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Eagles of Death Metal performs in Paris for attack survivors

PARIS (AP) - California rock band Eagles of Death Metal performed Tuesday at a highly charged Paris concert filled with fans who survived a terrifying massacre and siege at their last Paris show - and filled with memories of those who didn't.

"Bonsoir Paris, we're ready for this!" frontman Jesse Hughes told the crowd at the Olympia concert hall, before heading straight into their first song.

Later, between two songs, he added: "Peace, Love and Rock and Roll!"

The band's performance Nov. 13 at the Bataclan concert hall turned into a bloodbath when Islamic extremist suicide bombers stormed in, as near-simultaneous attacks hit cafes and a stadium around Paris. Scores of concert-goers at the Bataclan were killed, while others hid or lay motionless for hours until a police raid ended the siege.

Armed police guarded entrances to the Olympia for Tuesday's performance, and concert-goers went through three bag and body searchers before entering. Viewers seemed in good spirits ahead of the show, some drinking outside, and little nervousness in the crowd.

One survivor, Alexis Lebrun, described himself as "very scared" and said he would go to the Olympia venue but would only attend the concert if he deemed the security adequate.

He and other survivors opened up to a French terrorism commission ahead of Tuesday's concert, questioning how the French government failed to stop the attacks that claimed 130 lives, most of them at the Bataclan.

The violence came just 10 months after deadly jihadi attacks on a satirical newspaper and a kosher supermarket pushed the country into high alert, and forced French lawmakers to look for ways to further protect citizens.

Lebrun questioned why there was scant security around one of Paris' biggest music venues given the heightened alert in the city.

"No security measures were seen. No military or police presence in front of the hall. No particular searches at the hall entrance," Lebrun noted.

"How come the national security alert was at its highest level, yet there were no provisions to mobilize some guards in front of venues welcoming hundreds or thousands of people?" he asked.

Speaking to i-Tele television ahead of the concert, Eagles of Death Metal singer Hughes broke down in tears, saying: "I don't know why God picked us to be the band."

Jesse Hughes frontman of California, USA, rock band Eagles of Death Metal makes a heart sign as the rock band performs Tuesday Feb. 16, 2016, at the Olympia concert hall in Paris, France. The band performed Tuesday at a highly charged Paris concert filled with fans who survived a terrifying massacre and siege at their last Paris show, and filled with memories of those who didn't survive. The band's performance on Nov. 13, 2015, at the Bataclan concert hall turned into a bloodbath when Islamic extremist suicide bombers stormed in, as near-simultaneous attacks hit cafes and a stadium around Paris. (Jean-Nicolas Guillo/Le Parisien via AP) The Associated Press
Member of the band Eagles of Death Metal, Josh Homme waves to fans as he arrives ahead of his concert at the Olympia music hall, in Paris, Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2016. Survivors of November's deadly Paris attacks opened up to a French terrorism commission ahead of a highly charged Paris concert by Eagles of Death Metal , the U.S. rock band that was performing in the Bataclan concert hall the night extremist suicide bombers targeted sites around the French capital.(AP Photo/Thibault Camus) The Associated Press
Member of the band Eagles of Death Metal, Jesse Hughes, left, arrives ahead of his concert at the Olympia music hall, in Paris, Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2016. Survivors of November's deadly Paris attacks opened up to a French terrorism commission ahead of a highly charged Paris concert Tuesday by Eagles of Death Metal , the U.S. rock band that was performing in the Bataclan concert hall the night extremist suicide bombers targeted sites around the French capital.(AP Photo/Thibault Camus) The Associated Press
Member of the band Eagles of Death Metal, Josh Homme, right, arrives ahead of his concert at the Olympia music hall, in Paris, Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2016. Survivors of November's deadly Paris attacks opened up to a French terrorism commission ahead of a highly charged Paris concert by Eagles of Death Metal , the U.S. rock band that was performing in the Bataclan concert hall the night extremist suicide bombers targeted sites around the French capital.(AP Photo/Thibault Camus) The Associated Press
Member of the band Eagles of Death Metal, Jesse Hughes, left, arrives ahead of his concert at the Olympia music hall, in Paris, Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2016. Survivors of November's deadly Paris attacks opened up to a French terrorism commission ahead of a highly charged Paris concert Tuesday by Eagles of Death Metal , the U.S. rock band that was performing in the Bataclan concert hall the night extremist suicide bombers targeted sites around the French capital.(AP Photo/Thibault Camus) The Associated Press
Media stand in front of the Olympia music hall the Eagles of Death Metal's concert, in Paris, Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2016. Survivors of November's deadly Paris attacks opened up to a French terrorism commission ahead of a highly charged Paris concert by Eagles of Death Metal , the U.S. rock band that was performing in the Bataclan concert hall the night extremist suicide bombers targeted sites around the French capital. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) The Associated Press
A crowd waits outside the Olympia music hall the Eagles of Death Metal's concert, in Paris, Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2016. Survivors of November's deadly Paris attacks opened up to a French terrorism commission ahead of a highly charged Paris concert by Eagles of Death Metal , the U.S. rock band that was performing in the Bataclan concert hall the night extremist suicide bombers targeted sites around the French capital. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) The Associated Press
Police officers secure the area around the Olympia music hall before the Eagles of Death Metal's concert, in Paris, Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2016. Survivors of November's deadly Paris attacks opened up to a French terrorism commission ahead of a highly charged Paris concert by Eagles of Death Metal , the U.S. rock band that was performing in the Bataclan concert hall the night extremist suicide bombers targeted sites around the French capital. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) The Associated Press
Member of the band Eagles of Death Metal, Josh Homme waves to fans as he arrives ahead of his concert at the Olympia music hall, in Paris, Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2016. Survivors of November's deadly Paris attacks opened up to a French terrorism commission ahead of a highly charged Paris concert by Eagles of Death Metal , the U.S. rock band that was performing in the Bataclan concert hall the night extremist suicide bombers targeted sites around the French capital.(AP Photo/Thibault Camus) The Associated Press
Member of the band Eagles of Death Metal, Josh Homme, left, waves as he arrives ahead of his concert at the Olympia music hall, in Paris, Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2016. Survivors of November's deadly Paris attacks opened up to a French terrorism commission ahead of a highly charged Paris concert by Eagles of Death Metal , the U.S. rock band that was performing in the Bataclan concert hall the night extremist suicide bombers targeted sites around the French capital.(AP Photo/Thibault Camus) The Associated Press
Member of the band Eagles of Death Metal, Dave Catching, left, arrives ahead of his concert at the Olympia music hall, in Paris, Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2016. Survivors of November's deadly Paris attacks opened up to a French terrorism commission ahead of a highly charged Paris concert by Eagles of Death Metal, the U.S. rock band that was performing in the Bataclan concert hall the night extremist suicide bombers targeted sites around the French capital. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) The Associated Press
Workers set up ahead a Tuesday's concert by Eagles of Death Metal, at the Olympia music hall, in Paris, Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2016. Survivors of November's deadly Paris attacks have opened up to a French terrorism commission ahead of a highly charged concert in the French capital by Eagles of Death Metal - the U.S. rock band whose show in the Bataclan concert hall was among the attack targets. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) The Associated Press
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