LA Fire Aid: All the heart-wrenching speeches from the celebrities who performed

The LA Fire Aid concert may have been the most iconic night for music since Live Aid back in 1985. A-listers from all generations were present and performing for the benefit of their home city. Before they got to tearing up the stage, a lot of them made emotional speeches explaining how much they loved their city and some of them were more devastating than most. Here’s a roundup of all the heart-wrenching speeches from the celebrities who performed at LA Fire Aid. Don’t forget your tissues!

Green Day

Green Day kicked off the show which started at 10pm E.T. last night. To the audience, they said “We’re still alive, this is California, and we’re all in this together. From the bottom of our hearts, we love you Los Angeles, and we got your back no matter what,” just before they went into their song Still Breathing. A wow moment for sure.

Billy Crystal

If you remember correctly, Billy Crystal actually lost his home in the fires, and he came on stage wearing the same clothes he was wearing when he found his home destroyed. He said they were all he wore for a week straight.

“You’ll be hearing from a number of people who were tragically affected by these fires, and I was one of them,” he said. “Even in your worst pain, it’s OK to laugh.”

Alanis Morissette

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Next to the stage was queen Alanis Morissette, who said: “The connections that have been born from this tragedy [are] deeply heartwarming. And L.A. is a colourful, wild place. And when things get hard, we come together really hard. And I feel it.” She also rocked a glittery I heart LA shirt.

Pink

Pink was wearing all black when she began her set with What About Us.

“If you’re hurting, I’m hurting with you. My heart is with you,” Pink said, speaking openly to the crowd. “I’m going to keep my feet on the ground tonight. And I’m going to sing a couple of songs that bring me comfort. And I hope that they do the same for you all.”

John Mayer

John Mayer was supposed to be performing a duet with Dave Matthews, but Dave had to drop out due to a family emergency. “For those whose dreams are broken, for those whose dreams have not, we will get together tonight and many other nights to make sure those dreams are repaired,” John said before launching into an acoustic set.

Gracie Abrams

Gracie grew up in the Pacific Palisades, which was one of the areas affected by the wildfires.

“I just want to say I grew up in the Palisades and my heart is with all of my neighbours and everyone in Altadena,” she said after performing I Love You, I’m Sorry. She also thanked first responders.

“I think that this is just such a beautiful reflection of what music does, is bring people together in this way,” she said. “And I’m just inspired by all of you in this community, and I love Los Angeles very much.”

Gracie then sang A Long December by Counting Crows, which is a song she called her “love letter to L.A.”

Tate McRae

Tate McRae shared with the crowd that since she moved to Los Angeles over four years ago with a “dream to become a musician,” she feels “so lucky and blessed to now call it my home.”

“It’s been a really devastating start of the year, but … how much we’ve come together has been a pretty magical thing to watch. I’m so grateful to be a part of this and for every single person who showed up tonight and every artist who performed. So thank you,” she gushed.

Stevie Nicks

Stevie Nicks had a particularly heartwarming tribute to share about the firefighters who saved her home from destruction.

“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 favourite word now — to another safe place, that when I turned around and looked my house would be up in flames,” Nicks recounted.

But, according to her, the house “stands strong, just like her mom. And in my opinion, she saved that whole street.”

She then dedicated Landslide to them.

Katy Perry

Katy was in love with the crowd at the concert. “Can we keep this energy going forever?” She said before going into California Gurls. “This is what makes us human. This is what separates us from the robots. This is humanity, this is love, this is kindness. I have been so inspired by how quickly our community organized to help our neighbours in need. It really reminds me that the people have the power.”

Red Hot Chilli Peppers

The Red Hot Chilli Peppers, who formed in LA in the 1980s, said: “Los Angeles is our home, we f—–g love you.”

Olivia Rodrigo

Olivia Rodrigo, who was introduced to the stage by Miles Teller, said: “It has been so heartbreaking to witness all of this devastation in this incredible city. I love L.A. so much. I’ve lived here my whole life. I love everybody who lives in L.A., you guys are amazing. I find this place so beautiful and so inspiring.”

She then sang deja vu which she said was written about LA.

Billie Eilish

Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas, came out onto the stage with an emotional tribute. “It’s a really, really scary time, and it’s been so devastating. L.A. is like my favourite place in the world and my only home,” Eilish said, also mentioning that she and Finneas grew up in the city.

Stevie Wonder

I can’t believe Stevie Wonder was there. “We have no time for blaming. We have no time for shaming,” he said. “We need to have prayer and come together as a united people of the world.”

Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga was the last performer and closed the show.

“This has been a horrible scary time. But during these times, I feel like people come together and we see how much we need each other,” Lady Gaga said.

Featured image via @fireaidla.

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