U2 has canceled two sold-out concerts in Paris, including a heavily promoted show to be broadcast live in the United States, after attacks that killed more than 120 people.
“As a result of the ongoing state of emergency across France, the U2 Paris concert scheduled for 14 November will not be going ahead as planned,” the group wrote on their website.“We watched in disbelief and shock at the unfolding events in Paris and our hearts go out to all the victims and their families across the city tonight,” the band said.
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| U2 cancels two Paris concerts |
HBO had planned to broadcast the concert live and had been promoting it extensively, including with promotional posters throughout New York.
The AccorHotels Arena, the venue formerly known as Bercy Arena where the broadcast would take place, later announced that U2 was also calling off another show on Sunday.
U2 already had performed in Paris on Tuesday and Wednesday.
France imposed a state of emergency after the wave of coordinated attacks Friday, including a massacre at another concert venue where US band Eagles of Death Metal was headlining.
Despite the national mourning and U2’s cancelation, another veteran rock group, Motorhead, plans to go ahead with a concert on Sunday in Paris.
The Zenith, a major music venue in Paris, said it would step up security for the Motorhead show.
U2 – whose 2009-2011 concerts marked the top-grossing tour in musical history – had designed the Paris performances to cap a half year of shows that began in May in Vancouver.
While still selling out venues, U2 has faced a series of setbacks on the tour including guitarist the Edge falling off stage at the first show and longtime manager Dennis Sheehan dying on the road.
U2 — who have frequently addressed the troubles in Northern Ireland — are scheduled to end the tour later this month with dates in Belfast and their native Dublin. AFP
