Butch Walker @ Maxwell's, Hoboken, NJ - Nov 23, 2007 (CRED)

Butch Walker and his family have fallen victim to the wildfires spread by the Santa Ana winds across Malibu, CA. On November 24th a family friend was forced to evacuate the singer, songwriter and producer's Malibu home, which was being rented from Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Flea, due to the rapidly spreading fire. Walker was in New York City at the time on tour.

Says Walker "I had just consolidated my entire recording studio and house from Atlanta into the one house In Malibu. I lost everything I've ever owned. Every master of every song I've ever recorded, every piece of recording equipment, guitars, drums and things I've collected over the years, cars, motorcycles, every family memorial, heirloom, picture, and document we ever had.... Gone. I feel like I finally know the difference between 'going back' and 'going home'."

sucks

"At deadline, Los Angeles-based concert promoters AEG Live (and subsidiary Goldenvoice) and Nederlander Concerts hadn't reported any concert cancellations in Southern California. But the wind-driven blazes, which have already forced a reported half-million people to evacuate their homes, have caused Live Nation to cancel or postpone most concerts scheduled for this week, according to company officials.........a Jesus and Mary Chain gig at San Diego's 4th & B today has been cancelled. Ticket refunds for the latter are available at point of purchase." [Billboard]

Concert cancellations seem trivial in the scheme of things, but I guess each industry has to look at things from their own point of view, and the one we're interested around here (you and I) is music.