Josh Homme wants to help Paris musical family

Bruce Fessier | The Desert Sun

A foundation created by Eagles of Death Metal co-founder Josh Homme will begin accepting donations to help the family of musicians or crew members victimized by the Paris attacks, it was announced Monday.

The Sweet Stuff Foundation was founded by Homme in 2013 to “help our musical community and their families with the vital elements often overlooked during periods of illness and disability,” according to its website. His father, board member and Palm Desert-based contractor Michael Homme, said they’re extending that to include crew members and their families, including EODM merchandise manager Nick Alexander of Great Britain, who was killed in Friday’s attack on the Bataclan Theatre in Paris that killed at least 89 people.

EODM, led by Palm Desert High School graduate Jesse Hughes, was playing at the theater at the time of the attack. They have since returned to the United States. Josh Homme, who recently concluded a long tour with his other band, Queens of the Stone Age, was not touring with EODM.

Michael Homme said he didn't know if other musicians or crew members were killed or injured in the attacks claimed to have been planned and carried out by ISIS operators. Since the initial interview with him, it has been reported that fellow employees of the band's label, Universal Music Group, Thomas Ayad and Marie Mosser, and former Universal employee Manu Perez also were victims of the attack at the Bataclan.

The foundation will accept tax deductible donations made to them through their website, thesweetstufffoundation.org, or P.O. Box 258, Palm Desert, CA 92261, through Dec. 31.

While many charity organizations sprang up in the wake of catastrophes such as 9/11 or Hurricane Sandy, information about how people can help victims of the Paris attacks has been slow in coming.

Sharyn L. Blaney, a Los Angeles small business owner, wrote that, when she heard of the attacks, “it hit home as our local band was affected. I like everyone was angry and wondered what to do.”

She said she tried to contact the band’s management, but wasn’t sure she got through.

“So many people I have spoken to, both young and old (even the residents at my mother's retirement home, the Fountains of Carlotta in Palm Desert) who have no idea of this music (actually nor do I) want to help,” she wrote. "They want to ‘do something’ as this craziness has to stop.”

Her letter got through to the Sweet Stuff Foundation and Michael Homme said they decided Monday to give people an outlet to help.

“It’s a nice thing for people who want to be helpful,” he said. “We want to be available for them.”

The Sweet Stuff Foundation is a volunteer nonprofit organization. Homme said no administrative costs will be subtracted from the donations and the board members will see if they can find matching contributions to help defray any costs or supplement donations.

Information about the foundation may be found on their website thesweetstufffoundation.org or by calling (760) 773-4777.