Inside Bataclan: Pictures surface from deadly Paris concert, while music industry mourns

Pictures from the rock concert taking place inside the Bataclan concert hall the night of the deadly Paris attacks have surfaced online, showing an energetic, excited crowd taking in the show about 15 minutes before gunmen stormed the venue.

About 1,500 people were at the concert hall Friday evening for a show by the American rock band Eagles of Death Metal. It was the scene of the Paris attacks' worst carnage, where hostages were held and 89 people were killed. One witness told Radio France that the attackers came into the venue and started shooting into the crowd.

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• Paris attacks: bystanders give first-hand accounts of panic at Bataclan concert hall, stadium

French photographer Manu Wino was at the show, taking pictures of the band and their adoring fans from the photographer's pit at the front of the stage. Several audience members are pictured with hands up in the air, enjoying the music. Wino blogs and takes photos of concerts in Paris under the moniker 'manuwino live photography'.

Wino told CBC News Sunday that he did not want to be interviewed about the experience, but provided photos from the evening, which he took prior to the attack.

"The pictures are all I have to say," he told CBC News in a message.

Earlier Sunday, Wino posted an emotional tribute to his photography page on Facebook.

"Because life goes on. Because they cannot win. Because it is awful and because no one can get back to it's normal life. Because too many friends (known or unknown) died Friday evening. Because it's only Rock & Roll..." the post read.

"I'll post my pictures from the show... Because I was there to party and take pictures."

He signs off the message "Peace, Love & Death Metal", a nod to the name of the band's debut album. All of the band members safely fled the concert hall during the attack.

Fans of the band have started up a campaign on Facebook to get their song, Save a Prayer, to the top of U.K. singles chart, in an effort to show "solidarity against terrorism and support for peace."

Music industry mourns, shows cancelled

Prominent musicians have decried the Paris attacks, particularly the assault on the concert hall, which several musicians had personal ties to.

Among the 89 people killed at Bataclan was Nick Alexander, who was selling merchandise for Eagles of Death Metal. 

Alexander had sold merchandise for many other bands, including Sum 41, MGMT and The Black Keys. Fall Out Boy guitarist Joe Trohman took to Twitter to express his sympathy to Alexnader, as did others.

The American alternative band MGMT paid tribute through a mini-essay posted to their Facebook page. They recalled their love for Paris, the four times they played at Bataclan and their time spent with Alexander, who sold merchandise on some of their tours.

"[He] was one of the top crew members and merch sellers MGMT has had and one of the nicest guys in rock," they said.

"We are crushed to find out Nick is one of the victims of last night's insanity who didn't make it. If you have a t-shirt from that tour, wear it proudly to honor Nick."

The Black Keys' drummer Patrick Carney posted his tribute to Alexander on Instagram. Carney said that Alexander was the band's "European merch man."

"He was one of the sweetest most pleasant guys to be around."

Irish mega group U2 was supposed to play two shows in Paris on Saturday and Sunday night, but those were cancelled due to the security threat. Instead, the band visited a vigil near the concert hall Saturday evening and placed flowers for the victims.

In an interview with an Irish radio station on Saturday, frontman Bono condemned the attacks.

"The majority of victims... are music fans. This is a first direct hit on music that we've had in this so-called, you know, War on Terror... and it's very upsetting. These are our people," he said.

"The cold blooded aspect of this slaughter is deeply disturbing. That's why I can't get it out of my head."

Coldplay, Motörhead and Foo Fighters also cancelled concerts, posting their condolences to social media.