LOS ANGELES, November 4, 2026 – Steven Tyler mounted a piano Thursday evening, leaned back, and attempted the lofty chorus of “Dream On” amid billowing stage smoke.
Here’s the backstory. In August 2024, Aerosmith declared an end to its touring career as it failed to get Tyler’s voice back despite its best efforts. Thus, when the band returned to perform at Hollywood Bowl on October 29, it marked its first show in three years.
This time, however, the occasion was California, Dream On: Aerosmith & Friends, two shows on October 29 and November 1, both sold out. There is no question the “friends” component of this marketing concept was not just fluff. Comedian Bill Burr, a fellow Bostonian, hosted. Two other bands – Guns N’ Roses and The Black Crowes played a set centered around Aerosmith material, while Heart, Sammy Hagar, Billy Idol, and Eric Church performed the first show, with Johnny Depp joining Joe Perry for a song. The second night featured Run-DMC and Tom Morello sending his guitar message.
Then came the main attraction, and it was a rather quick one. Aerosmith’s first-night performance comprised roughly 35-40 minutes of songs, which was seen by critics as a clever move to preserve an already abused voice. The entire performance lasted close to four hours and ended with fireworks.
The drum stool became quite a story itself. Dave Grohl took care of the majority of this six-song set, but Joey Kramer, the band’s original drummer, who had been absent due to health concerns, performed with the band for the first time in six years.
Did everything land? People will give varying opinions. A person writing about the second day said that while Guns N’ Roses weren’t “their hell-raising selves,” they were lucky enough to perform alongside Run-DMC and Aerosmith, which is quite something. Another writer described how the audience welcomed the band with wild applause. Those who were there know.
Aerosmith, meanwhile, drew near-universal praise for Tyler’s high notes, and honestly, that was the biggest question mark going in.
So what’s next? None of the outsiders knows anything about it. Burr even went so far as to mention from the stage that these might be their last two gigs for Aerosmith. Still, according to the band manager, there is nothing definite regarding future dates yet. There’s even an opinion voiced in one music magazine that it is unclear whether this tour was a comeback or farewell performance.
Coming back to the piano performance once again, if this was their farewell concert, Steven Tyler chose the right song to finish with. If not, he gave a wonderful continuation of Dream On.
