Hundreds Attend Funeral Service for Eagles of Death Metal Crew Member Killed in Paris Attacks

Nick Alexander, the Eagles of Death Metal crew member who was among the many casualties of the terrorist attacks that occurred during the band's Nov. 13 concert in Paris, was laid to rest yesterday in a funeral service attended by hundreds.

The Essex County Standard reports that Alexander's service was held in the village of Weeley, where he grew up and still had family, and took place at St. Andrew's Church, where he'd served as an altar boy. According to the paper, more than 250 people turned out for the funeral, which was followed by a private family burial.

Peter Dumsday, a member of the parish council who's said to have known Alexander for decades, told the Standard that despite the sadness surrounding Alexander's tragic death, the service focused on the positive aspects of his life. "There were tears, but there was laughter and a lot of memories," said Dumsday. "When Nick’s school friend Taz Khan spoke, who had known him all her life, everybody was laughing. It was an emotional atmosphere. He was a nice young man, there wasn’t a nasty bone in his body. ... The funeral service was a fitting tribute to him."

Fittingly, Alexander's service included a strong musical component. The Standard notes that his coffin was "surrounded by white flowers in the shape of a musical note," and the program included the Beatles' "Across the Universe" as well as "You Give a Little Love," a Paul Williams composition recorded for the 1976 film Bugsy Malone. As previously reported, a memorial fund has been established in Alexander's honor, which has gathered more than $100,000 in donations as of this writing.

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