Aerosmith icon Steven Tyler returned to the stage on Sunday for his first live set since announcing his retirement.
The occasion marked the 76-year-old’s second performance since his vocal injury.
Aerosmith officially retired from concerts last August after Steven suffered a fractured larynx.
The band, who formed in 1970, had kicked off the tour in September 2023 but were forced to reschedule a series of shows after the vocalist sustained vocal damage to his vocal cords.
The Walk This Way hitmakers were eventually forced to announce that Steven’s ‘recovery from his vocal injury is not possible’ and they’ve made the ‘heartbreaking and difficult decision’ to retire from touring now altogethe
But it seems he’s now on the mend, as he was able to give a rare performance at his sixth annual Jam for Janie Grammy Awards Viewing Party at Los Angeles’ Hollywood Palladium last weekend.
Mick Fleetwood added to the classic rock star power and joined the rocker on Extreme’s More Than Words.
Steven also treated the crowd to Aerosmith classic Dream On with vocal help from Lainey Wilson.
The Black Crowes’ Chris Robinson then performed Sweet Emotion with Steven. Jessie later joined him for a face-shredding rendition of Walk This Way.
Steven also played Aerosmith’s Toys in the Attic on his own, transporting the audience back to the golden age of rock.
Unexpectedly, he closed the set with a cover of Led Zeppelin’s Heartbreaker, showing off his recovering voice.
Steven has performed one other time since his injury, but only as a featured guest during The Black Crowes rendition of Mama Kin in May last year.
While the event didn’t see a full reunion of Aerosmith, the band’s iconic bassist Tom Hamilton joined his longtime frontman in front of the roaring crowd.
Extreme’s Nuno Bettencourt stepped in for Joe Perry on drums.
As well as supporting non-profit organisation Janie’s Fund – which helps young women and girls who have suffered abuse – the event also supported the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation and the Widows, Orphans, and Disabled Firefighter’s Fund.
Steven said before the show: ‘What the Los Angeles community has endured with these wildfires is unthinkable.
‘Music has healing powers and we hope to bring a moment of joy and levity to our first-responder firefighters and those most affected by the fires.
‘The trauma experienced by the girls we work with is also unthinkable and we will continue to shed light and support the amazing work of Janie’s Fund.’
It’s currently unclear whether Steven’s performance means the band will tour again soon, though Tom Hamilton did speak to Boston’s WBUR in January about the band’s future prospects.
He said: ‘Steven’s healing process is going really, really well, but it goes at its own pace. Maybe Aerosmith will do something in the future, but it’s a big if and the last thing I want to be doing is to try and push Steven in that direction.
‘If we do anything in the future, it would come from him,’ he concluded
Aerosmith released a statement at the time of their retirement in 2024 that read: ‘It was 1970 when a spark of inspiration became Aerosmith. Thanks to you, our Blue Army, that spark caught flame and has been burning for over five decades. Some of you have been with us since the beginning and all of you are the reason we made rock ‘n’ roll history.
‘It has been the honor of our lives to have our music become part of yours. In every club, on every massive tour and at moments grand and private you have given us a place in the soundtrack of your lives.
‘We’ve always wanted to blow your mind when performing. As you know, Steven’s voice is an instrument like no other. He has spent months tirelessly working on getting his voice to where it was before his injury. We’ve seen him struggling despite having the best medical team by his side. Sadly, it is clear, that a full recovery from his vocal injury is not possible. We have made a heartbreaking and difficult, but necessary, decision – as a band of brothers – to retire from the touring stage.’
It concluded: ‘We are grateful beyond words for everyone who was pumped to get on the road with us one last time. Grateful to our expert crew, our incredible team and the thousands of talented people who’ve made our historic runs possible. A final thank you to you – the best fans on planet Earth. Play our music loud, now and always. Dream On. You’ve made our dreams come true.’
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