Updated October 30, 2026, 2:44 p.m. ET
When Steven Tyler and Aerosmith made their long-awaited return to the Hollywood Bowl stage on Thursday, October 29 for California’s Dream On: Aerosmith & Friends, rock legends, Hollywood stars and MTV icons all wanted in on the action.
Liv Tyler, the Aerosmith frontman’s daughter, and Alicia Silverstone, who starred together in the band’s iconic 1994 music video “Crazy,” took the stage 32 years later to introduce the group. Dave Grohl jumped behind the drums. Billy Idol growled on “Livin’ on the Edge” with guitarist Steve Stevens. The Black Crowes and Guns N’ Roses joined the celebration with individual sets.
And Johnny Depp brought the house down with a surprise appearance, coming out on guitar alongside legendary Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry on “Train Kept A-Rollin’.”
The Aerosmith classic was a fitting choice for a band that seemed to be reaching the end of the road. Aerosmith canceled their farewell Peace Out tour in August 2024 after Tyler suffered a fractured larynx and vocal cord damage during a concert in September 2023, an injury that forced the band to withdraw from touring. But apparently not after giving two evenings of concerts in Los Angeles two years later.
The 78-year-old frontman and former “American Idol” judge was in the saddle again, sprinting around the stage with his signature colorful scarves hanging from the mic stand, showing off his midriff in his gold rock ensemble.
Tyler’s voice was even raspier than his usual growl at times, but he showed no obvious signs of vocal distress, cranking his signature rock screams up to 11 during a rousing six-song set of Aerosmith classics, including “Toys in the Attic,” “Back in the Saddle,” “Sweet Emotion” and “Dream On.” During the latter song, Tyler climbed triumphantly to the top of the white grand piano at center stage as white mist billowed nightmarishly from beneath its closed lid.
Perry introduced Depp, wearing blue sunglasses, on stage, with Tyler laughingly proclaiming that the star was “there in living color.” Depp let his guitar do the talking during his only song, waving to the audience as he left the stage before the band played the closing number, “Walk This Way.”
Liv Tyler asks, “Are we dreaming?” Is it real?
Liv Tyler, 49, and Alicia Silverstone, 50, made surprise appearances, taking the stage after Aerosmith’s iconic 1994 music video “Crazy,” featuring the two rebellious teens, played on the giant screens at the Hollywood Bowl.
“That was us in the video, in case you didn’t know,” joked Tyler, the daughter of Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler.
“Liv, we were just little babies,” said Silverstone, now the mother of a 15-year-old son. “And tonight we brought our little babies. And Liv is Steven Tyler’s real baby.”
“Are we dreaming? Is this real?” » Tyler asked the crowd. “Is this great?” »
Guns N’Roses, Black Crowes and the Heart sisters pay tribute to Aerosmith
Sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson brought their vocals and guitars to the Bowl, with Ann joking: “Who said Aerosmith never did good covers?” before launching into a soulful rendition of “Never Loved a Girl,” Aerosmith’s version of the Aretha Franklin classic “I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You).” The sisters followed with a haunting version of Aerosmith’s 1989 hit “Janie’s Got a Gun,” their harmonies adding new layers to the rock classic.
Guns N’ Roses brought their own brand of hard-rock swagger, with Axl Rose and Slash tearing through three Aerosmith classics: “Nobody’s Fault,” “Last Child” and “Seasons of Wither,” before dropping blistering versions of “Welcome to the Jungle” and “Paradise City.”
The Black Crowes have paid tribute to “Planet Aerosmith,” with frontman Chris Robinson recalling how the Boston rockers helped launch his band by taking them on their first rock ‘n’ roll arena tour. “Besides loving the band, we’re grateful,” Robinson told the crowd.
“Before we say goodnight, I just want to say what an adventure it’s been with my brothers,” said Steven Tyler, before embracing founding drummer Joey Kramer, who made an emotional return to the stage after more than six years away from the band, joining his longtime bandmates for the finale. “It’s been 55 years. And we’re the same band that started 55 and a half years ago.”
There was no encore or all-star group final. Aerosmith is set to return for a second night at the Hollywood Bowl on Sunday, November 1st.
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