Europe 1 with AFP 4:51 p.m., May 17, 2022
Jesse Hughes, singer of the band Eagles of Death Metal who performed on the Bataclan stage on the evening of the November 13, 2015 attacks, was heard by the special court in Paris on Tuesday.
Before concluding his testimony, moved, the singer said: "We can't kill rock'n'roll", using the famous words of Ozzy Osbourne.
For the resumption of the trial of the attacks of November 13, the special assize court of Paris took on Tuesday the appearance of a theater for the hearing of Jesse Hughes, the singer of the American rock group Eagles of Death Metal who was performing at the Bataclan the night of the attack.
Many survivors and victims of the Bataclan were in the room to hear their idol.
"The events that occurred on November 13 changed my life forever," said the American singer, dressed all in black with a red lace around his neck, via an interpreter.
"90 of my friends were killed"
In a loud and clear voice, Jesse Hughes recalled how, "in the middle of the concert", he heard shots.
"Coming from a desert community in Florida, I know the sound of gunfire. I recognized it was gunfire," he says, "I knew what was coming, I felt death approaching me" .
That evening, "90 of my friends were killed in a heinous way in front of us", he testifies with emotion.
"Everyone who was at the concert that night was my friend."
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"What the attackers tried to do that night was to silence the joy linked to the music, but they failed", continues the singer, who claims to have "forgiven" the "poor souls who committed these acts".
"I pray for them and for their souls, that the light of our Lord shines on them", he says before concluding with words from singer Ozzy Osbourne: "you can't kill rock'n'roll", "we can't kill rock'n'roll".
The singer leaves the room.
He hugs several civil parties.
Some cry.
Jesse Hughes too.