LAMB OF GOD's MARK MORTON: Paris Concert Attack Was 'Devastating For Everyone Involved In The Music World'

LAMB OF GOD guitarist Mark Morton has commented on the events of November 13 in Paris, France, when more than 129 people were killed in seven coordinated terrorist attacks.

The greatest number of deaths took place at the Bataclan, a French music venue where EAGLES OF DEATH METAL were performing when terrorists began a siege that ended with 89 people in the club either shot to death or killed in explosions.

A number of artists halted their European treks in the wake of the Paris attacks, including LAMB OF GOD, FOO FIGHTERS, DEFTONES and others.

Speaking to Fuse, Morton was asked how LAMB OF GOD's feelings about touring in general have been affected by the recent concert tragedy. He said: "I think that Paris, obviously, was just kind of devastating for everyone involved in the music world, either as fans or as artists. At least in the context of politics and global terrorism and war, it's the first real instance I can think of that they really, really entered our world on a very, very extreme and obvious level. Our crew guys knew some of the people that were in that room, and I've played that room a half a dozen times. It really, really did hit home."

He continued: "I don't think that for me, personally, it really changes anything that I do. In terms of what my approach is, man, I just want to play my guitar. Every night before we play, I have a little moment with myself where I sit and think about what we're doing and why we're doing it and hope or pray, or whatever you want to call it, that what we're doing translates into joy for people. Whether that be on a level of catharsis for them, so that they can process some of their own emotions, or just unity for the crowd, for people to come together and have a good couple hours rallying around music and the energy in the room. For my part, I think that's all I can do."

LAMB OF GOD singer Randy Blythe recently wrote a lengthy statement defending his band's decision to cancel their European tour following terror threats on the continent. The frontman revealed that the group had continued touring even after learning of the deadly attack on EAGLES OF DEATH METAL's concert, playing shows in England and Germany, before news of "a specific occurrence" that Blythe did not explain in detail prompted the band to return home to Richmond, Virginia.

The attacks in Paris led to a military response by France against the radical Islamic organization ISIS, as French jets bombed a series of targets in Syria.

The attacks have stepped up worldwide concern over ISIS, as well as a debate in the U.S. over whether to accept Syrian refugees.