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Man tows piano by bike to Bataclan Theatre in Paris and plays John Lennon's Imagine

Davide Martello uses his musical skills to promote peace

A pianist from Germany yesterday towed his bike to the Bataclan Theatre in Paris, where at least 89 people were killed in a terrorist attack on Friday evening, to play the John Lennon song, Imagine.

Davide Martello said he felt compelled to travel to the French capital after learning of the multiple attacks there as he watched the international friendly football match between France and Germany.

He drove to Paris, completing the final part of his journey by bicycle before playing the Lennon work close to the theatre in the 11th arrondissement targeted on Friday by ISIS terrorists during a concert by US band Eagles of Death Metal.

In a message posted to his Klavierkunst page on Facebook in the early hours of Sunday morning, he said: “Thank you for your mails. I just got back home in Germany safe and tired from a 24h drive.

 

 

“Everything started in a Irish pub in Konstanz while I was watching the soccer match between France and Germany.”

The match, played at the Stade de France at St-Denis in the northern suburbs of the French capital, was targeted by suicide bombers with three separate explosions outside the venue heard by those inside as the game was in progress.

At the same time, other venues across the city including bars and restaurants and the Bataclan Theatre were also being targeted.

“After I saw that insane violence I just followed my heart and went to Paris with my piano,” he added.

“This was one of my most touching moments in my life and I need to rest and reflect about what happened in this short time. I will respond [to] you as soon as I can, I hope you guys understand.”

Around 130 people have so far been confirmed as having been killed in the series of co-ordinated attacks in Paris.

According to the Guardian, Mr Martello, who performs in conflict zones around the world in an attempt to promote peace, visited the city in January to play his piano in the wake of the attack on the office of the satirical newspaper, Charlie Hebdo.

Twitter user Don Jacobson shared a picture he took of Martello in Paris as he cycled towards the Bataclan Theatre with his piano.

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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3 comments

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VonPinkhoffen | 8 years ago
2 likes

That's equal parts rad as f**k and moving as hell. Chapeau!

 

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HarryTrauts | 8 years ago
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"Towed his bike"?

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Airzound replied to HarryTrauts | 8 years ago
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harragan wrote:

"Towed his bike"?

 

Ha-ha! Road.cc messed up again.

 

"A pianist from Germany yesterday towed his bike to the Bataclan Theatre in Paris, where at least 89 people were killed in a terrorist attack on Friday evening, to play the John Lennon song, Imagine - See more at: http://road.cc/content/news/171241-man-tows-piano-bike-bataclan-theatre-..."

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