Aerosmith were honored with the MusiCares Person Of The Year award at a benefit show in Los Angeles on January 24.
The event followed a week of controversy over the status of drummer Joey Kramer, who filed – and lost – a lawsuit against his bandmates when they denied him from participating in the group’s performance at the Los Angeles Convention Center and this weekend’s Grammy Awards after a six-month absence from the live lineup.
As Billboard notes, the tribute opened with live performances of Aerosmith classics by more than a dozen acts, including Cheap Trick, Kesha, Gary Clark Jr, Melissa Etheridge, Nuno Bettencourt, Sammy Hagar and the Foo Fighters, among others.
Kramer then joined the Boston band as they took the stage to accept the award, with he and frontman Steven Tyler delivering speeches marking their 50th anniversary.
“A shout out to love and gratitude to MusiCares,” said Kramer, “to all our fans, to my partners, to my ever supportive wife, Linda, and to you guys out there and to the music industry.”
With drum tech John Douglas behind the kit, Aerosmith then delivered a four-song set that included their 1975 cover of “Big Ten Inch Record”, “Dream On” and “Sweet Emotion” before being joined by Alice Cooper and Johnny Depp - Joe Perry’s bandmates in The Hollywood Vampires - for the finale of “Train Kept A-Rollin’”.
Tyler, who has been sober for years, took the mic again to thank the audience and MusiCares for being there for musicians in need, including himself.
“Thank y’all for doing what you do," said the rocker. "You raise this money because we’re musicians, we’re f--king artists and we’re out of our minds. Most of the time it goes to music and we get lost in it and we love it and it’s what keeps us around and alive and good. I just want to thank you very much because should I -- which I won’t -- fall again, y’all might help me back up again. I love you so much for that.”
The event raised $6 million for MusiCares, the Recording Academy’s philanthropic arm that aids musicians and other industry personnel in medical, emotional and financial need.
Cheap Trick doing Aerosmith “Rats In The Cellar”! Musicares in LA. https://t.co/GhGHmjft1d
— Eddie Trunk (@EddieTrunk) January 25, 2020
Sammy Hagar and Orianthi. Back In The Saddle !! https://t.co/VVcHwRUQFZ
— Eddie Trunk (@EddieTrunk) January 25, 2020
Foo Fighters. Let The Music Do The Talking ! https://t.co/ajy9w5mXjC
— Eddie Trunk (@EddieTrunk) January 25, 2020
Aerosmith with Alice Cooper and Johnny Depp https://t.co/VyNp0RwHiw
— Eddie Trunk (@EddieTrunk) January 25, 2020
See also:
Judge rules Aerosmith can perform at Grammy events without Joey Kramer
Aerosmith drummer sues bandmates over Grammy Awards ban
Aerosmith to perform with Run-DMC at Grammy Awards
Sammy Hagar and Cheap Trick added to Aerosmith MusiCares tribute
Search Aerosmith at hennemusic
