FireAid, a benefit concert featuring a star-studded lineup that includes Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, Sting, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, aims to raise funds for wildfire relief in the Los Angeles area.
The event is set to take place on Thursday at the Intuit Dome and Kia Forum in Inglewood, California. It will be streamed across various platforms, such as YouTube, Prime Video, and Apple TV+, allowing a wide audience to participate and witness the uniting force of music for a charitable cause.
However, it is yet to be determined whether this concert will garner the same communal spirit seen in past events, as the cultural landscape has become more fragmented since the first benefit concerts originated decades ago.

Benefit concerts have evolved significantly since George Harrison’s historic “The Concert for Bangladesh,” which took place in 1971 at Madison Square Garden.
Here’s a retrospective on some of the most notable events in the history of charity concerts:

**Live Aid (1985)**
British rock musicians Bob Geldof and Midge Ure transformed their charity single “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” into an expansive initiative involving daylong concerts in both London and Philadelphia.
This momentous event featured legendary artists such as Paul McCartney, David Bowie, Queen, Madonna, U2, and Tina Turner.
The concert’s mission was to address the Ethiopian famine, ultimately raising $140 million and enhancing global awareness of the crisis in Ethiopia.
Not only did it showcase the potential of pop music to inspire activism, but it also set a precedent for numerous future events.

**Farm Aid (1985 – present)**
In a similar vein, John Mellencamp, Willie Nelson, and Neil Young adapted the Band Aid model to support small family farms across the U.S.
This initiative included performances from the organizers and music legends like Loretta Lynn and Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, evolving into an annual tradition.
The focus was on the sustainability of U.S. family farms, and over the years, the concerts have raised around $80 million to aid these farms in continuing their operations and finding markets for their produce.

**The Concert for New York City (2001)**
In a response to the devastating terrorist attacks on September 11, Paul McCartney rallied numerous celebrities such as David Bowie, Billy Joel, and Jay-Z for a concert that served both as a tribute to heroes and a memorial for victims at Madison Square Garden.
This pivotal event raised $35 million through ticket sales and merchandise, which was distributed by The Robin Hood Foundation to assist families affected by the tragedy.

**12-12-12: The Concert for Sandy Relief (2012)**
Following Hurricane Sandy’s destruction in the Northeast, a lineup including Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, and The Who came together for a concert at Madison Square Garden.
Aimed at supporting communities grappling with the aftermath of the storm, the event raised $50 million through ticket and merchandise sales, which The Robin Hood Foundation allocated to various nonprofits assisting in recovery efforts.

**One Love Manchester (2017)**
In response to a tragic suicide bombing that occurred during one of Ariana Grande’s concerts, claiming the lives of 22 individuals, Grande returned to Manchester to host a benefit show for the victims’ families.
The star-studded concert featured performances from renowned artists including Coldplay, Miley Cyrus, and Justin Bieber, culminating in remarkable global coverage and raising $24.5 million for those impacted by the attack.

This history of benefit concerts illustrates the enduring power of music not just as entertainment, but as a catalyst for social change and collective support during times of crisis.