Iconic Stars Including Nirvana, Stills & Nash and More Rock the Stage During FireAid Concert for California Wildfire Relief

The FireAid benefit concert in Los Angeles, which featured star musicians including including Rod Stewart, Joni Mitchell, Stevie Nicks, Sheila E, Dave Grohl, Stevie Wonder and Sting, wasn’t just a show; it was a way to build community during this difficult time in the wake of the California wildfires. Over two dozen artists from different genres came together for over five hours at the Kia Forum and Intuit Dome to raise money for those devastated by the fires. While all of the performances were beautiful, some were especially surprising and nostalgic.
The night began with Green Day, joking that they were reminding fans that they were still alive. Not long after, Sheila E. took the stage, joined by Anderson .Paak. Sheila E, known for working with and dating Prince in the ’80s, showcased a purple cross on her drums as a tribute to the late singer.

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81-year-old Joni Mitchell soon came out, performing her 1969 hit song “Both Sides Now,” sounding ethereal while holding a golden microphone. In between performances, firefighters and families affected by the wildfires came out to share their stories and urge people to donate to help repair what has been damaged and lost. It was a harsh reminder of what the event was truly about.
Stephen Stills and Graham Nash shared a reunion on stage to perform “Teach Your Children” alongside the band Dawes. Rod Stewart, who lived in the Los Angeles area for over 50 years, sang classics “Forever Young,” “Maggie May” and “People Get Ready.” Next, Earth, Wind & Fire rocked out to some of their best hits, including “That’s the Way of the World,” “Shining Star” and, of course, “September.”

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In another fun surprise, Black Crowes lead singer Christopher Robinson brought out Slash, the guitarist from Guns N’ Roses, to do a rendition of “Going to California” after performing “Have You Ever Seen the Rain?” with John Fogerty.
An additional shock of the evening was the reunion of No Doubt. The crowd went wild when Gwen Stefani came out to sing “Just a Girl,” as well as “Don’t Speak” and “Spiderwebs.”

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Stevie Nicks wowed the crowd with one of her most famous songs, “Landslide,” and dedicated her performance to the firefighters who saved her home. She said, “Knowing that 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 my house, and I was pretty sure, as they whisked me away and evacuated me — my least favorite word now — to another safe place, that when I turned around and looked my house would be up in flames.” She added that the house “stands strong, just like her mom. And in my opinion, she saved that whole street.”

Scott Dudelson/Getty Images for FIREAID
However, one of the night’s biggest surprises came when Nirvana members Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear took the stage and played several of the band’s best-known songs, joined by a rotating lineup of guest vocalists to replace deceased vocalist Kurt Cobain, including Joan Jett, Kim Gordon and even Grohl’s daughter, Violet.

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As the performances rallied on, Sting, Stevie Wonder and Lady Gaga were a few of the last to perform. Sting and Wonder performed a lovely duet of “Higher Ground.” Lady Gaga sang several songs from her 2018 film A Star Is Born, as well as an original number she wrote just for the night.
Watch the entire show and learn how you can donate below:

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February 2024
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