Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish, and No Doubt lend their support to the recovery efforts following the LA wildfires.
Billie Eilish, Pink, Katy Perry, Nirvana, and Dr. Dre were among the stars who took the stage at FireAid on Thursday, a benefit concert in Los Angeles aimed at supporting recovery efforts after two of the largest wildfires in the city's history.
More than 20 artists from diverse genres performed during the five-hour event, which was held simultaneously at two major venues to raise funds for wildfire relief.
Actor Billy Crystal opened the show at the Kia Forum, dressed in the same clothes he wore while fleeing the Pacific Palisades fire earlier this month.
"You'll be hearing from many people who were tragically affected by these fires, and I was one of them," Crystal told the audience.
Having lived in the area for 46 years, Crystal spoke emotionally about the loss of his home.
Injecting humor into the moment, he quipped that he looked like someone who had just robbed a convenience store, emphasizing the importance of finding laughter even in the face of devastation.
As the show got underway at the Kia Forum, a second concert simultaneously kicked off at the Intuit Dome, with the online stream alternating between the two venues. Many of the performers hail from or have strong ties to Los Angeles.
California native Katy Perry proudly waved the state’s flag while delivering energetic performances of hits like California Gurls.
Other stars who took the stage included Orange County’s No Doubt and Dr. Dre, who energized the crowd with California Love, his iconic collaboration with the late 2Pac.
"This is a magical moment for me. I've got so much
love for you guys," Dre said. "I appreciate all the first responders and
firefighters who put their lives on the line. Today, it's all about
love."
Billie Eilish teamed up with rock legends Green Day for a powerful rendition of Last Night on Earth. Frontman Billie Joe Armstrong rallied the audience, saying, "We're still alive, this is California, and we're all in this together. From the bottom of our hearts, we love you, Los Angeles, and we got your back no matter what."
Later in the night, Eilish returned to the stage with her brother Finneas, delivering heartfelt performances of her hits Wildflower and Birds of a Feather.
Elsewhere, Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks delivered a heartfelt performance of Landslide, dedicating it to the firefighters who not only saved her home but likely protected her entire neighborhood.
"I was a full-on Pacific Palisadean woman with an old, beautiful, famous house that was almost taken from me as the fire came up the hill behind it," Nicks recalled.
She described the moment she was evacuated—calling it her "least favorite word now"—and the fear of turning back to see her home consumed by flames.
"But my house stands strong, just like [me]," she said. "And in my opinion, she saved that whole street."
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