LA wildfires: Green Day and Billie Eilish open FireAid benefit concert to raise relief funds, Lady Gaga also to perform

Pop stars, first responders, rock musicians, and wildfire survivors gathered for FireAid on Thursday night, a benefit concert to raise funds and share stories of those affected by the LA-area wildfires. The event featured performances and personal accounts of loss and recovery.
Green Day opened the show at the Kia Forum with “Last Night on Earth.” Partway through, Billie Eilish joined them as a surprise guest. The song’s lyrics included, “If I lose everything in the fire / I’m sending all my love to you.”
After Green Day’s set, frontman Billie Joe Armstrong hugged actor Billy Crystal, who welcomed the audience.
“Our goal is simple tonight, to spend more money than the Dodgers spent on free agents,” Crystal joked. He announced that U2 made the first major donation of the night, contributing $1 million.
Crystal said he evacuated in the clothes he was wearing that night. He lost his home in the Pacific Palisades, where he had lived for 46 years.

The concert took place at two locations. About an hour and a half after Green Day performed, the event began at the Intuit Dome. Presenter Samuel L Jackson, an Altadena firefighter who lost his home while trying to save others, appeared on stage along with Rod Stewart.
“Here's a new song. Not!” Stewart said before performing “Maggie May.”
Pink performed “What About Us” in a stripped-down set. Melissa Etheridge sang “Me and Bobby McGee,” and Led Zeppelin’s “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You” was also played.

Images of firefighters and wildfire damage appeared on screens behind the performers.
Between performances, survivors shared their experiences of losing their homes, either live or in recorded video messages.

At the Intuit Dome, performances will include Eilish, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Lil Baby, Olivia Rodrigo, Peso Pluma, Stevie Wonder, and Sting.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers will perform at the Kia Forum.