Stuart Staples has told Hot Press that Friday night's events in Paris had real personal significance after the links he's developed to Le Bataclan.
The theatre on the Boulevard Voltaire in the city's 11th arrondissement was the scene of the most devastating of Friday night's attacks, as three armed gunmen murdered 89 people, seriously wounding another 99.
Currently preparing to appear at the David Lynch tribute taking place at the National Concert Hall tonight, Stuart was in West Cork at the time of the atrocities. His home, however, is in Limousin in France, and he revealed that he felt a link to the venue which saw such tragedy.
"We’ve played there a few times," Staples said, "and watching that was a very strange feeling. I really felt a connection to the place. When you sing somewhere, you become part of the fabric of that place, and watching what was going on really brought that home. There was a certain resonance."
The attack occurred at an Eagles of Death Metal concert, and a campaign to push the band's take on Duran Duran's 'Save A Prayer' to the top of the charts is currently gathering pace. Some have been critical of the move, bemoaning it as inconsequential, as well as representing an effort to capatalise on the tragic events. Staples, however, believes the campaign has merit.
"If anything like that gives people a chance to come together or make a statement, then how could you have a problem?" he asked. "I don’t think it matters, in terms of what it is musically; it’s simply making that positive statement. Good luck to them."