed a concert in Los Angeles on Saturday that was due to be live on streaming service Tidal.

Coldplay, which is promoting an upcoming album, said it made the decision “out of respect” after the “terrible events in Paris” but would still play a set of old material offline for fans with tickets.

 

U2 – whose 2009-2011 concerts marked the top-grossing tour in musical history – had designed the Paris performances to cap a half year of shows that began in May in Vancouver.

While still selling out venues, U2 has faced a series of setbacks on the tour including guitarist the Edge falling off stage at the first show and longtime manager Dennis Sheehan dying on the road.

U2 – who have frequently addressed the troubles in Northern Ireland – are scheduled to end the tour later this month with dates in Belfast and their native Dublin. – Rappler.com

More on the Paris attacks:

• Over 128 killed, 180 injured in Paris attacks
• IN PHOTOS: November 13 Paris attacks
• ISIS claims Paris attacks
• US band caught up in Paris attacks reported safe
• Witnesses tell of ‘bloodbath’ at Paris rock concert
• Shock, horror for 80,000 fans at Stade de France after Paris attacks
• French search for friends, shelter online after Paris attacks

Global, social media reactions

• World leaders condemn Paris attacks, vow to help
• Pope Francis on Paris attacks: ‘This is not human’
• Aquino: ‘Philippines stands shoulder to shoulder with France’
• ‘This time it’s war:’ French press react with horror to attacks
• World mourns and condemns attacks in Paris
• #PrayForParis, #Fusillade trends on Twitter amid Paris attacks
• Celebrities call for support, prayers for Paris