Aerosmith Rocked Final Boston Concert in 2022
by Best Classic Bands Staff
Aerosmith’s Joe Perry and Steven Tyler, Fenway Park, Sept. 8, 2022
Aerosmith returned to the Boston stage on September 8, 2022, following Steven Tyler’s treatment at a rehab facility this spring for an undisclosed addiction. The concert marked only the second time the band had performed since Feb. 15, 2020, a remarkable span of two-and-a-half years. Their 2022 return was originally scheduled to take place in Europe but was canceled due to the pandemic. Their first U.S. date was planned for June 17 but was delayed when Tyler entered a treatment program in May. Their 19-song set at Fenway Park on this Thursday night, after a warmup show four days’ earlier in Bangor, Maine, was followed by a string of shows at Dolby Live at Park MGM in Las Vegas.
Aerosmith owns an extensive catalog of classic rock favorites to choose from and mixed a variety of ’70s and ’80s songs into the set at the home of the Boston Red Sox. (Watch several below.) As it turned out, with the band’s stunning announcement on Aug. 2, 2024, to call it quits from touring, the Fenway show marked their final concert in the city they call home.
The first song was, appropriately, “Back in the Saddle.” “Fenway Park! Please join in on the 50 years celebration of the greatest rock and roll band ever…”
The 2022 shows marked the delayed celebration of Aerosmith‘s 50th anniversary of their formation. Their Vegas residency, Deuces Are Wild, opened in April 2019. Dolby Live is described as “one of the world’s most technologically advanced performance venues of its kind and preeminent locations for enjoying live musical performances in Dolby Atmos.” “Let’s pull one out of our back pocket…”
In an interview from June 2021, the band’s Brad Whitford said he doubted whether the band would ever perform again. “I have my doubts about Aerosmith ever really performing again at this stage, because age is becoming a real factor,” he said, as transcribed by Blabbermouth.net. They ultimately began their final tour in September 2023 but it was soon postponed—and later canceled altogether—due to an injury to Tyler’s vocal cords.
Watch them perform a favorite from the Sept. 4 show in Maine
And, back at Fenway, here’s “Draw the Line”
For the first encore, Tyler reappeared above the famed Green Monster, the ballpark’s left field wall, to perform “Dream On.”
Whitford is the youngest member of the band; for this show, he was 71. Steven Tyler was 75; Joe Perry was 72; and Joey Kramer and Tom Hamilton were 71. John Douglas filled in on drums for Kramer, whose wife died earlier in the year. Aerosmith congratulated Tyler on his 75th birthday.
75 never sounded so good!! Let’s all wish a big 75th HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the one, the only, the Demon of Screamin’, Mr. Steven Tyler! pic.twitter.com/0ladYFlNyy
— Aerosmith (@Aerosmith) March 26, 2023
Watch the evening’s encore
Thanks to Toshi Aizawa for the clips.
Aerosmith, Fenway Park, Boston, Mass., Sept. 8, 2022 Setlist
Back in the Saddle
Same Old Song and Dance
Rag Doll
Mama Kin
Remember (Walking in the Sand)
Stop Messin’ Around
Cryin’
Hangman Jury
Seasons of Wither
Toys in the Attic
Livin’ on the Edge
The Other Side
I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing
Love in an Elevator
Draw the Line
Dude (Looks Like a Lady)
Encore
Dream On
Sweet Emotion
Walk This Way
When Aerosmith tours, tickets are available here and here.
Related: Listings for 100s of classic rock tours
Aerosmith, Tyler (vocals), Perry (lead guitar), Whitford (guitar), Hamilton (bass), and Kramer (drums) have sold more than 150 million albums worldwide in their five decades since forming.
They are the recipients of numerous awards, including four GRAMMYs®, eight American Music Awards, six Billboard Awards, and 12 MTV Video Music Awards.
6 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationI saw the guys last in December of 1987 at the st. paul civic center in st. paul, MN. On the permanent vacation tour. They rocked it big time! Good to see them still doing what they do best, playing kick ass rock_n_roll!
I saw them in Jan. 1990 when I was 7 1/2 mos pregnant w/ front row center stage & she was bouncing so much I thought I was going into labor then, lol… The only sucky part was I had to end up trading my tickets w/ some young girl & her friend(she actually thought it was a big joke & couldn’t believe it) but I ended up watching from the 1st balcony & watching I was so pissed cuz Tyler & Perry spent 90% of their time rt there, UggghI couldn’t believe it… But till this day she also still loves AEROSMITH, that’s my girl..❤️
Saw them at Fenway last night. I’m still beside myself on how well they performed. One of the best concerts I’ve ever attended. God, I hope they have at least one more tour left in them!
Grateful that we can share the experience via cellphone videos. On the other hand, how incredibly annoying they are. King Crimson had it right: Get your pix in before and after the performance; otherwise, be present and just enjoy the show.
Aerosmith, a true Rock n Roll Band. Probably The best Rock band to come from America. They had their fair share of hits but I started losing interest in their music after “Get A Grip.” They need to release some box sets with outtakes and Live recordings. I would love to have a 40th Anniversary box set of “Rock In A Hard Place.” Love that album and its the only album without Joe Perry and Brad Whitford.
I saw them 3 times and the openers blew away 3 times.