NewsEmily Orchard3 min read31 October 2026

Aerosmith's Hollywood Bowl return had Dave Grohl on drums, Johnny Depp on guitar and Joey Kramer back for the finale

Night one of California, Dream On on 29 October was a six-song Aerosmith set inside a near four-hour all-star bill. Night two is Sunday 1 November.

Photo: Kevin Mazur / Getty Images for Live Nation

Aerosmith are back on a stage. On Thursday 29 October 2026 the band played the first night of California, Dream On: Aerosmith & Friends at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, their first show since they stopped touring in September 2023 after Steven Tyler's vocal injury. We flagged the two dates when they went on the marquee; the first one has now happened, and it was bigger than a farewell lap.

Six songs, three drummers

Aerosmith's own set was short: "Toys in the Attic", "Back in the Saddle", "Sweet Emotion", "Dream On", "The Train Kept A-Rollin'" and "Walk This Way". Dave Grohl, who had been teased in a photo from the band on 28 October, played drums through most of it. Johnny Depp walked on to play guitar on "The Train Kept A-Rollin'".

The finale carried the emotional weight. Original drummer Joey Kramer, who had not played with the band for about six years, joined for "Walk This Way", with touring drummer John Douglas on a second kit beside him. Liv Tyler and Alicia Silverstone, the two stars of the "Crazy" video, introduced the band.

The friends

Most of the night was other artists playing Aerosmith songs. Guns N' Roses were the main support and played three Aerosmith songs for the first time, "Nobody's Fault", "Last Child" and "Seasons of Wither", before closing with their own "Welcome to the Jungle" and "Paradise City". Also on the bill were Billy Idol with Steve Stevens, Heart, The Black Crowes, Sammy Hagar, Eric Church, Warren Haynes and Godsmack's Sully Erna. Comedian Bill Burr hosted, and the whole thing ran close to four hours and ended with fireworks.

What is next

A second show, with a different line-up of friends, is on Sunday 1 November 2026 at the Hollywood Bowl. Final nightly line-ups are being announced close to showtime, so check the official event page before you go. Whether this is a one-off or the start of anything more has not been confirmed by the band, so we are not guessing.