Last night, at Hollywood Bowl, Aerosmith's legacy was celebrated with the first of two events called "California Dream On: Aerosmith and Friends." Guns N' Roses, the Black Crowes, Eric Church, Heart, Sammy Hagar, Billy Idol & Steve Stevens, Warren Haynes, and Godsmack frontman Sully Erna all played short sets of Aerosmith covers. GN’R also did a couple of their own hits. The band themselves then reunited for a six-song set, with Dave Grohl playing drums, although jilted original Aerosmith drummer Joey Kramer, alongside John Douglas, played for their final song "Walk This Way."
This was the first time Aerosmith officially reunited since attempting their last farewell tour, which was initially announced in 2023, a few months after vocalist Steve Tyler put out a statement denying sexual assault allegations. It was then postponed because Tyler suffered a vocal injury and then officially canceled after three shows in September 2023. However, almost exactly a year later, Tyler and Joe Perry honored Ozzy Osbourne at the VMAs.
Last night, Aerosmith were introduced by their '90s video stars Liv Tyler and Alicia Silverstone, who were in their "Crazy" music video that was directed by Marty Callner. Aerosmith played their hits "Toys In The Attic," "Back In The Saddle," "Sweet Emotion," and "Dream On." They also performed a cover of Tiny Bradshaw's "The Train Kept A-Rollin'," for which Perry’s Hollywood Vampires bandmate Johnny Depp joined them onstage. Crusty, creepy classic rock musicians seem to love that guy, so this feels unsurprising. They closed the set with "Walk This Way."
Host Bill Burr also said last night and Monday are “the final two shows in Aerosmith’s history," though there is no official word on that.
You can find clips below.
