Band playing Paris concert hall under siege from California

A file picture taken on October 19, 2015, (L-R) Musicians Dave Catching, Jesse Hughes, Josh Homme and Matt McJunkins of Eagles of Death Metal perform at the Teragram Ballroom in Los Angeles, California. - AFP

Despite the name, Eagles of Death Metal in fact is not a death metal band but has worked with music A-listers including Jack Black and Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters and Nirvana fame.

The band’s name, while frequently misunderstood, was initially chosen ironically as the artists -- longtime friends -- imagined a cross between hard-charging death rockers and the quintessential Americana band the Eagles.