Paris attacks: Eagles of Death Metal merch manager Nick Alexander among the victims

Nick Alexander, a British citizen and the merch manager for the Eagles of Death Metal, has been identified as one of the victims in the siege on concert hall Le Bataclan in Paris on Friday, his family confirmed.

“It is with huge sorrow that we can confirm that our beloved Nick lost his life at the Bataclan last night,” Alexander’s family said in a statement. “Nick was not just our brother, son and uncle, he was everyone’s best friend – generous, funny and fiercely loyal… Nick died doing the job he loved and we take great comfort in knowing how much he was cherished by his friends around the world. Thank you for your thoughts and respect for our family at this difficult time. Peace and light.”

During the immediate aftermath of the attack, Polina Buckley, Alexander’s girlfriend, issued a plea on Twitter in an attempt to locate him. She later confirmed his death on the platform, writing, “You are and always will be the love of my life, Nick Alexander,” with a picture of the two kissing.

Alexander has previously toured with the Black Keys, Panic! at the Disco, and Sum 41. Black Keys drummer Patrick Carney spoke with Rolling Stone after news of Alexander’s death was confirmed. “I spent a lot of time with Nick, but the thing about the touring merch job, it’s one of the more thankless jobs,” he said. “You do it because you just want to travel and you’re interested in meeting new people and it’s really hard work. It’s not the job you take if you’re into partying. So he was a really organized, super hard worker, really funny. I remember him always very content with being on tour. It was what seems to make him the happiest. After shows, when everyone would go wild or whatever, he would also be really reserved. He was just a sweetheart, that guy.”

Carney’s bandmate Dan Auerbach, who was in Paris during the attacks with his other band The Arcs, added, “We’d been working with him for years. He was just a familiar face. He was part of our family basically, one of those guys we’d see every time we come over here for these big European experiences we’d been having for 10-plus years. He was always there, really nice guy, always with his mod haircut and his big smile… He was just a really nice guy. Always. Just loved rock and roll. He was just an absolute rock and roll guy. Lived for it.”

The Eagles of Death Metal confirmed Friday night that its band members were safe after the attack. Earlier, the group released a statement on Facebook saying that they were still looking to locate their entire crew. The band was mid-set when four men opened fire into the crowd and took hostages. Police officials later stormed the venue, where one attacker was killed and three others detonated explosive vests they were wearing, according to The New York Times. It was reported Saturday that 89 people were killed at Le Bataclan. Across Paris, at least 129 people died as a result of the attacks; more than 350 were injured.