Kings of Leon and Flaming Lips to Headline Oklahoma Tornado Benefit
Oklahoma natives the Flaming Lips and Kings of Leon will headline a tornado relief concert July 23rd in Oklahoma City as part of continued relief efforts for those affected by the devastating tornadoes that struck the state in May. The “Rock for Oklahoma” fundraiser will also include Jackson Browne, Built to Spill and more, Tulsa World reports.
“We couldn’t be more proud to lend a hand to our home state. We were all devastated by what happened there . . . we have family and friends that were affected by the tornados . . . this is the least we could do,” Kings of Leon bassist Jared Followill said in a statement.
100 Best Albums of the 2000s: The Flaming Lips, ‘Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots’
Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne, whose house in Oklahoma City was damaged by recent flooding, cited the need for long-term support for the people affected by the deadly twisters.
“Shakespeare said ‘It is not enough to help the needy up, but to support them after and in our small way we are trying to not just be here at the moment of immediate need, but to stay and help with the rebuilding,” Coyne said in a statememnt. “After all, this is our home and they are us and we are them.”
Tickets for “Rock for Oklahoma” will go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. CST. Proceeds will go to recovery efforts to help alleviate the $2 billion worth of damage caused by deadly tornadoes last month. Blake Shelton, another Oklahoma native, raised $6 million with his “Healing in the Heartland” benefit concert in May.