Aerosmith Returns at Hollywood Bowl; Depp Joins for One Song
By @sharedot · · 6 pages
- Celebrity
- Aerosmith
- Music
Aerosmith returned at Hollywood Bowl for its first show since retiring from touring in 2024, joined by Johnny Depp, Dave Grohl and Guns N' Roses.
Aerosmith's unexpected return to the stage
Steven Tyler and Aerosmith played their first full concert since stepping away from touring on Thursday, October 29, opening the two-night 'California, Dream On: Aerosmith & Friends' series at the Hollywood Bowl, as USA Today and Yahoo report.
The band had canceled its Peace Out farewell tour in August 2024 after Tyler suffered a fractured larynx and vocal cord damage during a September 2023 concert, an injury that led the band to retire from touring.
Instead, the 78-year-old frontman sprinted through a six-song set of classics including 'Toys in the Attic,' 'Back in the Saddle,' 'Sweet Emotion' and 'Dream On,' closing with 'Walk This Way.'
Depp's surprise, and a 'Crazy' reunion
Joe Perry introduced his Hollywood Vampires bandmate Johnny Depp, who joined Aerosmith for 'Train Kept A-Rollin'' before saluting the crowd and walking off, Yahoo reports. Yahoo adds that Depp has a long history with the band: in 2011 he said writing songs with Tyler was a 'dream come true.'
Liv Tyler and Alicia Silverstone reunited onstage to introduce the band, 32 years after co-starring in the 1994 'Crazy' video, with Liv asking the crowd, 'Are we dreaming? Is this real?' according to USA Today.
Dave Grohl drummed through the first five songs.
A star-packed tribute bill
The evening doubled as an all-star salute.
According to USA Today, Guns N' Roses tore through Aerosmith covers plus 'Welcome to the Jungle' and 'Paradise City,' the Black Crowes thanked the band for taking them on their first arena tour, Heart's Ann and Nancy Wilson delivered 'Janie's Got a Gun,' and Billy Idol performed 'Livin' on the Edge' with Steve Stevens.
The Los Angeles Times, in a mixed review, praised Tyler for nailing 'Dream On's' shrieking high notes 'like a guy with something to prove,' while calling the tribute lineup uneven.
Farewell or a future? What comes next
Whether this comeback signals more is unresolved. USA Today notes no encore or all-star finale was staged, and that drummer Joey Kramer made an emotional return for the closer after more than six years away, with Tyler saying 'we're the same band that started 55 and a half years ago.'
The Los Angeles Times reports host Bill Burr welcomed the crowd to 'the final two shows in Aerosmith's history,' while the band has announced no new tour — and the paper notes Tyler faces an active sexual assault lawsuit, which he denies. The second Bowl show is set for Sunday, November 1.