Who Are The Eagles of Death Metal?

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Jesse Hughes (foreground) with Josh Homme

[This feature was written the day after the November 13, 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris, France.]

The American rock band performing on Friday night, November 13, 2015, at le Bataclan concert hall in Paris appear to have been randomly selected for the terrorist attack, and there is no connection of their name or music to what occurred. That the Eagles of Death Metal is American is a factor that, however, cannot be discounted.

The Palm Desert, CA-based band is the second group in which Josh Homme, best known as the singer and guitarist of Queens of the Stone Age, is a member. He stresses that it is not a “side project” for him; rather it’s a collaboration with his longtime pal, singer/guitarist Jesse Hughes and a somewhat flexible line-up. They have released four albums since 2004, the most recent of which, this year’s Zipper Down, the group – without Homme, who only gigs with the group occasionally amidst other commitments – was touring to support. The name comes from a band in-joke – that they sound like the group the Eagles playing death metal music – and their style more accurately draws from 1970s classic blues-rock through a witty and cheeky postmodern consciousness.

They were onstage performing for a sold-out crowd of about 1,500 when four attackers entered the hall and began firing into the crowd. Members of the band were able to escape backstage or out of the hall through a back door, and reports are that its full crew/touring party are all safe. The death toll at le Bataclan ultimately claimed the lives of at 89, including the band’s merchandise manager.

All told, 130 people perished during the events of that evening. Well over 400 were injured. Eagles of Death Metal returned to Paris on December 7, 2015, when they were invited to appear onstage with U2 at their concert at AccorsHotel Arena.