Bono has declared that nothing will stand in the way of U2 playing their upcoming concerts in Paris over the weekend, and the frontman hopes that the performance will inspire fans.

U2 and a number of other bands, including Foo Fighters, were forced to cancel gigs in the beleaguered city in the immediate aftermath of the attacks on November 13th. The Irish group’s gigs, the first of which was scheduled for the 14th, was understandably called off and rearranged for December 6th and 7th at the AccorHotels Arena.

BonoBono and U2 have assured fans that nothing will prevent them from playing Paris

“Well, knowing our French audience and having a sense of them by now, I would say joy as an act of defiance,” Bono, 55, said about the gigs to the Associated Press. “That's what U2 does, that's what French people want from us and that's it.”

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“They took a lot of lives we're not going to get back, but they're not going to change the character of the city of Paris,” he added about the atrocities which claimed 130 lives and left many more with injuries.

Bono also had words of praise for Eagles of Death Metal, the Californian rockers who were playing at the 1,500 capacity Bataclan venue when terrorists opened fire. He said that they had endured “the most ugly nightmare” but had “been very graceful” in the aftermath. They too intend to return to Paris and play the Bataclan again when it eventually re-opens.

Encouraging ticket holders to show defiance and attend the concerts, he stated: “These are our people and they're very familiar faces, the people in the audience, they're our people,” he said. “They're like my daughter, my son, they're like [band members] Edges, they're like Larry [Mullen Jr.]…so we took it very badly. But we're going back, you bet. Nothing will stop us from going back. Be vigilant, but be unafraid.”

More: Eagles of Death Metal intend to return to Paris to reopen Bataclan venue