Sting to reopen Bataclan on eve of attacks anniversary
Sting will reopen the Bataclan music venue in Paris almost a year after a terrorist attack at the site killed 89 people.
The 65-year-old musician will perform at the reopening of the venue on November 12, just one day before the first anniversary of the attack which saw ISIL terrorists wearing suicide vests opened fire during an Eagles of Death Metal concert.
The attack was part of a set of coordinated attacks in the French capital carried out around Paris on November 13 2015, resulting in a total of 130 deaths.
In a statement posted to Sting’s website, the former Police frontman wrote: "In reopening the Bataclan, we have two important tasks to reconcile. First, to remember and honour those who lost their lives in the attack a year ago, and second, to celebrate the life and the music that this historic theatre represents. 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 for the reopening go on sale on Tuesday (11.08.16), and all proceeds raised from the event will be donated to Life for Paris and 13onze15: Fraternité Verité, two charities that provide support for victims and their families.
The news of Sting’s appearance at the reopening of the venue comes after it was recently revealed that Libertines frontman Pete Doherty would be performing at the venue – which has undergone extensive refurbishment after it was left ruined by the attacks – on November 16 and 17.
This will then be followed by appearances from Youssou N’Dour, Marianne Faithfull, Laurent Garnier and Yael Naim elsewhere in the month as part of the Bataclan’s move to continue bringing top acts to Paris.
