Aerosmith performed their first of two Hollywood Bowl concerts, marking their return to live stage following Steven Tyler’s vocal issues, with drummer Joey Kramer joining the band for the first time since February 2020, according to fan reactions shared on YouTube.
The performance marked a significant moment for the band as they returned to touring after Tyler had dealt with vocal problems. Kramer’s presence on stage was also notable given his absence from the band’s live performances in recent years.
One Aerosmith fan praised the band’s ability to still deliver during the show. “The few great moments were all provided by Aerosmith. They still deliver. Steven is a freak. He delivers still some of the most difficult vocals in rock history. I know he’s had few issues with vocals as he gets older,” the fan wrote.
The return of drummer Joey Kramer drew its own appreciation from fans. “We love you, Joey Kramer!!” another fan wrote.
Fans also expressed surprise at Tyler’s vocal performance at his age. “How the hell is Tyler sounding this good at 78?” one viewer asked.
The show was one of two scheduled Hollywood Bowl concerts for the band, marking an important step in Aerosmith’s return to performing after the vocalist’s health concerns.
The Hollywood Bowl concerts were billed as California, Dream On: Aerosmith & Friends and brought the band together with guests from across rock, country, hip-hop and alternative music to celebrate its catalog. These shows marked the band’s first performances since September 2023, when Tyler’s vocal injury forced them to suspend their Peace Out: The Farewell Tour after just three shows.
Tyler’s doctor confirmed that he had suffered both vocal cord damage and a fractured larynx, requiring ongoing care. In February 2025, Tyler returned to performing for the first time since his injury at his Jam For Janie charity event, where he performed songs including Aerosmith’s “Toys in the Attic” and “Dream On,” signaling his gradual recovery from the serious injury.
Kramer’s return to the stage represented another significant reunion for the band. The drummer had last performed with Aerosmith in February 2020 and filed a lawsuit against his bandmates in January 2020 over his exclusion from performances at the Grammy Awards and a Recording Academy tribute show. A judge ruled against Kramer at that time, finding that he had not shown a viable alternative given he had not played with the band in six months and there was limited rehearsal time before those performances. The Hollywood Bowl shows offered Kramer his chance to perform with Aerosmith once again after more than six years away.
