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Radiohead’s Haiti Relief Show
Excellent, according to reports. The show, which was a one-off to benefit Haiti’s earthquake victims, raised more than $500,000. That’s pretty good for a gig that wasn’t publicized until three days before the event. But then, when the band is Radiohead, you could probably sell out larger venues relying on only word-of-mouth and maybe a couple of tweets.
All tickets for the Sunday night show were auctioned off in pairs beginning Thursday online, and a few pair were even auctioned at the box office shortly before the concert. Although the closing minimum bid for at least one pair was $475, another pair sold for $4,000, causing Thom Yorke to ask the crowd, “What did you do to get a ticket? Get money from your dad? Or blackmail your boss?”
Nevertheless, the show was sold out, and because the gig was in Los Angeles, the stars did shine for Radiohead. Reported celebrity sightings included current 007 Daniel Craig, “True Blood” star Anna Paquin, Charlize Theron and Jessica Biel.
According to Associated Press, one celeb rocking out in the general admission area and singing along with Radiohead was someone not usually associated with the eclectic British band – Justin Timberlake.
“I love them for the same reason everyone loves Radiohead,” Timberlake told AP. “I have been listening to them since I was 13.”
All proceeds from the show went to Oxfam International. In addition to the money raised by the auction, limited-edition show posters selling for $25 each helped raise even more dollars for earthquake relief efforts in Haiti.
Apparently money was not an issue for fans. Rob Molt of San Diego told AP he would have spent “whatever it took to see such a beautiful band do such a beautiful thing.”
But Molt didn’t end up spending “whatever it took.” Instead, his $475 bid was all it took for tickets. That and at least two days of bidding.
“I hope how special this night was translates,” Molt said. “I was expecting to be the runt in a Hollywood crowd, but it was all real Radiohead fans.”
Click here to read the complete Associated Press account.