Dr. Dre made a surprise appearance Jan. 30 at the FireAid benefit concert at the Kia Forum, sharing the stage for a couple of songs with Anderson. Paak. The benefit concerts at the Kia Forum and Intuit Dome, plus money raised at events leading up to the Grammys generated $125 million for fire victims.
Courtesy photo
Wave Wire Services
LOS ANGELES — The Grammy Awards and the FireAid benefit concerts Feb. 6 raised close to $125 million for those affected by the recent wildfires, organizers have announced.
The FireAid concerts, held at the Intuit Dome and Kia Forum in Inglewood, featured a diverse lineup, including Katy Perry, No Doubt, Earth, Wind & Fire, Dr. Dre, Joni Mitchell, Alanis Morissette, Stevie Nicks, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash, Mike Campbell, Olivia Rodrigo, and a de facto Nirvana reunion featuring Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear playing a selection of the band’s songs while St. Vincent, Kim Gordon and Joan Jett took turns on lead vocals.
The event’s organizers said the concerts raised $100 million from an estimated 50 million viewers tuning in across 28 streaming platforms. The total includes matching donations from the venues’ owner, Steve Ballmer, and his family, along with donations from music industry mogul Irving Azoff and his wife, Shelli, rockers U2, the Eagles and others.
“The FireAid Grants Advisory Committee, composed of longtime L.A.-region philanthropic leaders with deep relationships in the non-profit community, have been working to identify key areas of need, for maximum impact,” FireAid organizers said in a statement.
“Led by the Annenberg Foundation, the committee has been listening daily to affected communities, assessing local resource gaps to ensure aid reaches those most in need, and researching the handling of other fire disasters, such as those in Maui and Northern California. The first phase of grants are expected to be awarded by mid-February.”
Lady Gaga brought the night to a powerful close early Jan. 31 at the Intuit Dome, performing songs from the 2018 film “A Star Is Born” along with an original piece she wrote specifically for the cause.
Green Day opened the night with an electrifying performance of “Last Night on Earth” at the Kia Forum, setting the tone for show. The first surprise of the evening came when Billie Eilish joined them on stage, delivering a poignant duet. The song’s lyrics — “If I lose everything in the fire / I’m sending all my love to you” — resonated with the night’s cause.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers, long synonymous with Southern California’s music scene, delivered a high-energy performance. Bassist Flea, known for his eccentric stage presence, kicked off the set with a handstand while wearing only a Speedo before the band launched into a trio of their California-inspired
hits: “Dani California,” “Californication” and “Under the Bridge.”
The concert also featured a surprise appearance by Dr. Dre, a pioneer of West Coast hip-hop. Joined by Anderson .Paak and Sheila E., he delivered a powerful performance of “Still D.R.E.” before transitioning into the iconic “California Love,” his classic collaboration with Tupac Shakur.
Actor Billy Crystal, who lost his home of 46 years in the Pacific Palisades fires, took the stage at the Kia Forum to welcome the crowd. He announced that U2 had kicked off the night’s donations with a $1 million contribution.
Beyond the star-studded performances, the event also featured heartfelt moments from speakers, including firefighters and residents who lost their homes in the fires.
The Grammys, meanwhile, and affiliated events raised a combined $24 million toward fire relief, with $9 million coming from Grammy night and $15 million from MusiCares events during Grammy week, including its annual MusiCares Persons of the Year gala honoring the Grateful Dead, and other events during Grammy week, the Recording Academy announced on X, formerly Twitter, Feb. 4.
Fire relief was the theme of the Grammys telecast Feb. 2. Scenes of devastation were broadcast along with information on how to donate, and local firefighters presented the Album of the Year award to Beyoncé. The event opened with a performance of “I Love L.A.” by L.A. rock band Dawes, whose members lost homes and studios in the Eaton Fire.
