Weezer
By James Pleasant
Influential power-pop band Weezer will headline the second annual Rhonda’s Kiss benefit concert on November 3 at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles to help cancer patients in need.
Actor Johnny Depp, who lost his mother to cancer earlier this year, will be presented with the inaugural Healing & Hope Award at the event for his charitable donations and work to help cancer patients and survivors over the years.
Proceeds from the benefit show will be donated to the Cedars-Sinai Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, the leading medical center for cancer care in Los Angeles.
Johnny Depp
“Cancer affects many lives and this year it was my family’s turn,” said Depp in a statement. “The team at Cedars-Sinai works tirelessly to help people in their darkest moments. Their work is invaluable to all of us, and I will support any opportunity to help shine a light on the cause through Rhonda’s Kiss.”
Sugar Ray’s Mark McGrath will serve as the emcee for this year’s benefit show. What’s more, his supergroup The Hellcat Saints, featuring members of Linkin Park, Weezer, Queens of the Stone Age, Jane’s Addiction and more, will open the show.
Rhonda’s Kiss has donated more than $750,000 to hospitals in the United States to benefit individuals and patients suffering from cancer. It was established in 2014 after Rhonda Stefanski, the late wife of the organization’s executive director, was diagnosed with stage-4 pancreatic cancer. One of her last wishes before her death was to create an event dedicated to helping cancer patients in inner-cities and urban communities pay for treatment. The organization raised $500,000 at the inaugural benefit concert in 2015.
For tickets to the 2016 benefit featuring Weezer and Johnny Depp or to learn more about Rhonda’s Kiss, click here.