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DAVE Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear turned back the clock as they reformed Nirvana for FireAid in Los Angeles.
The band — which split in 1994 after the death of lead singer Kurt Cobain — united with St Vincent, Kim Gordon, Joan Jett and Dave’s daughter Violet to play a repeat of the four-song set from their 2014 Rock And Roll Hall of Fame induction.
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And it was hauntingly brilliant.
St Vincent, pictured right with the band, wowed fans with her stunning vocals on Breed at the packed out Intuit Dome in Los Angeles to raise money for the relief effort after the Californian wild fires.
Simultaneously, another show took place at the Kia Forum, with acts including Billie Eilish, Dr Dre, Pink, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sting and Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks on the star billings.
Olivia Rodrigo, Joni Mitchell, Slash, Katy Perry and Gwen Stefani's band No Doubt also performed sets at Thursday’s concerts, which have so far raised over £50million.
READ MORE ON LA WILDFIRES
Meanwhile, Lady Gaga put on a show to remember, debuting her new song, All I Need Is Time.
We caught up with Sir Rod Stewart backstage at the Intuit Dome, where he told us he was among the first to respond to calls from music boss Irving Azoff, who organised the massive fundraisers.
“I wish I was here under better circumstances,” Rod said.
“It’s the greatest privilege ever. I am lost for words.”
Sir Rod was over in the Caribbean celebrating his 80th birthday when the blazes engulfed so much of LA.
Penny Lancaster, who joined her megastar husband backstage, told us: “We were very fortunate to be together. To have all the kids around us, thinking about how many families were displaced and their memories from the past lost . . .
Olivia Rodrigo praised for her ‘iconic’ FireAid performance - but fans all have the same complaint
“Rod was the first to offer up his voice and everyone is here and hopefully that will bring everyone out in droves to give money to this important cause.”
Rod added: “It was important to be the first one on board. And I have come all the way from London.
“I don’t know what we are trying to raise, but I am hoping for a world record maybe in one night.”
Recalling the moment he heard about the fires, Rod said: “Everyone was calling me up, saying, ‘Is your house OK?’.”
Penny added: “We keep hearing about friends who were given five minutes to evacuate. What do you grab in five minutes?”
Ever the gent, Rod also helped out members of his team who lost belongings in the fires — including someone who worked with him on his autobiography.
Recalling his conversation with the man, Rod said: “He lost absolutely everything.
“He told me, ‘Rod, the most important thing I lost was two suits and my tuxedos’. I said, ‘Go and get yourself measured up, I’ll replace them’.”
Never, ever change, Rod.
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Rod gets his gong out
SIR ROD showed off some impressive bling as he arrived with wife Penny Lancaster and proudly wore his knighthood pendant around his neck.
The Maggie May singer was given the honour in 2016 for his services to charity and music.
Rod was knighted by Prince William and said afterwards: “We talked about music and he said: ‘It’s great that you’re still going’, and I said: ‘I have to – I’ve got eight children.’”
No rest for the wicked, eh, Rod?
Billy's house battle
BILLY CRYSTAL recalled losing his home in the fires as he opened the event at the Kia Forum.
He told the crowd: “These are the clothes I wore when I fled my house with my wife Janice on January 7.”
Recalling how he fell to his knees and sobbed when he returned to the place his home once stood, Billy said: “We’ll laugh again. Let’s show the world who we are: We’re Los Angeles, one city, one heart. L.A. Strong.”
Generous Bono and his U2 bandmates kicked off the donations by handing over $1million (£800,000) to the relief effort before the concerts started.
Album set in Stones
I REVEALED yesterday that the Rolling Stones had shelved plans for a huge European and UK tour this summer.
But while it’s rubbish news for us fans who wanted to see Sir Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood playing live – it does mean they have time to get working on another album.
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And former Stones guitarist Bill Wyman has admitted he’s already recorded a song for the record, which would be the follow up to their last No1 album Hackney Diamonds.
Bill said: “I did another track, I don’t know the title of it.
“But I played on another track, and I said, ‘What’s happening with that?’ They said, ‘We’re going to save it for the next album.’ It was a more bluesy track, more relaxed, more open.
“I just put what I thought was a pretty decent bass on it, because they didn’t have bass on it.
“It was more open, the kind of thing I prefer.”
Bill’s tune on Hackney Diamonds, Live By The Sword, also featured drumming by The Stones’s late bandmate Charlie Watts.
Bill added: “It was a pleasure to do it and it was lovely to do it with Charlie, who was my best friend.”
Insiders close to the band told me they hope to hit the road on our shores next year, if promoters can get the right deal done.
Here’s hoping they pull their fingers out.
KSI's £20million payday
KSI has got so many strings to his bow, he’s giving Robin Hood a run for his money.
But it turns out being a YouTuber, rapper, boxer, entrepreneur and BGT judge certainly pays off.
I’ve learned KSI earned £121,000 a week last year, taking assets to £20.8million after a knockout 2024.
KSI, who is due back in the boxing ring in March, also enjoys ten billion views over his three YouTube channels.
Later this year, he will stand in as a guest judge during the auditions for BGT.
Judging by these figures, he doesn’t need the cash.
Yung love is in the air for Anais
ANAIS GALLAGHER was in good company as singer Yungblud helped celebrate her birthday.
Yungblud, real name Dominic Harrison, was seen walking with Anais in my exclusive picture – which showed them heading home in Primrose Hill, London.
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Anais, who is dating Callum Scott Howells, was in high spirits at the intimate dinner party for family and friends.
Given her dad is no-nonsense Oasis rocker Noel Gallagher, I’m sure everyone was on their best behaviour.
In my experience Dominic is one of the most charming blokes around – so I’m sure he’d have Noel eating out of his hand.
English (US) ·