Paris terror attacks: A 'direct hit' on music - Bono

Bono and band members of U2 pay their respects and place flowers on the pavement near the scene of yesterday's Bataclan Theatre terrorist attack. Photo / Getty Images

The lead singer of rock group U2 says the terrorist attacks on Paris were a "direct hit" on music.

The band's two sold-out concerts in Paris were called off in the wake of the attacks, including one which was to be broadcast live.

The majority of the 129 people who died were attending an Eagles of Death Metal concert at the Bataclan theatre, where terrorists opened fire on the crowd and set off suicide bombs.

U2 singer Bono told RTE 2FM that he felt it was an attack on music.

"The majority of victims last night are music fans. This is the first direct hit on music that we've had in this so called war-on-terror or whatever it's called," he said.

"These are our people - this could be me at a show, you at a show, in that venue. It's a very recognisable situation for you and for me and the cold-blooded aspect of this slaughter is deeply disturbing and that's what I can't get out of my head."

The Irish rockers staged one of the first big shows in the United States following the September 11, 2001, attacks in New York and Bono said they had resolved to play Paris again.

"The feeling of [New York's] Madison Square Garden was just unbelievable and the feeling was just this is who we are, you can't change it. You're not going to turn us into haters or you're not gonna turn us around in the way we go about our lives. That was the feeling of Madison Square Garden back then and I hope that will be the feeling at Bercy [Arena in Paris] when we get back there."