Movies

Fire charred two L.A. music utopias. Will they ever recover?

BBG News

On the very day that the Eaton fire ignited, I, having recently completed some renovations on my midcentury home nestled in Altadena, found myself basking in the satisfaction of my work. As a mastering engineer for the renowned local record label Stones Throw, I moved into this charming, rustic foothill neighborhood with my wife in 2022, joining a vibrant community of middle-class artists and residing among century-old homes. My garage studio was surrounded by friends who shared a passion for music, creating an environment that echoed with the melodies of our collective creativity.

Viator stated, “We went without many things to make sure we could pay for it.” On the very day we closed the mortgage, his wife discovered she was expecting a child. That day felt incredibly fortunate for us.

California

In Altadena, some homeowners came back to discover their houses still standing, whereas others are grappling with the devastating aftermath of losing everything.

On the evening of January 6th, Viator had intended to dine on sushi with his neighbor Jimmy Tamborello, a member of indie group The Postal Service. However, his wife messaged that Eaton Canyon was ablaze. Describing the scene outside, he said it resembled the aftermath of an explosion: “It was as if a bomb had been detonated.” The sight was a swirling, spinning, exploding wall of fiery orange, unlike anything he’d ever witnessed before. It seemed like a glimpse into hell itself.

Instead of driving around blaring horns and shouting at neighbors to leave, he eventually descended the hill to escape. Upon doing so, Viator directly headed towards Scottsdale, Arizona, a place where his wife and 2-year-old daughter were residing. Unfortunately, they would never revisit the house where their child was born.

As a cinema connoisseur, I couldn’t help but feel an unparalleled connection to Altadena – it was as if I had stumbled upon my favorite movie set. The tranquility I experienced there was unlike anything I had ever known before. It left me with a deep longing, a yearning that I had never felt in any other place.

Unfortunately, two significant neighborhoods in L.A.’s music scene were devastated by unfortunate circumstances – the Palisades and Eaton fires. The Palisades fire destroyed renowned studios in Malibu with ocean views, where Grammy-winning artists lived and produced platinum albums just a stone’s throw from the beach. Meanwhile, about fifty miles away, the Eaton fire leveled a cherished neighborhood that was a haven for working artists and industry experts who valued natural surroundings to create their work.

According to Viator, every musician they know in Altadena has lost everything. No one seems to have escaped unscathed; it’s hard to grasp the extent of the damage. Every friend, every acquaintance, and every business they knew is no more. It’s baffling to them.

catastrophic fires tore a devastating path through L.A., leaving destruction in their wake so swift and severe it was like an explosion. The blazes have tragically taken at least 25 lives and over 12,000 buildings, including historical landmarks and family homes spanning generations, as well as thousands of acres of natural habitats. In a matter of hours, life savings, memories, and livelihoods were reduced to ashes.

Afterward, there was a shared document passing among L.A.-based musicians and professionals within the industry, which cataloged those who had unfortunately lost their homes or workplaces. This extensive list contained approximately 200 entries.

1) Empress Of (Lorely Rodriguez), her mother’s home in Altadena was destroyed; Zachary Cole Smith from DIIV and his family also lost their house while his wife is pregnant; Fat Tony, Madlib (real name TBA), Yasi Salek of “Bandsplain” podcast, and Bennie Maupin (from Herbie Hancock’s Headhunters funk band) have likewise suffered the loss of their respective homes. On a GoFundMe page, Maupin’s son shared that 70 years of family memories, photos, musical instruments, a car, and other valuable heirlooms were all destroyed in the disaster.

The list encompasses various social classes, including Diane Warren (a renowned songwriter), Chris Shiflett from the Foo Fighters, Adele (a multiple Grammy winner), and Greg Wells (producer of “Wicked”), who all suffered the loss of their beachfront homes. Additionally, numerous lesser-known musicians, publicists, crew members, promoters, club owners, and radio personalities experienced similar losses.

California

The Eaton fire swept destructively through the unique hillside community of Altadena, disrupting a treasured lifestyle in its wake.

Many of them, like Viator, had congregated in Altadena.

Nestled at the foot of the San Gabriel Valley, just north of Pasadena, this neighborhood evolved into a sanctuary for artists and musicians who found studio space in areas like Echo Park and Highland Park too expensive. Here, you could have a turkey coop in your backyard alongside a vocal booth, and still be within half an hour’s drive from downtown L.A.

