Aerosmith Returns to Hollywood Bowl Stage with Star-Studded Support

Steven Tyler and Aerosmith returned to the stage Thursday at the Hollywood Bowl, marking their first live performance since the band canceled their farewell tour in 2023 due to the frontman's vocal cord injuries. The concert, billed as Aerosmith & Friends, featured a lineup of guest artists alongside the band's core members Joe Perry, Brad Whitford, and Tom Hamilton.

The guest list included Billy Idol, Guns N' Roses, the Black Crowes, Heart, Sammy Hagar, and Eric Church. Dave Grohl joined Aerosmith on drums for part of the show, and Johnny Depp appeared on guitar for a single song. Joey Kramer, the band's founding drummer who has not toured with them since 2020, also took the stage for the final number, Walk This Way.

Tyler addressed the crowd immediately after taking the stage, promising a powerful performance. He told the audience they would rock the venue so hard they would think a major earthquake was approaching. The band delivered a six-song set focused on their 1970s catalog, including Sweet Emotion, Dream On, and Toys in the Attic. At 78 years old, Tyler performed physically and vocally in good form, even jumping onto a piano during one number.

The evening functioned as a retrospective, with guest artists covering Aerosmith songs from the past few decades. Billy Idol sang Living on the Edge, while Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart performed Janie's Got a Gun. Eric Church contributed Rag Doll and I Don't Want to Miss a Thing. The Black Crowes played a five-song set, with frontman Chris Robinson noting that Aerosmith had given his band their first arena tour in 1990. Guns N' Roses followed with a five-song set that included three covers of mid-1970s tracks before closing with their own hits Welcome to the Jungle and Paradise City.

Alicia Silverstone and Liv Tyler, the latter being Steven Tyler's daughter, introduced the band to the stage. Silverstone, who starred in several Aerosmith music videos, joked about bringing her own children to the show. She noted that Liv is the actual child of Steven Tyler, a line that drew cheers from the audience.

The production, handled by 724 Management and Blackbird Presents, created a festival-like atmosphere. Audience members socialized during breaks between sets, and the merchandise focused heavily on 1970s imagery. Tyler and the band did not spend much time discussing the difficulties of their previous tour or offering deep introspection. The show relied on lasers, wind machines, and the music itself.

The concert ended with a fireworks display after the band had already left the stage. This sequence left some audience members wondering if an encore was coming. The band will close their Hollywood Bowl residency with a final concert on Sunday.