Aerosmith Bring Out Run-DMC for “Walk This Way” on Final Night at the Hollywood Bowl
Steven Tyler stopped the song mid-intro, Rev Run and DMC walked on from opposite sides, and founding drummer Joey Kramer returned to the kit in the highlight of “California, Dream On: Aerosmith & Friends.”
Aerosmith brought out hip-hop pioneers Run-DMC as surprise special guests on Sunday night, November 1, 2026, during the second and final night of “California, Dream On: Aerosmith & Friends” at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. The two-night event marked the band’s return to the stage after its retirement from touring, and the “Walk This Way” reunion became its signature moment.
The Surprise Stop
The band started “Walk This Way” in standard fashion. A few notes in, Steven Tyler abruptly ordered everyone to stop playing and addressed the crowd: “Hold on, hold on, something’s wrong. We’re missing something. I think you know what I mean. We’re missing some people! This song ain’t the song without some people.”
On cue, Joseph “Rev Run” Simmons and Darryl “DMC” McDaniels walked out from opposite sides of the stage and joined the band to recreate the 1986 rap-rock collaboration that broke down barriers between hip-hop and mainstream rock radio. When the song ended, Simmons and McDaniels bowed down to Aerosmith on stage. Tyler told the crowd: “We broke through the wall together and showed the world what they was missing.”
Details Fans Will Notice
- A reunion at the drums: Founding drummer Joey Kramer stepped out to play alongside touring drummer John Douglas for the song. Douglas handled the kit for the rest of the night, and Kramer’s appearance put him back on stage with his bandmates for the first time in years.
- The same guitar from the video: Joe Perry played the Guild X-100 Bladerunner he used in the 1986 “Walk This Way” music video.
- Not quite goodbye: Comedian Bill Burr emceed both nights. After he told the crowd on night one that these were Aerosmith’s final shows, Tyler pushed back on Sunday: “Doesn’t he know that you can’t get rid of Aerosmith? In fact, at the end of the f***ing world there will only be cockroaches, Aerosmith, and, I guess, Bill Burr!”
The All-Star Tribute Set
Earlier in the night, a house band backed a rotating cast of rock royalty playing Aerosmith songs and their own material. The guest list included Marcus King, Jerry Cantrell of Alice in Chains, Tom Morello, Lzzy Hale, Billy Idol, Steve Stevens, Grace Potter, Pat Monahan, Heart, The Black Crowes, and Guns N’ Roses. Songs included “Mama Kin,” “Sweet Child o’ Mine,” and “Janie’s Got a Gun.” The tribute portion ran 23 songs.
The Aerosmith Set
The band closed the evening with its own set. It included “Toys in the Attic” and “Dream On,” plus the “Walk This Way” finale with Run-DMC and Kramer. Full setlists and video from the night are available from Consequence, Ultimate Classic Rock, and Setlist.fm.
What It Means
Aerosmith stepped away from touring after Tyler’s vocal injury, and these two Bowl nights were the first time the band has performed since. By the end of Sunday, Tyler was already telling the crowd the band wasn’t finished.
