Last night, on January 30, music lovers gathered at two of Los Angeles’s premier venues—the Kia Forum and the Intuit Dome—for FireAid, a five-hour benefit concert raising money for communities devastated by earlier wildfires. The star-studded lineup spanned genres and generations. Icons like Joni Mitchell, Stevie Nicks, Stevie Wonder and Rod Stewart shared the bill with rock legends Nirvana, Green Day and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, alongside pop sensations Lady Gaga, Olivia Rodrigo, Billie Eilish and Gracie Abrams. Artists who seamlessly cross genres—Alanis Morissette, Pink and No Doubt—rounded out the unforgettable evening.
At the Kia Forum, Pink showcased her remarkable range. She began with her own chart-topping 2017 anthem “What About Us” (co-written by Snow Patrol’s Johnny McDaid), then surprised the audience with two classic covers: Kris Kristofferson’s “Me and Bobby McGee” (made famous by Janis Joplin) and Led Zeppelin’s haunting “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You,” from their 1969 debut. With Justin Derrico channeling Jimmy Page on guitar, Pink introduced the Zeppelin tune by saying, “Tonight feels so special—I’m moved by all the love in this room… this song is one of our favorites.” When the crowd’s cheers confirmed their enthusiasm, she laughed, “Alright, thank God!” before launching into a spine-tingling rendition of the folk-song-turned-rock classic originally written by Anne Bredon and popularized by Joan Baez.
The Zeppelin homages didn’t end there. The Black Crowes teamed up with Slash for a powerful performance of “Going to California,” delivering another evening highlight for classic-rock aficionados.
Over at the Forum, the Red Hot Chili Peppers—their first live appearance together since last summer’s Olympic closing ceremony—treated fans to a tight, four-song set. Introduced by Stevie Nicks, they launched into “Dani California,” then powered through “Californication” and “Black Summer,” closing their 22-minute slot with the reflective ballad “Under the Bridge,” a beloved anthem from their Blood Sugar Sex Magik era.
Perhaps the night’s biggest surprise came when the surviving members of Nirvana—Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear—took the stage unannounced. Grohl’s daughter Violet led off their four-song reunion with “All Apologies,” capturing the audience’s hearts. Then, in a series of unexpected vocal swaps, St. Vincent took the mic for “Breed,” Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth delivered a raw take on “School,” and rock legend Joan Jett lent her fierce energy to “Territorial Pissings.”
Between heartfelt speeches and standing ovations, FireAid demonstrated the power of music to unite and heal. From soulful solos to electrifying rock collaborations, each artist lent their talent and passion to support wildfire relief. By the final encore, the crowd left not only moved by the performances, but also hopeful—knowing their contributions would help rebuild lives and communities across Los Angeles.