TO HONOUR DEAD WITH GIG
2,000 are receiving treatment for trauma Survivors remain haunted by atrocity
32, was not injured physically but suffered deep psychological trauma.
“I hardly sleep,” he said. “I see everything from that night. I remember everything. The sounds and images constantly come back to me.
“Sometimes I hear voices. I hope to get better but I’ll never be the same man.”
Bataclan co-director Jules Frutos said he was now looking forward after the “difficult” decision to re-open the venue.
“After a few weeks it was clear. We had to go on after such horror and not leave a mausoleum, a tomb,” he said. “We owed it to ourselves to rebuild everything. It was obvious that it had to be rebuilt identically. Because of its past it was important we didn’t change it as a venue. That’s why people loved it.
“One night of tragedy mustn’t overshadow decades of parties and music.”
The Bataclan was hit by three suicide blasts as well as bullets when the attackers fired into the crowd as an ordinary Friday night descended into carnage.
The former 19th century music hall’s interior was gutted during eight months of refurbishment works. Everything from the seats to the floorboards were replaced with identical fittings. Once the decision was made to reopen the theatre, Mr Frutos said he was determined that it stayed true to its history as the French capital’s top indie-rock venue.
“Reopening the Bataclan with a ceremony and then some music didn’t cut the mustard for me,” he said.
So luring such a high-profile artist as Sting, who first played there in 1979 with The Police, was perfect.
“When Sting came to Paris in September this year he was interviewed by a journalist and said he wanted to come and sing at the Bataclan,” said Mr Frutos. “I gave him a call and things then moved very quickly.
“He is really keen to do this and that’s an essential ingredient.
“Sting coming here is the cherry on the cake we needed. It gives this real meaning.”