Sting to Reopen Paris Venue Bataclan One Year After Terrorist Attack
Sting will perform at the November 12th reopening of Paris venue the Bataclan, nearly one year after the deadly terrorist attack that killed 90, The New York Times reports.
Islamic State militants opened fire during Eagles of Death Metal’s Bataclan performance on November 13th, 2015 as part of a wave of attacks around the city. In a statement on his website, Sting says there are “two important tasks to reconcile” with the theater’s reopening.
“First, to remember and honor those who lost their lives in the attack a year ago, and second, to celebrate the life and the music that this historic theater represents,” he wrote. “In doing so, we hope to respect the memory as well as the life-affirming spirit of those who fell. We shall not forget them.”
Tickets go on sale Tuesday, November 8th at 10 a.m. CET via the Bataclan website. Proceeds from the show will benefit Life for Paris and 13 Novembre: Fraternité Verité, two organizations offering aid to the attack’s victims and their families.
Sting will perform material from his upcoming 12th solo LP, 57th & 9th, out November 11th. The signer will be backed by a three-piece band: guitarist Dominic Miller, guitarist Rufus Miller and drummer Vinnie Colaiuta
57th & 9th is Sting’s first guitar-driven rock album in decades. “It’s rockier than anything I’ve done in a while,” the former Police frontman told Rolling Stone. “This record is a sort of omnibus of everything that I do, but the flagship seems to be this energetic thing. I’m very happy to put up the mast and see how it goes.”