First gig for Paris attacks rockers looms in Stockholm

Exactly three months since 89 people were shot dead at their concert at the Bataclan theatre in Paris on November 13th 2015, the US rockers will take to the stage in Stockholm on February 13th.

 

The band will perform at Debaser Medis, an iconic music venue on the hipster island of Södermalm, which is controversially closing for extensive renovation work later this year. The concert hall has a capacity of 850, just over half that of the Bataclan.

 

Lars Byström, a spokesperson for Stockholm police, told The Local that extra security measures were not being put in place for the gig, but said that fans should not be concerned about visiting the Swedish capital.

 

"We have police officers that will take care of this. We have a lot of police officers in Stockholm during a Saturday evening and night," he said.

 

However he declined to comment on exactly how many staff would be policing the event.

 

"We never give figures," he said.

 

The Eagles of Death Metal concert was originally scheduled to take place on November 25th. Debaser Medis opened up a second floor of the venue for fans due to a high demand for tickets once the new date was announced, however the event was not yet sold out by midday on Thursday.

 

The Debaser Medis venue has hosted a range of international stars including the UK's Pete Doherty, seen here in 2010. Photo: Johan Nilsson/TT

 

Stockholm resident and fan of the band Olga Talalay, 40, told The Local she had missed out on getting tickets last year and had jumped at being given a second chance to see the group.

 

"I like them because they are funny and ironic and play really cool energetic rock'n'roll. I am glad that the Paris attack didn't change their minds about coming to Europe," she said.

 

Asked if she had any concerns about security at the gig, she said she was "not at all scared" about attending.

 

The Local has been unable to reach Debaser Medis for comment.

 

Sweden raised its terror alert to 'high' for the first time in history in the wake of the attacks in Paris and a suspected plot on Swedish soil. An asylum seeker was swiftly arrested for planning violence in Sweden but was later released without charge and has since sought compensation from the Swedish government.

 

Police in Stockholm the week after the Paris attacks. Photo: Fredrik Sandberg/TT

 

The Eagles of Death Metal have already taken to the stage in Europe since the attacks, performing alongside U2 in the French capital in December. But the event in Stockholm will be their first official solo tour gig in the wake of the Paris bloodshed. They are also due to play in several other European cities including Oslo, Rome and Madrid and will return to the French capital on February 16th to perform at the Olympia theatre.

 

The band's frontman Jesse Hughes, who is an outspoken Christian and pro-gun campaigner, has said it is important to him to continue the group's "mission to bring rock'n'roll to the world".

 

"I was there when it went silent for a minute. Our friends went there to see rock’n’roll and died. I want to go back there and live," he said in an interview with Vice magazine, published just after the shootings at the Bataclan.