As fires ravage the Los Angeles area, causing unprecedented human and material losses, Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee expressed his anger at musicians who continue to promote their albums and tours on social media.
A call for solidarity in the face of disaster
In an Instagram post published on January 13, Tommy Lee did not mince his words: “It’s sickening to see the majority of people continue to post on social media as if nothing happened! Right now, no one gives a shit about when your album comes out or what the next show is, when so many people are experiencing one of the worst disasters of all time.”
He continued: “I understand the need for entertainment, but what the hell, leave that aside and look at who you can help.”
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Human and material losses
Since the start of the fires on January 7, the damage caused by the flames has been disastrous:
- 24 dead
- More than 12,000 structures destroyed
- More than 100,000 forced evacuations
- A burned area of more than 160 km² (larger than Paris).
Musicians were directly affected by this disaster. Among them:
- Adrian Smith d’Iron Maiden
- Larry “Ler” LaLonde from Primus
- Josh Gilbert de Spiritbox
Others, like Brad Wilk of Rage Against The Machine or Scott Ian of Anthrax, had to urgently evacuate their homes.
Support from the music industry
Faced with the scale of the tragedy, initiatives have been put in place:
- The Recording Academy and MusiCares announced a $1 million donation to support music professionals affected by the fires.
- Guitar Center has launched a program to replace destroyed instruments.
- Organizations like the NAMM Foundation and the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund offer immediate financial assistance to musicians in need.
A review shared by other artists
Tommy Lee’s reaction echoes that of David Draiman, of the group Disturbed, who condemned Internet users rejoicing at the victims’ misfortune on Instagram: “Nothing justifies taking pleasure in the face of destruction. Nothing. These people are trash.”
Post by Tommy Lee:
Belgium
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