American hip-hop group Black Eyed Peas are seen in a file photo. [File Photo: hi.baidu.com]

American hip-hop group Black Eyed Peas and Chinese pop singer Karen Mok raised more than US$1 million to help victims of the Sichuan earthquake at a benefit concert sponsored by Chivas Brothers in Shanghai on Tuesday night.

This was the second Shanghai performance for Black Eyed Peas, who hit the stage at 10 p.m. and performed for an hour for an invitation-only audience of 700 people. Singer-actress Karen Mok opened the show at 8:30 p.m.

Chivas Brothers and the performers together pledged 6 million yuan (US$866,000). Black Eyed Peas also auctioned off a signed guitar, posters and CDs, and Mok contributed her cheongsam -- a traditional Chinese dress.

The auction, together with audience donations, raised an additional 2.07 million yuan (US$300,000).

"This concert is a very exclusive event for Chivas, with an invitation-only audience attending," Sophie Gallois, Chivas Regal brand director, told The Hollywood Reporter. "We started to plan it last October." Invitees included key customers and VIP clients, the company said.

The concert wasn't originally intended as an earthquake benefit, Gallois said, but plans changed after the May 12 disaster.

(CRI/Agencies June 4, 2008)