Taylor Goldsmith, leader of the folk-rock group Dawes, suffered the loss of his home studio due to the Eaton fire. Remarkably, his family – which includes his wife, actress and singer Mandy Moore, and their three kids – managed to save their main residence from the flames. However, Goldsmith is left in a state of shock by the devastating impact of the Eaton fire.

He commented that I had assumed we were secure in our community, but it appears we were mistaken. It’s almost unbelievable; this is truly terrible, and many others are suffering far more than us. His bandmate, Griffin, has lost his house and all his drums. Despite his deep affection for this town and California, he’s questioning whether he can endure the risk of such an event happening again.

Goldsmith tragically lost treasured vintage guitars in the Eaton fire, instruments he had grown accustomed to playing and held dear. He fears the sorrow over this loss may linger within his community forever.

Goldsmith stated, “You shouldn’t constantly worry about losing everything in just three hours. It can really mess with your head, but I refuse to let this fear keep me from staying there. I don’t want the pain to define my experience and push me to leave.

Approximately fifty miles off, nestled within Pacific Palisades – renowned for its opulence, scenic coastal vistas, and close-knit community atmosphere reminiscent of a small town – scarcely any residence remained untouched.

As heartfelt messages about lost multimillion-dollar homes flooded social media from stars like Anthony Hopkins, Billy Crystal, Paris Hilton, and Jamie Lee Curtis, several renowned recording studios also met their end amid the flames.

These studios embodied the iconic, glamorous image of Los Angeles’ musical history. Recording in a stunning studio with a view of the Pacific Ocean signified that you had achieved the highest point in the recording industry.

In a home studio nestled in the Palisades, renowned producer and mixer Bob Clearmountain has crafted albums for musical icons like Bruce Springsteen and the Rolling Stones. By playing through his Bösendorfer grand piano, connected to his SSL mixing console, artists could tap into a rich history of music – legends such as David Bowie, Roxy Music, and Nile Rodgers all sought out his expertise and equipment.

Entertainment & Arts

Iconic buildings designed by architects such as Myron Hunt, Elmer Grey, and Ray Kappe, along with a prominent Mid-Century residence, have unfortunately been demolished. Here’s our ever-evolving list of notable residential architecture.

30 years ago, Clearmountain’s house in the Palisades was consumed by fire on last Tuesday. They managed to rescue some keepsakes, like a drawing Springsteen made for Clearmountain’s wife’s 50th birthday. Unfortunately, the majority of his carefully amassed and perfected equipment, as well as his beloved home in the Palisades, were destroyed by the fire.

Clearmountain expressed that the situation was far beyond just ‘devastating.’ Although fortunate, he and his wife, pets, and family are safe. He had believed he’d spend the rest of his life in that place due to its beauty, but now there is an overwhelming amount of loss caused by this fire.

Three years back, Jeffrey Paradise, the mastermind behind L.A.’s electronic group Poolside, relocated his residence and recording studio to the Malibu hills. This house was a popular gathering spot for the Grateful Dead in the ’70s, constructed using wood salvaged from the Venice Beach pier. On weekends, he enjoys welcoming musician friends from Highland Park for extended songwriting sessions.

Paradise mentioned that after being on tour for so long, this was our haven whenever we returned. Bob Dylan had a property close by, and I’d often bump into Anthony Kiedis at the local cafes. Gene Simmons and Seal lived nearby, and we adored this house dearly,” he shared.

However, he now describes his street as a “horror show,” unlike anything he’s ever witnessed, more like a surreal, terrifying dreamscape. He uses the phrase, “Everything has vanished.” The enormity of the situation leaves him speechless, struggling to grasp its reality. He foresees this devastation being our new normal for quite some time.

In Malibu, Rick Rubin’s renowned Shangri-La studio managed to weather a fire, but the house on Alma Real Drive – where Doors’ guitarist Robby Krieger penned their most famous hit, “Light My Fire”, and R&B singer Jhené Aiko resided – was reduced to ashes. Tragically, both the Doors’ historic songwriting location and Jhené Aiko’s home were consumed by the flames.

In Malibu’s uplands, Zach Brandon owned Harbor Studios, a high-end recording complex that had gained popularity among modern pop and hip-hop artists such as Doja Cat and Nicki Minaj. They recorded tracks for their albums “Scarlet” and “Pink Friday 2”, respectively, here. Initially constructed as the headquarters for the jazz-fusion band Weather Report.

Upon receiving a text message, Brandon expressed his feelings saying, “We’re heartbroken over the loss of our cherished studio – a place that ignited inspiration for everyone who visited it. Our thoughts are with those affected, and we will strive to aid our neighbors during these tough times. As we mourn, we find solace in the strength of our community.

