And the bands played on.
Music fans in Paris are returning to the city’s concert halls four days after 89 people were slaughtered at an Eagles of Death Metal concert.
Many major international acts — including U2, Coldplay, Foo Fighters and Motorhead — pulled Paris shows after the massacres by Islamic State terrorists.
BONO: PARIS ATTACK AT BATACLAN IS DIRECT HIT TO MUSIC
Music clubs and theaters in the French capital are opening up their doors once more after the devastating shootings that killed at least 129 people on Friday night.
Dozens of acts will perform Tuesday night in venues across the devastated city in a show of defiance to the killers.
“We will not stop doing what we love because of what has happened,” said music lover Olivier Henri.
“We will not change what we do because of these attacks. We cannot. Life must go on.”
Irish punk band Stiff Little Fingers are going ahead with their performance at the venue Backstage by the Mill.
They said canceling the concert would be allowing the terrorists to triumph.
Police advised against people gathering together in large numbers in the city after the deadly attacks.
Stiff Little Fingers were formed during the 1970s and are known for their political songs dealing with the violence of the Irish ‘Troubles’ of the era.
“The music business is often sheltered from the harsh realities of life and this weekend they have come home with a dreadful finality,” an unnamed member of the group wrote in a statement on Facebook.
“When we were growing up in Belfast, I was always saddened by the fact that groups would never come and play there because of the political situation. I was deprived of another ‘normal’ part of life.
“With this in mind, and with the wonderful co-operation of our Parisian promoter, the S.L.F. show at Backstage at the Mill, WILL GO AHEAD AS ADVERTISED.”
British electro group Hot Chip also confirmed their gig at the Casino de Paris will go ahead Wednesday.
“We hope to bring some momentary joy to you in these dark times,” the band wrote on Facebook.
Other acts scheduled to perform in coming days include British groups Simply Red and Rudimental.
Laurie Hanna reporting in Paris
