A remarkable evening of music and heartfelt storytelling took place at the FireAid Benefit Concert, held at the Kia Forum and Intuit Dome, to aid victims of the devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area. This event combined powerful performances with touching personal stories from survivors, first responders, and celebrities who had experienced the tragedy firsthand.
Nirvana Reunion: All Apologies #fireaid pic.twitter.com/jj1XKh24J8
— Steve Derico (@stevederico) January 31, 2025
One of the standout moments of the night was the partial Nirvana reunion, which saw St. Vincent, Kim Gordon, and Joan Jett stepping in for Kurt Cobain, delivering unforgettable renditions of "Breed," "School," and "Territorial Pissings." Dave Grohl’s daughter, Violet Grohl, also graced the stage with a moving performance of "All Apologies."
St. Vincent on lead with the Pat, Krist and Dave from Nirvana performing "Breed" at the FireAid benefit concert in Los Angeles pic.twitter.com/qBMQBJQfVY
— B-Sides (@BSidesTV) January 31, 2025
Violet Grohl joins Dave Grohl, Pat Smear, and Krist Novoselic on stage for All Apologies at #Fireaid. Please donate for the victims of the California wildfires. Awesome show! https://t.co/aqVMW1P4jG #Forum #Nirvana #FooFighters #CalAid #LAFires #PalisadesFire #EatonFire pic.twitter.com/16pGBaI94T
— Mark DuPuis (@Markd3211) January 31, 2025
Green Day and Billie Eilish Deliver an Emotional Performance
Billie Eilish joined them for a deeply emotional performance, and after the set, Green Day's frontman Billie Joe Armstrong embraced actor Billy Crystal, who shared his personal loss of a 46-year-old home in Pacific Palisades. Crystal lightened the mood by revealing that U2 had donated USD 1 million to FireAid.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers brought high-energy performances to the stage, with Flea doing a handstand before playing "Dani California," "Californication," and "Under the Bridge." Dr. Dre surprised the crowd with an appearance, performing "Still D.R.E." with Anderson Paak and Sheila E., followed by "California Love." Iconic musician Joni Mitchell moved the audience with a poignant rendition of "Both Sides Now."
A Star-Studded Evening at Intuit Dome
The second half of the show at the Intuit Dome was introduced by Samuel L. Jackson and an Altadena firefighter who had lost his home in the wildfires. Rod Stewart opened with "Maggie May," followed by Pink’s stripped-down performances of "What About Us" and "Babe I’m Gonna Leave You." Stevie Nicks enchanted the audience with "Edge of Seventeen" and "Landslide," sharing a personal story of how she narrowly avoided losing her home.
The concert also featured performances by No Doubt, Katy Perry, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Lil Baby. The Williams family, who lost four homes in the fires, introduced the folk-rock band Dawes, whose members had also suffered losses. The band performed "For What It’s Worth" alongside Stephen Stills and Mike Campbell.
FireAid’s Impact and How Donations Helped Victims
The event was streamed live across various platforms, with donations accepted via FireAidLA.org.