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For the first time in more than six years, Joey Kramer was back onstage with Aerosmith. The founding drummer reunited with Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Brad Whitford and Tom Hamilton at the Hollywood Bowl on October 29, giving the band’s return an ending that few fans would have expected two years ago.
The concert was the first of two Los Angeles performances billed as California, Dream On: Aerosmith & Friends. It also marked the first time Aerosmith had performed together since their farewell tour ended abruptly in September 2023.
There was another surprise. Dave Grohl played drums for most of Aerosmith’s six-song set before Kramer joined the band for Walk This Way. Johnny Depp appeared on guitar during Train Kept a Rollin’.
A second Hollywood Bowl concert is scheduled for November 1, with Guns N’ Roses, the Black Crowes and a long list of other musicians involved in the celebration.
Joey Kramer Finally Returns to Aerosmith
Kramer’s appearance carries a long history. He helped form Aerosmith in 1970 and played on the recordings that made the band famous, including Dream On, Sweet Emotion and Walk This Way.
His final concert with Aerosmith before the reunion had been in February 2020. Health problems and disagreements within the group complicated his return, and drummer John Douglas took over live duties.
Fans began expecting a reunion after Aerosmith published new rehearsal photographs on October 20. All five classic members appeared together, preparing for the Hollywood Bowl shows.
Yet Kramer did not play the entire October 29 performance. Dave Grohl handled the drums for the opening five songs, with Kramer returning for the finale alongside Douglas.
Walk This Way was a particularly fitting choice. Released on the 1975 album Toys in the Attic, the song became one of the band’s defining recordings. Its 1986 remake with Run-DMC also introduced Aerosmith to a new generation of listeners.
For a closer look at the musicians who created those records, the history of the original Aerosmith lineup goes back to their earliest days in Boston.
What Happened at the First Hollywood Bowl Concert?
The October 29 show was much larger than a regular Aerosmith performance. Different musicians took turns celebrating the band’s catalog before Tyler and his bandmates arrived for their own set.
Guns N’ Roses performed Aerosmith songs including Nobody’s Fault, Last Child and Seasons of Wither, then played Welcome to the Jungle and Paradise City.
The Black Crowes reached further into the catalog with songs such as Combination, No More No More and Chip Away the Stone. Billy Idol, Sammy Hagar, Heart and Eric Church also performed.
When Aerosmith finally took the stage, they concentrated on six songs that covered some of their most celebrated years.
Aerosmith Setlist From October 29, 2026
| Song | Special Guest |
|---|---|
| Toys in the Attic | Dave Grohl on drums |
| Back in the Saddle | Dave Grohl on drums |
| Sweet Emotion | Dave Grohl on drums |
| Dream On | Dave Grohl on drums |
| Train Kept a Rollin’ | Dave Grohl and Johnny Depp |
| Walk This Way | Joey Kramer and John Douglas |
The complete concert setlist also includes performances by the guest musicians throughout the evening.
The song choices were especially interesting for longtime fans. Aerosmith avoided filling the set with their later radio hits, instead reaching back to the albums that established their reputation during the 1970s.
Toys in the Attic and Rocks supplied several of the songs. Both records rank prominently among Aerosmith’s best albums, and their harder guitar sound suited the band’s first full performance in three years.
Why Aerosmith Stopped Touring in the First Place?
The Hollywood Bowl reunion seemed unlikely after the events of 2023 and 2024.
Aerosmith launched their Peace Out farewell tour in September 2023, intending to give fans one final opportunity to see the band live. Only three concerts took place before Steven Tyler suffered serious vocal injuries.
Tyler damaged his vocal cords and fractured his larynx during the September 9 performance at UBS Arena in New York. The remaining concerts were postponed, and the band initially hoped he would recover sufficiently to return.
In August 2024, Aerosmith announced that the farewell tour was canceled and that the group was retiring from touring. Tyler’s voice had not recovered enough to sustain the demands of a full tour.
The band had been performing together for more than five decades, so the announcement raised the possibility that their final concert had already happened without anyone knowing it.
Tyler gradually returned to occasional public performances. He sang at charity events and joined fellow musicians onstage, including appearances connected to Ozzy Osbourne and the MTV Video Music Awards.
Those shorter performances suggested he could still sing live, but they offered no guarantee that Aerosmith would ever return for another full concert.
Who Is Performing at Aerosmith and Friends?
The official concert announcement brought together musicians with direct connections to Aerosmith and others who grew up listening to the band.
Several guests have shared stages, recordings or long friendships with Aerosmith members. Others have cited the group as an influence on their own music.
The announced performers include the following artists.
- Guns N’ Roses
- The Black Crowes
- Run-DMC
- Heart
- Billy Idol and Steve Stevens
- Sammy Hagar
- Eric Church
- Tom Morello
- Jerry Cantrell and Mike Inez of Alice in Chains
- Nuno Bettencourt
- Marcus King
- Chad Smith of Red Hot Chili Peppers
- Pat Monahan of Train
- Sully Erna of Godsmack
- Andrew Watt
Don Was serves as musical director, helping coordinate the performers and supporting musicians.
Not every artist will appear on both nights. The organizers have stated that each concert will have a different lineup, with additional surprise appearances possible.
Why Run-DMC Is Such an Important Guest
Run-DMC has one of the longest and most influential connections to Aerosmith.
In 1986, the hip-hop group recorded a new version of Walk This Way featuring Steven Tyler and Joe Perry. The collaboration became a major crossover hit and helped bring rap music to a much larger rock audience.
Its music video, featuring the two groups performing on opposite sides of a wall before breaking through it, remains one of the best-known videos of the decade.
Given the history of that recording, Run-DMC’s inclusion carries special significance, especially with Joey Kramer returning to perform the song that helped connect the two groups.
When Is the Second Hollywood Bowl Concert?
The second California, Dream On performance is scheduled for Sunday, November 1, 2026, at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.
| Concert | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| First night | October 29, 2026 | Hollywood Bowl |
| Second night | November 1, 2026 | Hollywood Bowl |
Ticket sales began October 10 following several presale periods. The first concert has already taken place, but fans can check the official event website for the remaining date and ticket information.
The November 1 Ticketmaster listing has advertised standard ticket prices ranging from $207 to $899. Availability and resale prices can change.
Part of the proceeds will benefit Steven Tyler’s Janie’s Fund, which supports girls and young women who have experienced abuse. Ticket sales also support Los Angeles County park restoration following recent wildfires.
Does the Reunion Mean Aerosmith Will Tour Again?
Aerosmith has not announced another tour. The Hollywood Bowl concerts are special performances, and the band has not withdrawn its 2024 decision to retire from touring.
Joe Perry had suggested before the concerts that Aerosmith might perform together again, even if the band never returned to the demanding schedule of a major tour.
Steven Tyler’s recovery remains the central question. Performing six songs during a special concert is different from singing through a two-hour show several nights a week.
October 29 proved that Tyler, Perry, Whitford, Hamilton and Kramer could share a stage again. It also gave Aerosmith a chance to perform together after the sudden ending of their farewell tour.
The November 1 concert may bring different guests and another set of surprises. For now, the biggest news is already confirmed. Aerosmith has returned to the stage, and Joey Kramer has played with the band again for the first time since 2020.
