Joe Perry called it back in June when he declared, “I don’t think you’ve seen the last Aerosmith performance.” Last night (Oct. 29), the guitarist’s prediction came to fruition as Aerosmith returned to the stage at Los Angeles’ Hollywood Bowl for California, Dream On: Aerosmith & Friends, a guest-packed celebration of the band’s legacy that culminated in its first extended concert in more than three years — and the return of founding drummer Joey Kramer.
Aerosmith’s touring future was thrown into doubt after vocalist Steven Tyler fractured his larynx and suffered additional vocal cord damage in September 2023, forcing the postponement and eventual cancellation of the band’s Peace Out farewell tour. In June, Perry told SPIN that Tyler had spent a long time recovering and regaining confidence in his voice, adding that the band had largely written off touring but remained open to playing occasional shows. Last night’s performance, which was filmed for an as-yet-unannounced future usage, made good on that distinction.
The evening began with an expansive tribute to Aerosmith’s catalog, with artists from across the rock spectrum taking turns at the microphone. Godsmack frontman Sully Erna opened with “Make It” and “Lightning Strikes,” followed by Warren Haynes delivering “Lord of the Thighs” and “Walkin’ the Dog.” Billy Idol and guitarist Steve Stevens took on “Livin’ on the Edge,” while Sammy Hagar tackled “Draw the Line” and the Beatles’ “Helter Skelter,” a song Aerosmith regularly performed in its early years.
Heart brought classic rock authority to “Never Loved a Man” and “Janie’s Got a Gun,” while country star Eric Church offered his interpretations of “Rag Doll” and the blockbuster ballad “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing.” Elsewhere, the Black Crowes dug into the catalog with the Perry solo cut “Let the Music Do the Talking,” “Write Me a Letter,” “Combination,” “No More No More” and “Chip Away the Stone.” Guns N’ Roses followed with “Nobody’s Fault,” “Last Child” and “Seasons of Wither,” before turning to their own “Welcome to the Jungle” and “Paradise City.”
Produced by Blackbird Presents and Larry Rudolph’s 724 Management, the event’s sprawling cast also included a house band led by musical director Don Was, with guitarists including Nuno Bettencourt and a rhythm section featuring Kenny Aronoff, Chad Smith and Mike Inez. But the night ultimately belonged to Aerosmith. Introduced by actresses Liv Tyler and Alicia Silverstone, both of whom appeared frequently in the band’s 1990s videos, the group launched into “Toys in the Attic” with Dave Grohl behind the drums. Grohl stayed for “Back in the Saddle” and “Sweet Emotion,” bringing his trademark force to the band’s hard-driving classics.
Tyler then took a seat at a white grand piano for “Dream On,” delivering a dramatic performance that included standing atop the instrument as fog swirled around him. Johnny Depp joined Perry for “The Train Kept A-Rollin’,” as the two guitarists traded riffs in a reunion of sorts for their Hollywood Vampires partnership. The most poignant moment came with the final song, “Walk This Way,” when Kramer returned to the kit for his first performance with Aerosmith since 2020. He shared the drums with John Douglas, the band’s longtime drum tech and more recent touring drummer, as confetti filled the air.
“Before we say goodnight, I just want to say what a ride it’s been with my brothers — Joe, Tom, Brad and Joey,” Tyler told the crowd. “Fifty-five fucking years, and we’re the same fucking band that started fifty-five and a half years ago.”
Aerosmith returns to the Bowl on Nov. 1 for the second California, Dream On: Aerosmith & Friends concert, which is expected to feature many of the same artists in addition to guests such as Run-D.M.C. and Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello.