Thursday, April 21, 2016

Cure asked to play The Bataclan in Paris

"This rumor has been all over the French media today. The following is a rough translation from this article by French national newspaper Le Monde:

Set for November 14 2016, almost one year to the day after the attacks that have devastated Paris on November 13 2015, the reopening of the Bataclan concert hall could be inaugurated with a concert by British band The Cure. If the group led by singer and guitarist Robert Smith has not given a definitive answer, a proposal was made by his French booking agency, Alias, also co-manager of the Bataclan, as confirmed by its co-founder Jules Frutos.

The probability of this concert is reinforced by the fact that the legendary new wave band will be at the same time on tour in France, with a concert on November 15 at the AccorHotels Arena (former Bercy) in Paris before dates in Lyon, 17, and Montpellier, 18. If the size of their new production (32 employees on the road and several trucks of equipment for three and half hour long concerts) hardly seems compatible with the boulevard Voltaire venue, the Englishmen should be able to adapt for this inauguration. The authors of Boys Do not Cry indeed would share the bill with two other yet unspecified bands or singers.

After all, have the Cure not given their first French concert at the Bataclan on December 17 1979 at the instigation - already – of Jules Frutos, a few months after the release of their first album, Three Imaginary Boys, before coming back on November 6, 1996? The group's presence should be confirmed (or refuted) this week. In case of refusal on their part, the opening date could be moved to November 15." (Thanks Yanic)

But this article from Le Pointe says yes, they've been asked to play, but it isn't for the reopening show:

"The cure have been contacted to play at the Bataclan, but not for the show celebrating the reopening of the venue" says Jerome Langlet, boss of Lagardere Unlimited Live Entertainment, owner of the venue. "The cure have been approached, like many other bands, to play at the Bataclan" he said, confirming an information from Le Monde, "but it's not for the reopening, that has not been defined yet." (Thanks Sylvain)

And now more stories are saying the early reports were wrong. The Cure have been asked to play at the venue, but not for the reopening show. Whatever the offer actually is, reports say they are expecting the band to accept or decline it soon. Possibly this week.

(Thanks also to Mauro, Guillaume, Julien, Olivier, Eric, Gildas, Marina, Rich, and Alexandre)

Update (April 21st, 2016): Billboard seems to think that The Cure might play in October, according to "insiders".

"Six months after the Bataclan was attacked by terrorists, the Paris club is rebuilding and refocusing and looking for a new foundation -- maybe with the help of The Cure. But with extremism still rampant in Europe, will American acts come back?

The live music industry in France is still coming to terms with a new world order six months after the terrorist attack at Paris venue the Bataclan, where, on Nov. 13, 2015, Eagles of Death Metal were ­performing when gunmen stormed the venue, ­killing 89. But the club is ­preparing to open its doors -- perhaps, ­according to insiders, in October with The Cure ­headlining. (A rep for the band, whose first gig in France was at the Bataclan in December 1979, didn't respond to Billboard's request for comment.)"

11 comments:

  1. That would be amazing...especially since I'll be in Paris during that time. I'd gladly give my left nut to go to this concert!

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    1. 😄😄😄😄 Nice comment !!! Hahahaha

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    2. I don't have any nuts to contribute to the campaign...does BEING nuts count? We'll also be in Paris. A concert at the Bataclan would be an awesome finale to the movie we'll be making...

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  2. Members of Eagles of Death Metal have been saying for months now that they want to play on reopening night. Obviously two very different bands but I don't see why they could not share the bill for this special event.

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  3. Other stories this morning in the french press say that the band set up is too big for Bataclan, so wouldnt work, so this is probably fake news.
    I think it's ridiculous, if they want to play, they will... they played Bercy in 1996 and still managed to play that "secret gig" in Bataclan back then..

    http://www.telerama.fr/musique/the-cure-pour-la-reouverture-du-bataclan-rien-n-est-moins-sur,138837.php?utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook#link_time=1456330167

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    1. It's not fake news, all reports say the band were asked to play, it's just that the early reports were wrong about it being for the reopening show.

      And they can surely play a scaled down show, without the big stage setup, so I doubt that would be a major problem.

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  4. I was told of this rumour a couple of weeks ago from a good friend in the French media. Seems v likely.

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  5. How are they going to play 3.5 hour shows night after night on this tour?

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  6. Well who said they would? Also we know they have done this in the recent past...unfortunately there are curfews and stupid things of the nature. It's up to the band...everyone is so wound up about how much they're gonna play and what songs and which venues...this goes out to everyone....Robert Smith and company do not consult you on their set list...how long they want to play..whether you agree with the city or venue....and if it's a festival...whether this will make YOU happy or not.

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  7. Off subject, but this is probably the most ridiculous The Cure video song I've ever seen!

    http://www.radiox.co.uk/artists/cure/news/someone-created-guide-cure-albums-video/#3VzIiHPoUxbgfpUF.97

    This guy is a clown....but it's funny!

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