Rage Against The Machine drummer escapes LA wildfires with his family, pets and his OG Van Halen T-shirt
Rage Against The Machine’s Brad Wilk is among a number of musicians who have evacuated from their homes in Los Angeles amid ongoing wildfires, but it’s heartening that even among the tragedy people are still finding ways to try to bring levity – in his case courtesy of a vintage Van Halen shirt.
READ MORE: “I knew this day would come eventually but just not today”: Joe Bonamassa’s huge vintage guitar collection under threat from LA wildfires
Wilk is one of thousands of Los Angeles residents who have been ordered to evacuate, with at least 10 lives lost due to the tragedy, and many homes continuing to be destroyed. The fires are described as the “most destructive” in the history of LA.
In a post on Instagram, Wilk shares a photograph taken from a car, with a smokey red sky hanging above. “Thanks to everyone reaching out,” he says in the caption. “We are good, but had to evacuate last night. Hosed down the house and grabbed the humans and animals and split.”
But in a wry postscript, Wilk adds, “Oh, I did grab one thing from the house… this [Van Halen] women and children first o.g. tee… very apropos. Everybody please be careful and stay safe.” alongside a picture of a vintage t-shirt for the 1980 Van Halen album, Women And Children First.
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A post shared by Brad Wilk (@bradwilk)
Other musicians who have shared their reflections on the tragedy include Joe Bonamassa and John Mayer. While Bonamassa feared for his Nerdville gear collection, which he describes as his “life’s work”, he has since confirmed that he is safe, and that his instruments remain secure. He also shared his gratitude for the LA fire department, and sympathy for those who have lost their homes.
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A post shared by Joe Bonamassa (@joebonamassa)
Mayer too shared his support for those who have lost personal belongings such as photographs and precious family belongings from their homes: “These are the ‘documents’ you read about people taking from their homes. When you hear someone say they’ve lost everything in a fire, this is much of that everything, if not all of it,” he states.
“Those who say they’ll be okay still have their folders and their albums. Those who are inconsolable have lost them. Just behind the immeasurable loss of life is the loss of the proof of life. I don’t practice prayer but tonight I will say one for everyone who no longer has these items. It’s not about the art and the collectibles. It’s the photos, the letters, the class rings, the eyeglasses and the things we keep to remind us that those we loved were here.”
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A post shared by John Mayer (@johnmayer)
Updates and all necessary information on shelters, evacuation orders and more can be found over at Cal Fire. You can also donate to the LAFD Wildfire Emergency Funding Alert.
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