Warped/Taste of Chaos to organize "Unite the United" charity concert for Katrina victims

The organizers behind the Warped Tour and Taste of Chaos festival tours have announced the Unite the United show in Irvine, CA.

The performance on Saturday, October 8, 2005 is intended to help raise money for the victims of the recent devastating hurricane Katrina and the site promises that it will "[feature] some of the all time favorite bands of past Vans Warped tours and RockStar Energy Drinks Taste of Chaos tour." Tickets for the event will cost $25.00 are are expected to be available shortly. To date, the Used have been confirmed for the show, with vocalist Bert McCrakin saying that:

Whether the color of your skin is
black, white, yellow, brown or purple -- the extent of this tragedy is
so incredibly devastating that we had to do SOMETHING. Our brothers and
sisters in the Gulf Region need our help. We want to do our part and we
encourage others to do the same. We need to unite -- not divide!

According to Rise Against, who will also be performing at the show, the lineup will include the Used, Taking Back Sunday, Bad Religion, Pennywise, Hoobastank, The Bled, Disturbed, Cinderella, Hepcat, Sugarcult, Anti-Flag, Eighteen Visions, Hatebreed, MxPx, the Dan Band, Go Betty Go and more.

To date, thousands have died in the horrific aftermath of the hurricane which saw the city of New Orleans plunged into chaos. While the government has recently deployed scores of emergency workers and the military, many have argued that too many days passed before anything of substance was done to help people caught in the effects of the storm. A recent poll found more than 42% of Americans rating the president's response as "bad" or "terrible" and only a third describing it as "good."

Thousands of people still remain in the partially submerged city and hundreds of thousands more have been moved into shelters in neighbouring communities. Charity donations to the Red Cross and similiar relief organizations will do much to alieviate some of the suffering in the Louisiana state.