Aerosmith concluded their two-night return to the stage at the Hollywood Bowl on Sunday, November 1, with a 30-song show featuring a wide range of guest performers and a seven-song headline set. The concerts, billed as “California, Dream On: Aerosmith & Friends,” marked the band’s first performances since Steven Tyler’s vocal injury in 2023 halted their farewell tour and preceded their retirement from touring.
Comedian Bill Burr hosted both evenings. The second night followed the format of the opener, beginning with other artists performing Aerosmith songs before the band took the stage. However, the guest lineup changed, and the concert was three songs longer than Thursday’s show.
The most notable guest appearance came from Run-DMC, who joined Aerosmith for “Walk This Way,” recreating their influential 1980s collaboration. Aerosmith’s original drummer Joey Kramer also performed on the song alongside touring drummer John Douglas, who played on the rest of the band’s set.
Other performers on the bill included Marcus King; Jerry Cantrell and Mike Inez of Alice in Chains with Ritchie Kotzen; Lzzy Hale and Tom Morello; Grace Potter; Train’s Pat Monahan; Heart; The Black Crowes; Guns N’ Roses; and Billy Idol with Steve Stevens. Sully Erna, Warren Haynes, Sammy Hagar and Eric Church, who had appeared on the first night, did not return for the second show.
The early part of the concert encountered technical problems during Jerry Cantrell, Mike Inez and Ritchie Kotzen’s performances of “Draw the Line” and “Nobody’s Fault.” Cantrell acknowledged the mishaps by telling the audience, “This is live rock and roll.” Lzzy Hale emerged as one of the night’s highlights with “Kings and Queens” and “Round and Round,” the latter featuring Morello on guitar.
Billy Idol and Steve Stevens performed “Livin’ on the Edge,” while Grace Potter and Pat Monahan handled several of Aerosmith’s ballads. Potter sang “What It Takes,” Monahan performed “You See Me Crying” and “Angel,” and the pair reunited for “Cryin’.” Heart performed “Janie’s Got a Gun” and “Barracuda.”
The Black Crowes returned with a set similar to their appearance on the opening night, replacing “Write Me a Letter” with “Get the Lead Out.” The band also recounted how a manager who disliked their original material eventually signed them after hearing their cover of “No More No More.”
Guns N’ Roses changed their selection substantially, performing Aerosmith songs including “Mama Kin,” “S.O.S. (Too Bad),” “Rats in the Cellar” and “Sick as a Dog.” Their own songs included “Sweet Child o’ Mine” and “Nightrain,” according to the setlist.
Aerosmith opened their closing set with “Toys in the Attic” and “Back in the Saddle,” followed by “Sweet Emotion,” “Dream On” and “Come Together.” They finished with “Walk This Way,” joined by Run-DMC and Joey Kramer, before closing the night with “The Train Kept A-Rollin’.”
During the show, Tyler responded to Burr’s comment from Thursday that the two concerts were Aerosmith’s final performances. “Doesn’t he know that you can’t get rid of Aerosmith?” Tyler said, adding that at the end of the world there would be “cockroaches, Aerosmith, and, I guess, Bill Burr.” The remark left the possibility of future performances open.
Sources: Consequence.