‘Eagles of Death Metal: Nos Amis’ Captures the Healing Power of Rock After Paris Attacks

Sandra Miska

The spirit and resilience of Eagles of Death Metal, the rock band from Palm Springs, CA who were performing at The Bataclan theatre in Paris on November 13, 2015 when a terrorist attack killed 89 people is the focus of the HBO documentary, “Eagles of Death Metal: Nos Amis (Our Friends).”  “Nos Amis” is the second documentary from actor Colin Hanks. Hanks (“Fargo,” “Life In Pieces”) follows the band on their return to Paris three months after the attacks to perform a show at L’Olympia for the fans that they adore, including the survivors of the attack who were strong enough to attend.

The first third of the film details the history of Eagles of Death Metal, particularly the enduring friendship between co-founders Jesse Hughes and Josh Homme. The guys became close in high schoolers after band geek Hughes was being bullied at a party and Homme came to his aid. In separately taped interviews, both men describe how their bond was cemented over a shared love of music. After high school, the pair took different paths. Homme went on to enjoy success with his bands Kyuss and Queens of the Stone Age, while Hughes married, had a son and lived what he calls a “square” life. Rock music, along with Homme, came to Hughes’ rescue after he discovered his wife was having an affair and hit a low point in his life. After a phone call from Hughes’ worried mother, Homme went and pulled his friend from his job in an adult video store and proposed that they start a band. In 1998, Eagles of Death Metal was born. Although many view EODM as Homme’s side project, it is Hughes who is the band’s driving force. Homme’s duties with QOTSA and other commitments meant that he can’t join EODM on every tour. Although he had initially planned to come along on the band’s 2015 European tour, his wife Brody Dalle’s pregnancy kept him in SoCal.

The second part of the doc is the hardest to watch, as it details the attacks and its aftermath. Nicknamed “Vanity Smurf” by Homme, Hughes revels in the attention from his fans and compares himself to a cat that loves to be petted. The adoration goes both ways, as Hughes has nothing but genuine love for his fans, which is made evident when he forms a heart with his hands and calls the audience members “Nos Amis,” French for “our friends.” This happens onstage at The Bataclan moments before the arrival of the shooters. Choked with emotion, Hughes describes watching the deaths of several of his friends before narrowly escaping death himself. His bandmate Dave Catching gives his own harrowing account of he survived, as do other tour personnel and several fans. Homme also details learning of the attacks in California and springing to action and calling a number of people, including Hughes’ son.

Three weeks after the attack, Hughes and his bandmates were invited by U2 to join them at their own concert in Paris. Bono and The Edge are also interviewed by the filmmakers. They discuss the importance of showing the terrorists that the rock community has not been broken. The experience makes Hughes realize that the healing cannot be complete until EODM returns to Paris to finish their own show.

Hanks avoids politics in “Nos Amis,” as there is no discussion of the identities of the shooters or ISIS, who claimed responsibility for the attacks. The only time politics is brought up is during an intense interview a local Paris TV news program conducts with Hughes ahead of their big show at L’Olympia. The interviewer asks him if his experience has affected his views on gun control, and he gives an emotional response before reminding her and the viewers that he and his bandmates are back in Paris to  honor their fans and give them the fun, carefree show that they deserve. Throughout the whole process he does not refrain from baring his soul, even breaking down in tears. After the TV interview, he goes off to a balcony for a smoke. While other filmmakers would probably turn the camera away during such a vulnerable moment, Hanks’ has the camera cut to a close-up of the performer’s tear-stained face. Instead of flinching, Hughes displays pure, raw emotion.

While the pain will probably always be there for Hughes and his fellow survivors, the show must go on. Rock proves to be one of the best forms of therapy, second only to friendship. One of the most emotional moments comes towards the end of the film when Homme shows up right before the big concert, as his latest child arrived just in time for him to hop on a plane and Hughes runs into his arms. The show at L’Olympia proves to be a cathartic experience for many, showing that the healing power of rock ‘n’ roll should never be underestimated.

“Eagles of Death Metal: Nos Amis (Our Friends)” releases in select theaters Feb. 10  and airs on HBO Feb. 13.