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U2 KICKED OFF the massive FireAid benefit concert that is raising money for Los Angeles-area wildfire relief efforts by giving the first big donation of the night – $1 million (€960,000).
While U2 were not among the musical acts that are performing, they wowed the audience with the donation.
Comedian and actor Billy Crystal, who hosted the event, noted that U2’s million-dollar pledge is worth twice that amount because Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and his wife Connie have pledged to match all donations made during the live broadcast.
FireAid was a two-venue concert extravaganza that happened in LA last night and was held at the Intuit Dome and Kia Forum, which are less than two miles apart.
Green Day got the massive benefit concert underway last night at the Kia Forum with their song Last Night on Earth at the Kia Forum.
The band were soon joined on stage by Billie Eilish for the first surprise of the night.
Billie Eilish joined Green Day at FireAid to perform "Last Night on Earth." pic.twitter.com/lmvo9MJAhT
— CONSEQUENCE (@consequence) January 31, 2025
The lyrics to this song that kickstarted the concert are surprisingly astute: “If I lose everything in the fire / I’m sending all my love to you.”
After their first song, Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong told the crowd that “we’re all in this together”.
And after their set, Armstrong hugged host Billy Crystal, who was there to welcome the crowd at the Kia Forum.
“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 neighbourhood where he had lived for 46 years.
The surviving members of Nirvana also made a surprise reunion.
It wasn’t part of the official billing at the Kia Forum and Dave Grohl’s 18-year-old daughter, Violet Grohl, wrapped up their set with a rendition of ‘All Apologies’.
Dave Grohl's daughter Violet sings lead, as Kim Gordon plays bass with the surviving members of Nirvana to perform "All Apologies" at the FireAid benefit concert in Los Angeles pic.twitter.com/PdQOhFAAcg
— B-Sides (@BSidesTV) January 31, 2025
The first true-blue Los Angeles moment came from a surprise performance by Dr Dre.
He performed Still D.R.E. with Anderson .Paak and Sheila E, before pivoting to Tupac and Dre’s classic hit California Love.
Dr Dre takes the stage with Anderson .Paak at #FireAidLA pic.twitter.com/fiVe8lHHWY
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) January 31, 2025
It was followed by the figurehead of Laurel Canyon folk, a moving set of Both Sides Now by Joni Mitchell.
An hour and a half after Green Day, the show launched at the nearby Intuit Dome with presenter Samuel L Jackson, an Altadena firefighter 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.
Other performers include Katie Perry, Olivia Rodrigo, Steve Wonder, Alanis Morissette, Joni Mithcell, Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Stevie Nicks.
Gwen Stefani’s No Doubt also reunited for the benefit concert.
No Doubt reunites and performs "Just A Girl" for the FireAid benefit concert in LA pic.twitter.com/cw0YC5JISX
— B-Sides (@BSidesTV) January 31, 2025
Former vice president and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris was among those in attendance with her husband, Doug Emhoff.
In a post on X, Harris said that “Angelenos will continue to stand together to support those impacted by the wildfires and show gratitude for the first responders who help keep our communities safe”.
Thank you to the artists who gathered tonight in Los Angeles for the FireAid Concert. Angelenos will continue to stand together to support those impacted by the wildfires and show gratitude for the first responders who help keep our communities safe.https://t.co/AeAfLU0IgX https://t.co/KYf7GV7eNh
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) January 31, 2025
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.
The Williams family – four daughters and their mother – took the stage and discussed losing four homes in Altadena, California.
They then introduced the folk-rock band Dawes, who were also 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.
The Los Angeles resident and his daughter wore black T-shirts with First Responders written across their chests.
“I hope some of the firefighters who are able to attend can come and decompress a little,” Jones said.
“They needed it. I’m supportive of what they have done for this city.”
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Any chance ,U2 could donate a million to our homeless crisis too?
@John Mcmahon: Yeah so even more people can claim homelessness to try get a leg up on waiting lists
@John Mcmahon: To be fair, U2 donated €10 million to purchase PPE for our frontline health care workers during Covid.
@honey badger: Defective crap from CHI…na
@John Mcmahon: Why? We’re loaded.
@John Mcmahon: I’m surprised you didn’t come in with the ‘pay your taxes here’..comment that usually comes after any story related to u2.
@Allo Allo: yeah that’s what they are doing right enough,you must think being homeless is a choice,all dole spongers I suppose,you haven’t a clue
@John Mcmahon:
Why?
@John Paul: U can’t ask U2 to pay taxes here
While our beloved J.P doesnt either.
