Aerosmith, with Dave Grohl on Drums, Play First Show in Three Years: Photos, Video + Setlist
The star-studded concert also featured sets by Guns N' Roses, The Black Crowes, Sammy Hagar, and more. Aerosmith, with Dave Grohl on Drums, Play First Show in Three Years: Photos, Video + Setlist Spencer Kaufman
Aerosmith returned to the stage on Thursday night at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, marking the legendary rock band’s first concert since singer Steven Tyler’s vocal injury forced them to retire from touring.
The performance was Aerosmith’s first in three years, and it featured Dave Grohl on drums for the majority of the set, with original drummer Joey Kramer joining the band for the final song. It capped an evening billed as “California, Dream On: Aerosmith & Friends,” which saw a bevy of notable acts covering Aerosmith songs leading up to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame band’s headlining set.
Aerosmith were forced off the road just a few shows into a planned farewell tour when Tyler suffered a vocal injury in September 2023. The following year, the band planned to make up the tour, but canceled it a few weeks before it was set to kick off, announcing their retirement citing Tyler’s slow recovery from his vocal injury.
On Thursday, Aerosmith played a six-song set of their biggest hits, including “Toys in the Attic,” “Back in the Saddle,” “Sweet Emotion,” “The Train Kept A-Rollin”,” and “Walk This Way.” Grohl played drums on the first five songs, with Johnny Depp joining on guitar for “The Train Kept A-Rollin’,” while Kramer and Aerosmith’s most recent touring drummer, John Douglas, both played drums on the set-closing “Walk This Way.”
The band was introduced by Steven Tyler’s daughter Liv Tyler and actress Alicia Silverstone, who both starred Aerosmith’s 1994 music video for “Crazy.”
Prior to Aerosmith, Guns N’ Roses took the stage, performing Aerosmith’s Nobody’s Fault, Last Child, and Seasons of Wither, before ending with their own “Welcome to the Jungle” and “Paradise City.”
The Black Crowes preceded GN’R, playing four Aerosmith covers and a Joe Perry Project song, while other performers throughout the evening included Eric Church, Heart, Sammy Hagar, Billy Idol, Warren Haynes, and Godsmack’s Sully Erna, along with all-star backing musicians like Nuno Bettencourt and Kenny Aronoff, among others.
See photos, video, and the setlist from Thursday evening’s show below. Another “California, Dream On: Aerosmith & Friends” show will take place Sunday, November 1st, at the Hollywood Bowl, with tickets available here .
The “California, Dream On: Aerosmith & Friends”shows are produced by C724 Management and Blackbird Presents.
“California, Dream On: Aerosmith & Friends” Setlist: Make It (Sully Erna) Lightning Strikes (Sully Erna) Lord Of The Thighs (Warren Hayes) Walkin’ The Dog (Warren Haynes) Livin’ On The Edge (Billy Idol and Steve Stevens) Draw The Line (Sammy Hagar) Helter Skelter (Sammy Hagar) Never Loved A Man (Heart) Janie’s Got A Gun (Heart) Rag Doll (Eric Church) I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing (Eric Church) Let The Music Do The Talking (Black Crowes) Write Me A Letter (Black Crowes) Combination (Black Crowes) No More No More (Black Crowes) Chip Away The Stone (Black Crowes) Nobody’s Fault (Guns N’ Roses) Last Child (Guns N’ Roses) Seasons Of Wither (Guns N’ Roses) Welcome To The Jungle (Guns N’ Roses) Paradise City (Guns N’ Roses) Toys In The Attic (Aerosmith with Dave Grohl on drums) Back In The Saddle (Aerosmith with Dave Grohl) Sweet Emotion (Aerosmith with Dave Grohl) Dream On (Aerosmith with Dave Grohl) Train Kept A Rollin’ (Aerosmith with Dave Grohl, Johnny Depp on guitar) Walk This Way (Aerosmith with Joey Kramer and John Douglas on drums)
