Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash has shared details about the band’s involvement in an upcoming Aerosmith tribute event, in comments shared via Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk.
Slash was asked about Guns N’ Roses’ role in the show and what the band would be performing at the Hollywood Bowl dates.
Question: “This Aerosmith thing was announced for Hollywood Bowl really quickly in a couple weeks, and you know, I’m a huge Aerosmith fan. I know you are as well. And Guns N’ Roses are pretty much the one big band in big print on that flyer. So what exactly is it that you guys are going to be doing?”
“We’re doing both shows as far as I know,” Slash said. “And we have sort of like a, you know, a mini set list sort of picked out more or less for this, for each show. I’m really looking forward to it. I can’t say, I mean, when I first heard about this was months ago, and at that point I was just going to get up there and jam with somebody.”
“Sort of like the ‘Back To The Beginning’ thing. But then eventually it became a Guns N’ Roses thing. And so we have the songs that we’re going to do and all that, but I don’t know what the rest of the whole production is really all about at this point. It’s been very sort of last-minute throw and go.”
When asked whether Guns N’ Roses would perform only Aerosmith songs or also play their own material, Slash explained the band’s approach.
Question: “Are you going to only do Aerosmith songs or are you going to do Guns N’ Roses songs?”
“I don’t want to say, because, I mean, it’s going to be one or the other,” Slash said. “We’re definitely going to do some Aerosmith songs, and I would imagine we’ll probably, they’ll want us to do at least a couple of our own songs, but we haven’t really discussed that yet. So, it’ll come, it’ll be what it is.”
“The one song that I would most, and I’m not going to say it, the one song that I would most like to do, it looks like we’re doing it.”
The comments came as Guns N’ Roses prepares for their part in the historic Hollywood Bowl shows alongside The Black Crowes, Billy Idol, Tom Morello, Sammy Hagar and other artists.
Aerosmith’s return to the stage comes after Steven Tyler suffered a fractured larynx and vocal cord damage in September 2023. The band’s Peace Out: The Farewell Tour started on September 2, 2023, but was stopped after only three shows when Tyler’s injury became clear. In August 2024, Aerosmith announced it would end touring and cancelled the rest of the tour. The vocal injury left Tyler unable to fully recover his singing voice for live performances.
The Hollywood Bowl shows represent Aerosmith’s first full performances since 2023 and their only confirmed live appearances following the tour cancellation. The event is called California, Dream On: Aerosmith & Friends, and will take place on October 29 and November 1, 2026. Don Was serves as Music Director for the celebration. The lineup will change each night, with final lineups announced at or near showtime.
Slash’s participation in these shows marks a significant moment with a band that shaped his musical path. When he first picked up the guitar, the song “Nobody’s Fault” from Aerosmith’s album Rocks was one of the tracks that influenced how he developed as a musician. Aerosmith’s aggressive, blues-based sound with a raw edge gave Slash direction when he was learning to play. While Slash identified with Joe Perry’s image and sound, guitarist Brad Whitford had a more direct influence on Slash’s playing style than many realize.
Aerosmith and Guns N’ Roses have rarely shared a stage in any formal capacity, making these Hollywood Bowl dates a rare occasion for both bands. The event will bring together an all-star lineup that varies across the two nights, with final nightly lineups to be announced at or near showtime and subject to change.
