Rock stars hold concert for ‘Yolanda’ areas rehab

Apl.de.Ap and other performers rocked Club Nokia in LA for Yolanda rehabilitation. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

LOS ANGELES—A one-night concert on Saturday at Club Nokia, featuring Linkin Park, The Offspring, Travis Barker, Ann & Nancy Wilson of Heart and Bad Religion, raised funds for survivors of Super Typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan).

Music For Relief, the international grass roots organization of musicians, music industry professionals to promote “global change” sponsored Concert for the Philippines. Music for Relief was founded by Linkin Park following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. It has raised more than $5 million since its start.

“Sing-Off” sensation The Filharmonic opened the show with a stirring a capella rendition of the Philippine National Anthem.

Apl.de.ap of the Black Eyed Peas narrated the opening video montage, which showed the

devastation of Typhoon Haiyan.  KROQ personality Ted Stryker, who served as the official host of the evening, called Apl on stage to talk about his involvement with the initial disaster relief efforts and what the concert meant to him, personally.

“Tonight means so much to me, as a Filipino, and to the many people in my country who will benefit from the proceeds raised through Music For Relief,” said Apl to the estimated 350 in attendance.

“I was there in Tacloban a week after the typhoon hit and there was nothing but rubble.  So on behalf of my countrymen, I just want to thank all the performers and the fans and the audience, who donated their time and money to this cause.”

Bad Religion opened the evening’s show with a series of their hits. Whitney Showler, executive director of Music For Relief, then took to the stage and said, “We’re here to remind the world of the challenges faced by families impacted by Typhoon Haiyan and that their struggles will last for years.”

Margaret Aguirre, executive director of the International Medical Corps, the recipient of the proceeds of the evening’s concert, echoed Showler:  “We are the first-responders when people are in crisis,” she explained.

“We have treated thousands of patients in some of the hardest hit areas of the Philippines and we also training local nurses to carry on our mission, helping those to help themselves.  No donation is ever too small.”

Ann & Nancy Wilson of Heart took the stage as did Travis Barker of Blink-182 fame.  The concert concluded with a rousing set by Linkin Park. A total of $350,000 was raised by Music For Relief and it’s peripheral fundraising programs.

For more information about Music For Relief and International Medical Corps, visit www.musicforrelief.org and www.internationalmedicalcorps.org.