Eagles Of Death Metal frontman Jesse Hughes has discussed his stance on gun control following the Paris terror attacks of November 2015, arguing for greater access to firearms.
The band made their live return over the weekend exactly three months after the attack on Le Bataclan last year. Eagles of Death Metal were headlining at the venue when armed terrorists opened fire on the band and audience, killing 89 people including merchandise manager Nick Alexander.
Hughes spoke to French television station iTélé ahead of the band’s upcoming gig at the Olympia Theatre in Paris on Tuesday (February 16). Scroll below to watch the full interview.
Hughes told the station: “Did your French gun control stop a single fucking person from dying at the Bataclan? And if anyone can answer yes, I’d like to hear it, because I don’t think so. I think the only thing that stopped it was some of the bravest men that I’ve ever seen in my life charging head-first into the face of death with their firearms.”
Andy Hughes/ NMEHe continued: “I know people will disagree with me, but it just seems like God made men and women, and that night guns made them equal. And I hate it that it’s that way. I think the only way that my mind has been changed is that maybe that until nobody has guns everybody has to have them.”
“Because I’ve never seen anyone that’s ever had one dead, and I want everyone to have access to them, and I saw people die that maybe could have lived, I don’t know… I wish I knew for sure if they could have had a better chance because there were some real angels, real wonderful people in that show that aren’t alive today and I really wish they were.”
The singer also discussed his band’s return to the stage following the tragic attacks. He said: “There’s been just such an outpouring of support for us and love for us. It’s overwhelming. I just don’t want to let anyone down”.
“I think what we really need to do is just have fun together so that we can put some of this shit behind us and really leave it there so it doesn’t follow us around for the rest of our lives,” Hughes added.
Eagles Of Death Metal have rescheduled a series of European live dates that were cancelled after the terrorist attack.
Fans who were at the Bataclan show on November 13 will be entitled to a free ticket for the rescheduled Paris date. The Bataclan Theatre will not be open again in time for the band’s return on this tour.
Eagles Of Death Metal will also return to the UK to play Reading and Leeds 2016 this summer, their only UK festival performance.