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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Entertainment
Ekin Karasin

Rod Stewart, Katy Perry and Lady Gaga lead stars performing at FireAid benefit concert after LA fires

Rod Stewart, Katy Perry and Lady Gaga were just some of the famous faces who performed at FireAid on Thursday, a benefit concert raising money for those affected by the devastating Los Angeles wildfires.

The wildfires began on January 7 and spread rapidly, killing at least 28 people and destroying more than 10,000 homes.

A host of pop singers, rock stars and legendary musicians - some of whom lost their homes in the southern California fires - descended on the Kia Forum and Intuit Dome to play their biggest hits to the crowd.

The likes of Jelly Roll, Lil Baby, Olivia Rodrigo, Peso Pluma, Stevie Wonder, Sting and Tate McRae performed at the Intuit Dome, while The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Stevie Nicks took centre-stage at the Kia Forum.

Irish rock band U2 offered the first big donation of the night of $1 million dollars.

Green Day kicked off the massive show by launching into Last Night on Earth at the Kia Forum and were soon joined by Billie Eilish for the first surprise of the night.

After their set, Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong hugged Billy Crystal, who was there to welcome to the crowd at the Kia Forum.

Katy Perry was among the stars performing at the FireAid benefit concert in Inglewood, California (Getty Images for FIREAID)
Rod Stewart looked emotional as he performed to the crowds (Getty Images for FIREAID)
Lady Gaga (AFP via Getty Images)
Green Day kicked off the show with Billie Eilish (Getty Images for FIREAID)

"Our goal is simple tonight, to spend more money than the Dodgers spent on free agents," he joked.

Crystal said he was wearing the clothes he had on when he evacuated. He lost his home in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood that he lived in for 46 years.

The first true-blue Los Angeles moment came from a surprise performance by Dr. Dre.

The progenitor of West Coast hip-hop tackled Still D.R.E. with Anderson .Paak and Sheila E. before pivoting to Tupac and Dre's classic California Love.

It was followed by the figurehead of Laurel Canyon folk, a moving set of Both Sides Now by Joni Mitchell.

Later in the night, the recently reunited, Orange Country ska punk legends No Doubt launched into I'm Just a Girl, Don't Speak and Spiderwebs, led by frontwoman Gwen Stefani.

Gwen Stefani took to the stage with her band No Doubt (Getty Images for FIREAID)
Billy Crystal wore the clothes he had on when he evacuated the home he lost in the fires (Getty Images for FIREAID)
Pink put on a passionate performance with Justin Derrico (Getty Images for FIREAID)

An hour and a half after Green Day, the show launched at the nearby Intuit Dome with presenter Samuel L. Jackson, an Altadena fire fighter who lost his home while fighting to save others, and Rod Stewart.

"Here's a new song. Not!" joked Stewart before launching into Maggie May.

Pink did a stripped-down version of What About Us, Melissa Etheridge's Me and Bobby McGee and Led Zeppelin's Babe I'm Gonna Leave You.

Iconic funk band Earth, Wind & Fire did a medley of their biggest hits: That's the Way of the World, Shining Star and September. The Black Crowes backed up John Fogerty for Have You Ever Seen the Rain?

Then the band was joined by Slash.

Iconic funk band Earth, Wind and Fire played their greatest hits (Getty Images for FIREAID)
Sting made an appearance later in the night (Getty Images for FIREAID)

Gen Z favorite Gracie Abrams was backed by The National's Aaron Dessner - a moment where the screams of women in the audience overpowered the men.

Behind the performers, images of firefighters and the devastation brought forth by the fires appeared on screen.

Between sets, survivors telling the stories of losing their homes were broadcast throughout the arena - both in person and in video packages.

A family who lost their home introduced folk rock band Dawes, who were directly affected by the Eaton fire.

Dawes' Taylor Goldsmith lost a portion of the Altadena house he shares with actor-singer Mandy Moore, and his home recording studio and instruments were destroyed.

Goldsmith's brother and bandmate, Griffin Goldsmith, and his pregnant wife also lost their home in the fire.

They were joined by Stephen Stills and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' Mike Campbell for Buffalo Springfield's For What It's Worth, one of Stills' groups. It made for a perfect transition for Graham Nash, who described his Crosby, Stills & Nash collaborator as his "partner of many years.

Those not in attendance can watch the live feed and contribute donations via FireAidLA.org.

Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and his wife Connie will match all donations made during the live broadcast, doubling the proceeds.

Crystal noted that because of their pledge, U2's million dollar donation was worth twice that amount.All of the proceeds will go to those affected.

A 501(c)(3) was set up, and contributions to FireAid will be distributed under the Annenberg Foundation, which with FireAid has assembled a small committee to advise.

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