Cure asked to play The Bataclan in Paris

"This rumor has been all over the French media today. The following is a rough translation from this article by French national newspaper Le Monde:

Set for November 14 2016, almost one year to the day after the attacks that have devastated Paris on November 13 2015, the reopening of the Bataclan concert hall could be inaugurated with a concert by British band The Cure. If the group led by singer and guitarist Robert Smith has not given a definitive answer, a proposal was made by his French booking agency, Alias, also co-manager of the Bataclan, as confirmed by its co-founder Jules Frutos.

The probability of this concert is reinforced by the fact that the legendary new wave band will be at the same time on tour in France, with a concert on November 15 at the AccorHotels Arena (former Bercy) in Paris before dates in Lyon, 17, and Montpellier, 18. If the size of their new production (32 employees on the road and several trucks of equipment for three and half hour long concerts) hardly seems compatible with the boulevard Voltaire venue, the Englishmen should be able to adapt for this inauguration. The authors of Boys Do not Cry indeed would share the bill with two other yet unspecified bands or singers.

After all, have the Cure not given their first French concert at the Bataclan on December 17 1979 at the instigation - already – of Jules Frutos, a few months after the release of their first album, Three Imaginary Boys, before coming back on November 6, 1996? The group's presence should be confirmed (or refuted) this week. In case of refusal on their part, the opening date could be moved to November 15." (Thanks Yanic)

But this article from Le Pointe says yes, they've been asked to play, but it isn't for the reopening show:

"The cure have been contacted to play at the Bataclan, but not for the show celebrating the reopening of the venue" says Jerome Langlet, boss of Lagardere Unlimited Live Entertainment, owner of the venue. "The cure have been approached, like many other bands, to play at the Bataclan" he said, confirming an information from Le Monde, "but it's not for the reopening, that has not been defined yet." (Thanks Sylvain)

And now more stories are saying the early reports were wrong. The Cure have been asked to play at the venue, but not for the reopening show. Whatever the offer actually is, reports say they are expecting the band to accept or decline it soon. Possibly this week.

(Thanks also to Mauro, Guillaume, Julien, Olivier, Eric, Gildas, Marina, Rich, and Alexandre)

Update (April 21st, 2016): Billboard seems to think that The Cure might play in October, according to "insiders".

"Six months after the Bataclan was attacked by terrorists, the Paris club is rebuilding and refocusing and looking for a new foundation -- maybe with the help of The Cure. But with extremism still rampant in Europe, will American acts come back?

The live music industry in France is still coming to terms with a new world order six months after the terrorist attack at Paris venue the Bataclan, where, on Nov. 13, 2015, Eagles of Death Metal were ­performing when gunmen stormed the venue, ­killing 89. But the club is ­preparing to open its doors -- perhaps, ­according to insiders, in October with The Cure ­headlining. (A rep for the band, whose first gig in France was at the Bataclan in December 1979, didn't respond to Billboard's request for comment.)"