Here’s some video from the event posted to the Stiff Little Fingers Twitter feed (@RigidDigits):
SLF performed last night to a sea of welcoming fans as one of the first bands to play that city after the November 13th terror attacks. It’s tough to find the words to express how inspiring it is to see a band persevere and refuse to change their plans out of fear. SLF is no stranger to tragedy, and posted this moving statement to their Facebook page announcing their plans for this event:
Our sincere condolences go out to everyone affected by the Parisian tragedies. The music business is often sheltered from the harsh realities of life and this weekend they have come home with a dreadful finality.
As you may know, Stiff Little Fingers are scheduled to play in Paris tomorrow evening (Tuesday) and there is a lot of confusion around this date as shows are being cancelled or re-scheduled and so on.
When we were growing up in Belfast, I was always saddened by the fact that groups would never come and play there because of the political situation. I was deprived of another “normal” part of life.
With this in mind, and with the wonderful co-operation of our Parisian promoter, the S.L.F. show at Backstage at the Mill, WILL GO AHEAD AS ADVERTISED tomorrow (Tuesday) night. https://www.facebook.com/StiffLittleFingers/posts/10153081725267096
I’m not going spend much time to attempt to wax intellectual on the nature of terrorism or pretend like there’s much I can do behind a keyboard to somehow make things better. What we saw in Paris was heartbreaking, and it’s so very disappointing to see what humans are still capable of doing to each other in 2015. All I can say is that in this era of clicktivism and easily forgotten memes in support of Paris I am incredibly moved to see people braver than I actually out in the streets after this tragedy continuing to live their lives and refusing to let fear control them. The situation that we live in is ultimately the one that we create, no one can take that from us unless we let them. Stiff Little Fingers may have said it best: Grab it and change it, it’s yours.
(Header Image Source:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3323385/Hundreds-enjoy-night-bars-Paris-defiance-Isis.html)
