At Thursday’s star-studded benefit, which raised money for individuals impacted by the horrific fires in the L.A. area, more than two dozen musicians serenaded the City of Angels.
Over the course of five hours, the FireAid event took place at the nearby Kia Forum and Intuit Dome in the Inglewood neighborhood. Lady Gaga performed a performance from the 2018 movie “A Star Is Born,” along with a song she wrote specifically for the charity, to end the show.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Katy Perry, No Doubt, Earth Wind & Fire, Dr. Dre, Joni Mitchell, Alanis Morissette, Stevie Nicks, Anderson Paak, Stephen Stills, Mike Campbell, Olivia Rodrigo, and Graham Nash were among the other performers. The remaining members of Nirvana, Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic, and Pat Smear, also made an unexpected appearance, performing some of the band’s songs alongside Joan Jett, Kim Gordon, St. Vincent, and Grohl’s daughter, Violet.
At least 29 people were killed and entire homes and blocks were destroyed when the flames broke out in the second week of January, driven by strong winds and dry weather. Many who took the stage honored Los Angeles, expressing gratitude to first responders and showcasing the city’s tenacity in the wake of the disasters.
Performer Gracie Abrams, who grew up in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood—one of the locations most affected by the natural disasters—said, “I think that this is just such a beautiful reflection of what music does, is bring people together in this way.” I adore Los Angeles, and I’m simply inspired by everyone in this town.
According to the FireAid website, music tycoon Irving Azoff and his wife Shelli organized FireAid in the days following the fires, collaborating with the Los Angeles Clippers and Live Nation. Azoff, a titan of the music industry and the former CEO of Ticketmaster, told The Wrap that he and other organizers were able to secure 25 streaming partners for the performance, making it simple for people who couldn’t be in Los Angeles to watch from home.
According to the concert’s organizers, all funds will be used to support fire relief operations. The Clippers’ owner, Steve Ballmer, and his wife, Connie, promised to match all donations.
As she concluded the fundraising event, Lady Gaga remarked, “This has been a terrible, frightening time.” However, it seems like people pull together at these moments and realize how much we depend on one another. And this is how I want to always remember us.
The event featured a variety of speakers, including firefighters and those who lost their homes in the flames, in addition to the performers on the bill. Grayson Roberts, 10, of Altadena, whose family lost everything, was one of them.
With a smile, Grayson told an applauding audience, “When life gives you lemons or burnt houses, you make lemonade.”