UK fans try to push Eagles of Death Metal to number 1

LONDON, United Kingdom – British fans of the US rock band Eagles of Death Metal, which was playing at a Paris concert hall targeted in Friday’s attacks, November 13 have started a social media campaign to push one of its songs to number 1. 

“Get Eagles Of Death Metal to the No.1 this week as a statement of support and peace,” read the description of the campaign @EODMforNo1 on Twitter on Monday, November 16

A Facebook page calling on supporters to download the song “Save a Prayer”, a cover of Duran Duran’s hit single of the same name, had more than 6,500 “likes”. 

Campaign organizers said that the downloads would be “a nice gesture” and stressed they were not representing the band, who escaped unharmed, and their initiative was not being done for profit.

The song is at number 96 in Britain’s charts and climbing, with a new ranking set to be released later on Monday ahead of the official ranking on Friday, November 20.

The campaign “has started gathering momentum,” the Official Charts Company said in a statement.

The song is already at number 3 on the Amazon UK singles chart and number 1 on the iTunes rock chart.

It was at number 35 on the main iTunes chart. 

Gunmen attacked an Eagles of Death Metal gig at the Bataclan in Paris on Friday, gunning down fans and blowing themselves up as police stormed the building.

The attack claimed 89 lives – by far the worst loss of life of the night. (READ: Music world in shock over Paris concert massacre)

The band, which was formed in 1998 in Palm Desert, California, was celebrating the October release of their album Zipper Down with a European tour.

The band’s previous highest UK single’s chart position was number 73 with 2006 record “I Want You So Hard (Boy’s Bad News)”. 

The video featured Josh Homme – frontman of Queens of the Stone Age – along with former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl and Hollywood comic actor Jack Black, all of whom have made live cameos with the band.

Messages about the campaign were being retweeted on the official account of the British band Duran Duran.

It was unclear who would receive the royalties from the increased sales of the single. – Rappler.com

More on the Paris attacks:

• Rockers in Paris attacks to return to US
• Over 128 killed, 180 injured in Paris attacks
• IN PHOTOS: November 13 Paris attacks
• ISIS claims Paris attacks
• The Bataclan theater in Paris: From music venue to killing ground
• U2 cancel Paris concert after 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

• WATCH: Musician plays ‘Imagine’ outside Bataclan, site of deadly Paris attack
• New York’s Met Opera sings French anthem after attacks
• Music world in shock over Paris concert massacre
• 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