A family emergency has prompted Dave Matthews to drop out of the FireAid benefit concert and the 2025 MusiCares Persons of the Year Gala.
“Due to a critical illness in the family, Dave Matthews is unfortunately unable to perform at the FireAid and MusiCares benefits this week,” said a statement posted to the Dave Matthews Band Instagram on Wednesday afternoon.
The announcement comes a day before Matthews was set to perform alongside John Mayer on the Kia Forum stage for FireAid, the concert benefiting victims of the recent Southern California wildfires.
The benefit takes place on Jan. 30 at two venues — Inglewood’s Intuit Dome and the other at Kia Forum. Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, Olivia Rodrigo, Green Day, Stevie Wonder, Peso Pluma, Red Hot Chili Peppers, No Doubt, P!nk, Jelly Roll, Katy Perry, Rod Stewart and many more are also performing.
The “Crash Into Me” singer was then slated to perform at the 2025 MusiCares Persons of the Year Charity Gala honoring the Grateful Dead. The annual Grammy week event will take place on Jan. 31 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The 67th Grammy Awards take place on Feb. 2 at Crypto.com Arena.
The tribute will also include performances by Za Brown, Dead & Company, John Mayer, Dwight Yoakam, Mick Fleetwood, Sammy Hagar and more.
So far Mayer has not issued a statement about Matthews no longer performing with him at FireAid.
KTLA is the exclusive local partner for FireAid in the Los Angeles market. The event will stream live on the free KTLA+ app for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV and Samsung smart TVs, and KTLA.com starting at 7 p.m. Thursday.
It will also be available on Apple Music, DIRECTV, Max, Meta, Netflix, YouTube, iHeartRadio, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ and many other streaming services.
The event is being produced by Shelli, Irving and the Azoff family in collaboration with Live Nation and the Los Angeles Clippers. Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and his wife, Connie, will match every pledge made during the broadcast, organizers said.
Donations can be made at FIREAIDLA.ORG.
