Bataclan (theatre)
The Bataclan is a theatre located at 50 Boulevard Voltaire in the 11th arrondissement of Paris, France. Designed in 1864 by the architect Charles Duval, its name refers to Ba-ta-clan, an operetta by Jacques Offenbach. Since the early 1970s, it has been a "legendary" venue for rock music.
On 13 November 2015, 89 people were killed in a coordinated terrorist attack in the theatre.
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History
The Bataclan originated as a large café-concert in the Chinoiserie style, with the café and theatre on the ground floor and a large dance hall at first-floor level. Its original name was Grand Café Chinois.
The French name "Bataclan" refers to the Offenbach operetta, but it is also a pun on the expression tout le bataclan (the "kit and caboodle", or "all that jazz", or "the whole nine yards"), the oldest written use of which predates Offenbach in a journal entry of 11 November 1761 by Charles Simon Favart.
Concerts were held there but it was best known for putting on the vaudevilles of Eugène Scribe, Jean-François Bayard, Mélesville, and Théophile Marion Dumersan. Postcard of the Bataclan with its original pagoda roof, c. 1900
The establishment, designed in 1864 by the architect Charles Duval, opened under the management of André Martin Paris on 3 February 1865 and was later bought by the singer Paulus in 1892.[3] Also in 1892, Buffalo Bill Cody performed there. Over the next several years the building experienced both good and bad luck, and many changes in ownership. New fashions after 1910 led to a restoration of the auditorium and a programme dedicated solely to revues, especially those put on by José de Bérys. Maurice Chevalier had his first theatrical success there, and Édith Piaf also performed there. Inspired by their new successes, the Bataclan troupe took big shows on a South American tour that proved financially disastrous.
In 1926 the auditorium was sold and transformed into a cinema. A fire broke out in the building in 1933. The original building was partially demolished in 1950 to bring it into compliance with new safety measures then in force. In 1969, the cinema closed and the auditorium again became a salle de spectacle (usually translated as theatre, occasionally as exhibition hall).
The venue started booking rock acts in the 1970s, and many famous performers have played there since. Among them are The Velvet Underground, Kylie Minogue, The Police, Prince, Rosanne Cash, Genesis, Jeff Buckley, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Black Keys, Foo Fighters, Crowded House, Oasis, The Cure, Alice Cooper, Backstreet Boys, Metallica, Prince, The Smashing Pumpkins, Iron Maiden, Guns N' Roses, Cyndi Lauper, Raphael Saadiq, The Roots, Kendrick Lamar, Phish, Widespread Panic, Gov't Mule, The Killers, David Byrne, Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Cold War Kids, Death Cab for Cutie, Blur,[1] Snoop Dogg, Robbie Williams, Stromae, the Eels,[4] New York Dolls, Roxy Music, Captain Beefheart, Judas Priest, The Clash, The Ramones, Nine Inch Nails, Beck, My Bloody Valentine, Manic Street Preachers, Suede, Motörhead, Franz Ferdinand, FFS, and Eagles of Death Metal.
The Bataclan is known today for a very eclectic programme of events, including rock and pop concerts, spectacles, comedy, discos and café-théâtre. Its façade was repainted in its original colours in 2006, but its pagoda roof has been removed.[6] In May 2015, the theatre hosted a "Who Is Malcolm X" event, featuring Muslim rappers Médine, Kery James, Disiz and Faada Freddy.
Jeff Buckley recorded his EP Live from the Bataclan there in 1995. Progressive metal band Dream Theater recorded their 1998 live album Once in a LIVEtime at the Bataclan. The 1972 performance by Lou Reed, John Cale and Nico of the Velvet Underground, long circulated as a bootleg, was officially released in 2004 as Le Bataclan '72.
Threats for pro-Israel activities
For 40 years, Bataclan had Jewish owners, Pascal and Joel Laloux, who sold the theatre to new owners on 11 September 2015. The theatre was a target for anti-Zionist activists, since the venue often held pro-Israel events. One extremist group called "Army of Islam" threatened the Bataclan in 2011 because its owners were Jews.
Pro-Palestinian activists have protested against the Bataclan's association with pro-Israel activities. A video posted on YouTube shows masked pro-Palestinian militant protesters at the Bataclan in 2008 stating: "We came here to pass along a small message. Be warned. Next time we won’t be coming here to talk.”
2015 terrorist attacks
On 13 November 2015, as part of a series of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) terrorist attacks across Paris, several gunmen conducted a mass shooting at the Bataclan. An Austrian duo, the White Miles, had completed their performance, and the American rock band Eagles of Death Metal were in the midst of their performance when three gunmen wearing suicide belts entered the theatre, firing at people at random, and taking hostages. The police later stormed the theatre, and two gunmen killed themselves during the police raid by detonating suicide vests they were wearing; a third was killed by police gunfire before he could detonate his vest. Two of the attackers, Samy Amimour and Omar Ismaïl Mostefaï, were French citizens. The third attacker, Foued Mohamed-Aggad, was carrying what was thought to be a stolen Syrian passport. As a result of the attacks, 89 people were killed and over 200 were wounded.
Aftermath of attack
The Bataclan the day after the mass shooting and explosive detonation
It was discovered shortly after the news broke of the attacks that the American rock band the Deftones had members in attendance at the Eagles of Death Metal Show. The lead singer of the Deftones, Chino Moreno, was eating dinner nearby with his family. The Deftones were scheduled to perform at the Bataclan the following nights but cancelled due to the attacks.
Irish rock band U2 had been scheduled to perform two Paris concerts in the days following the attack, including one to be broadcast live on HBO. The French government cancelled the concert and the members of the band went to the Bataclan the day after the attack, leaving bouquets of flowers in memory of the victims. Lead singer Bono offered condolences, and the band pledged to reschedule their Paris shows.
On 16 November, the Bataclan management issued a statement that stated that the theater was closed indefinitely. It read, "No words suffice to express the magnitude of our grief. Our thoughts go to the victims, to the wounded and to their loved ones. Many of you have wanted to gather in remembrance at the Bataclan. Unfortunately, the authorities still need to work at the site. We will keep you informed about when it will be possible to assemble in front of the hall. We thank you for your support, which touches us profoundly."
Eagles of Death Metal issued a statement about the attacks on 18 November, stating their horror about the attacks and their sympathy with friends and family of the victims, and thanking survivors, authorities, and French and American police. White Miles offered their condolences on that day as well, saying: "We are happy, but miserable at the same time. Happy, because we are back with our families, who help immensely to make us feel safe again; miserable, because we know that many families have to mourn following the weekend." On 8 December, nearly a month after the attacks, Eagles of Death Metal revisited the Bataclan to pay their respects to the victims.
