Corey Taylor (SLIPKNOT, STONE SOUR), Scott Ian (ANTHRAX) and members of BLACK VEIL BRIDES are among the musicians who took part in the inaugural “Strange 80s” benefit concert on Sunday, May 14 at the Fonda Theater in Los Angeles, California.
Hosted by Finn Wolfhard of the Netlfix hit “Stranger Things”, “Strange 80s” featured performances by Finn and a rotating cast of rock stars and celebrities covering the timeless anthems of the ’80s.
Video footage of Taylor singing the Prince songs “Let’s Go Crazy” and “1999”, as well as the JUDAS PRIEST classic “Electric Eye”, can be seen below.
All proceeds will go to Sweet Relief Musicians Fund to provide financial assistance to career musicians and music industry workers in need due to illness, disability or age-related problems.
In addition to a full concert of musicians and actors covering anthems of the ’80s, “Strange 80s” featured a silent auction offering exclusive, big-ticket items and experiences.
Sweet Relief was founded by singer-songwriter Victoria Williams in 1993. Victoria, while on a career-making tour with Neil Young, was forced to drop off mid-schedule after experiencing unexplained debilitating symptoms. A long and painful diagnostic process revealed she had multiple sclerosis. After her diagnosis, a group of friends assembled an all-star album of Victoria‘s songs, “Sweet Relief”, which alleviated much of her medical debt. Vic, knowing that there were many musicians like her — unable to afford medical expenses and compromised in their ability to work — donated some of her proceeds from the album to found Sweet Relief Musicians Fund. The name of the fund derives from a song of Victoria‘s, “Opelousas (Sweet Relief)”, and the fact that sweet relief is provided in the form of financial assistance to many musicians who would otherwise be in untenable predicaments.
