Eagles of Death Metal return to US after Paris attacks

The band said in its first full statement since the Paris terror attacks that they are "horrified and still trying to come to terms with what happened in France."

The US band was playing at the Bataclan concert hall Friday night, when three armed terrorists opened fire as part of a coordinated shooting and bombing rampage through Paris that took 129 lives and wounded more than 350 others.

"Although bonded in grief with the victims, the fans, the families, the citizens of Paris, and all those affected by terrorism, we are proud to stand together, with our new family, now united by a common goal of love and compassion," the band said in a statement.

The band was on a European tour after releasing their new album "Zipper Down" last month.

They will now put all shows on hold until further notice.

All band remembers survived the attack, but a British merchandise vendor Nick Alexander working with them was killed as were three employees from its Universal record label.

"Our thoughts and hearts are first and foremost with our brother Nick Alexander, our record company comrades Thomas Ayad, Marie Mosser, and Manu Perez, and all the friends and fans whose lives were taken in Paris, as well as their friends, families, and loved ones," the statement said.

The band thanked "the French police, the FBI, the US and French State Departments, and especially all those at ground zero with us who helped each other as best they could during this unimaginable ordeal, proving once again that love overshadows evil."

Eagles of Death Metal was formed in 1998. A charity tied to the band, the Sweet Stuff Foundation, said it would donate all proceeds through the rest of the year to the victims of the Paris attacks.

The charity was set up by Josh Homme, one of the founders of the band and member of Queens of the Stone Age, as a way to help musicians and their families during hard times. Homme was not with the band when the attack occurred.

cw/jil (AFP, AP)