But at least he contributes to worthy charities and causes
@John Mcmahon: Why didn’t you? Also, they donated €10 million to COVID relief. Show us on the doll where they hurt you.
@sean weir: not all but plenty
@Philip Gerard (Philip Gerard): no one hurt me But continue on with the therapy
Its doing wonders
Gaza, Bono………
@Machine Learning IRE: “Ireland has provided a total of €56 million in support for the Palestinian people since the beginning of 2023. Of this, €40 million has been provided in humanitarian assistance in response to the suffering caused by the conflict in Gaza since last October.”
@honey badger: what’s the relevance of that comment to Bono?
@honey badger: what’s that do do with bono! Makes no sense that reply
@marklars81: It has no relevance to Bono, but as machine learning appeared concerned as to financial support being donated to Gaza, I hoped they might take some consolation from the actions of their country instead!
I hope these funds will help the affected house owners servants getting their salaries.
@Kunibert Ritter: The Edge is still trying for planning permission there for 5 mansions…. currying favour s’all
@Temp Stuff: and massive employment and security for the lads building them.
@paulie: If they don’t all get deported.
Maybe a trip to the west of Ireland might tempt them to put their hand in the pocket again ?
How many of the Irish homeless are actually Irish? Anyone know?
@Dan Murphy: maybe go out and count them all Dan. See how you get on. Let us all know.
@Dan Murphy:
I do hope you keep posting on the journal Dan, the 99.4% of people who didn’t vote for the hard right in (very) recent need someone to laugh at.
@P. J.: Still crying over Trump then, Ha ha ha.
@Dan Murphy: so if you are polish and working here the last 15/20 years paying taxes you should be treated differently????
@Brian Dunne:
Done a quick search, nealy half.
Irish
Nationally, July homelessness figures show of the 10,028 adults in emergency accommodation 5,386 (54 per cent) were Irish; 2,228 (22 per cent) were EEA/UK nationals; and 2,414 (24 per cent) were non-EEA.24 Sept 2024
@Dan Murphy:
Last time I checked, this isn’t America.
@sean weir: How many Polish working here for twenty years are homeless? I’d guess zero
@P. J.:
Lucky for you.
@Dan Murphy: Great to see the Irish topping the charts there. Others, coming over here, taking our homeless stats …
How about some generators for the west of Ireland?
@Dan Murphy: that link is from 2022 ya spanner
@John Darker:
You don’t get the point, they can send hundreds to Ukraine, and they give us seventeen
https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41563144.html
What a Donbas. See what i did there
@Dan Murphy:
If you divide 900 into 44 million (population of Ukraine at that time) you get about 1 per 50,000.
Multiply that by 17 and you get 850k which would be very close to the population of the west of Ireland.
Despite the jealous naysayers, Bono has always given back and helped those who are in need. He’s spoken out for those affected by real humanitarian crises (not the fake one in Gaza like a lot of trolls demand) and he wouldn’t be so successful if he didn’t produce good music for people to buy. To go from being a poor kid in Finglas who lost his mother when he was 14 to being worth $750 million is nothing short of phenomenal and inspiring. It was because of his lobbying that George Bush Jr passed PEPFAR which saved 25 million people and provided them with medication for AIDS. His charity ONE Campaign has provided electricity to over 25 million rural homes in Africa and Southeast Asia. He’s one of the best men to ever come out of Ireland and I’m proud to say that I’m from the same country.
@William Jennings: He’s not from Finglas.
@Barry Scott: He actually is from there. The road which Bono grew up on intersects both Finglas and Ballymun. Bono happened to live in a house on the part of the road that’s in Finglas. He has said so himself in multiple interviews.
@William Jennings: I agree with everything you say…… but the “fake humanitarian crisis” in Gaza ?????? So there’s no humanitarian crisis in Gaza? It’s all a big lie?
Storm Éowyn?
Bono. very quiet on gaza cause. But gives to the rich in LA. . ????
So they donated in lieu of playing the concert. That‘s quite different to what some here are ‘debating’.
@Jack Hayes: They’re in Las Vegas at moment, so I guess they could have made an appearance. I don’t get why they get so much flak from us over here. I get that why people can take digs at them over the years for things they’ve done or not done, but seems almost too personal for some.
I remember them playing at Band Aid, playing at Live Aid etc, and those are now 40 years in the past. Have been one of the biggest bands for decades.
Just seems to me to a net positive in what they’ve achieved and done.
Of course they do, nothing on Palestine, silence, crickets. F u2.
have your say