Even music venues that survived the fire are facing the fallout of a depopulated beach community.

Lance Sterling, owner of the Canyon Club in Agoura Hills, shared that half of his business comes from corporate events and private functions. Unfortunately, all these have been canceled, leaving him with an estimated loss of $650,000 in revenue. Additionally, he mentioned that about 100,000 people who were previously potential customers have been displaced due to the fires.

California

Instead of portraying the image of a luxurious coastal community with stunning vistas and famous residents, Pacific Palisades took on a desolate, post-lunar landscape resembling devastation.

Currently, the music industry is organizing charitable efforts to aid the numerous Angelinos who have been displaced. A significant benefit concert has been scheduled for the Intuit Dome on January 30th. Beyoncé’s foundation has pledged a donation of $2.5 million, and Warner Music has promised an additional million dollars.

In the communities that have been impacted, numerous musicians and artists from the working class may need several years to fully recover.

For Willie “Prophet” Stiggers of the Black Music Action Coalition, watching the fires has been similar to viewing a terrifying horror movie. He’s never witnessed anything quite like this before, and he stated that Los Angeles, a city known for its music, has suffered an unprecedented blow. This is a gut-wrenching event unlike any we’ve experienced before.

The team is organizing a fundraising campaign to support Black musicians, entrepreneurs, and firefighters serving prison terms who were impacted by the calamities. “Music has an incredible ability to bring people together after they’ve lost their homes,” Prophet commented. “In these challenging times marked by division, it’s heartening to see humanity come together.” This aspect gives me optimism.

Even though the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the live-music sector and the high cost of living in Los Angeles were already significant challenges, the recent fires have added another tough hurdle to overcome.

Laura Segura, MusiCares’ executive director and part of the Recording Academy’s charitable branch, expressed her astonishment. “It’s hard to comprehend,” she said, “because even the giants in the music industry have employees who lost their homes. This includes tour crews, musicians, bus drivers, electricians, among others. This situation resembles a disaster unlike anything we experienced during the pandemic, but it carries an equally overwhelming feeling.

Segura stated that MusicCares has already received over 2,000 requests for help from struggling music professionals in LA, and while the types of aid required may differ – ranging from immediate needs such as shelter and food assistance to long-term needs like housing and mental health support – this unfortunate event will impact all sectors of the L.A. music industry.

Each disaster has its own lengthy backstory, Segura pointed out. “I’m concerned that it’s already challenging to find reasonably priced housing in L.A., especially considering the average musician’s salary in the U.S. is less than $50,000 annually. We understand how difficult it can be to maintain a family and secure a future here.

Segura expressed his confusion as to why there’s so much pain here, his voice catching. My fervent wish is that you continue creating music, and my heartfelt plea is for you to do so. If you find yourself unable, allow us to offer our assistance.”

Or more casually:

“Segura was at a loss as to why there’s so much suffering here, his voice thick with emotion. My hope is that you keep making music, and if it becomes too difficult, let us lend a hand.

The Grammy Awards, scheduled for February 2nd in Los Angeles, will proceed with an emphasis on aid initiatives, as announced by the Recording Academy. In a statement, Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy and MusiCares, expressed empathy for the city’s recent hardships: “We acknowledge the immense pain this past week has caused to the people of Los Angeles. This city is our home, where countless music professionals reside, and many of us have been affected personally.

It’s unclear which type of community will be able to rebuild the fire-damaged neighborhoods. For some musicians, this could push them to find safety and a living elsewhere. On the other hand, others may start the costly and isolating process of rebuilding in a devastated area.

California

Report on the widespread wildfires currently affecting Altadena, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, and Pasadena, offering updates on the destruction caused, challenges faced by firefighters, and the latest meteorological conditions impacting the blaze.

Goldsmith stated, “My child’s school was just on the other side of the road, and it remains so today.” He playfully mentioned that his son intends to use an excavator to restore the school. Our hope is that he develops a strong bond with his community, similar to what we experienced, through this endeavor.

As a aspiring musician in the middle class, Los Angeles was where I thought I’d establish myself, find my footing. But the fire didn’t just burn down our homes or studios; it consumed the beautiful dream I had for a life in music here – a dream of what it could be.

Viator stated, “We’ll need to start anew, from the ground up.” He acknowledged his realistic concerns but expressed hope that the essence can persist. Could it once again serve as a sanctuary for artists? There’s a worry that investors might seize all the properties and spoil the area. What we had was truly extraordinary. It would be a pity to let it go. Thus, we’re determined to give it our best shot.

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2025-01-15 23:34

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